Researcher Development

Researcher Development Unit – about us

Background

The RDU, based in the LTEO, supports early career researchers and academic staff by providing development opportunities that enable them to get the most out of their research activities and their research careers at the University of Bath and beyond. We also work with senior managers to foster an environment that is supportive and encouraging of researcher development.

Since Sir Gareth Roberts' 2002 report ‘SET for Success’ and the subsequent investment in researcher development by the UK Research Councils, it has become a clear priority for UK research organisations to promote and support skills and career development for researchers.

Research organisations clearly benefit from having highly skilled researchers, but many employers also look for candidates with the skills that researchers possess. At Bath, we already have an excellent graduate employability record, and we have also built a leading reputation for development activities that enhance the employability and effectiveness of researchers.

The University has further committed to the agenda by establishing the Researcher Development Unit (RDU) to ensure sustained support for researcher development and the role it plays in supporting the University’s strategic vision for research in the future.

Externally, we have built extensive links with key organisations that play a part in forming policy on this agenda. We continue to play a national role through: contributing to researcher development programmes and resources nationally, for example via the Vitae programme; responding to relevant consultations and surveys; collaborating with other HEIs on relevant projects; and contributing to national conferences and events to share our best practices.

Specific services for key stakeholders

RDU provide the following services for:

Early Career Researchers (Doctoral Students and Research Staff)

  • provide training in line with the Researcher Development Framework (RDF) and Concordat
  • represent/promote researcher development issues to feed in to policy at an institutional level
  • provide opportunities to support ECRs in their career development as professional researchers or elsewhere
  • provide training opportunities that enable ECRs to enhance their personal impact and that of their research
  • provide a diverse and bespoke range of events and training to suit specific needs

Academic Staff

  • provide training and opportunities to support Academic Staff in their career development as professional researchers
  • provide training opportunities that enable Academic Staff to enhance their personal impact and that of their research
  • provide a diverse and bespoke range of events and training to suit specific needs
  • advising on researcher development needs
  • advising on funding applications in relation to skills development requirements

Graduate Schools/Division

  • support Graduate Schools in the design skills development programmes for research students
  • assisting with the management and promotion of such programmes using the PGSkills web pages and records system
  • advise on or provide bespoke training interventions at Graduate School level

HoDs and Associate Deans

  • provide advice on design and implementation of training interventions for early career researchers and research groups
  • build a strong network of academics delivering skills training

Pro-Vice Chancellors and University Committees

  • monitoring relevant national policies and developments in the sector
  • reporting on uptake and evaluation of RDU programmes and interventions

We also work with a range of training providers within the University of Bath to promote a coherent approach to researcher training and to share best practices and resources.

The RDU team

The RDU is based in the LTEO and is part of the Academic Staff Development Team

 We also work closely with:  

 

 
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