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Independent review of research Concordat releases consultation report

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An independent review of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers has released its consolation report, in a move that paves the way for the Concordat to be revised later in the year.

The report, which is based on almost 600 responses, provides a critical insight into the views of both researchers and those with a stake in managing and supporting researchers – including Higher Education Institutions, funders and other organisations.

The responses were overwhelmingly in favour of revising the Concordat, which sets out seven principles for helping researchers develop their career. Respondents called for the Concordat to be shorter, clearer and more accessible, in particular outlining the specific responsibilities of funders, employers, principal investigators and researchers themselves. The analysis was completed by Vitae on behalf of the Concordat Strategy Group.

The review comes ten years after the Concordat's launch in 2008, and was designed to evaluate the progress made in implementing the Concordat's principles, and to investigate what policy interventions would be required to ensure an effective research system.

The consultation revealed that over 95% of both organisations and individual respondents think support for researchers to develop their career and research identity should be increased. Precarity of employment and equality of opportunity were other key themes, though the solutions are not straight-forward, and opinions were mixed in all areas of the consultation.

Professor Julia Buckingham, CBE, Chair of Concordat Strategy Group, and Vice-Chancellor and President, Brunel University London, said: “The report will play a crucial part in the ensuring the revised Concordat paves the way towards improving the future environment and career development for researchers. It also provides key analysis for institutions in considering how to enhance their development for their role in the economy within and beyond academia.”

Professor David Bogle, Chair of the Independent Review panel, and Pro-Vice-Provost of Doctoral School, University College London, said: “The report will play a crucial part in the ensuring the revised Concordat paves the way towards improving the future environment and career development for researchers. It also provides key analysis for institutions in considering how to enhance their development for their role in the economy within and beyond academia.”

The consolation report can be downloaded here: http://www.vitae.ac.uk/concordat_consultation_report

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