CEDARS is a UK-wide survey which is designed to capture the latest the experiences, opinions, and needs of research staff and their managers across higher education institutions. It explores key areas such as the research environment, as well as researcher’s employment conditions, professional development, and career aspirations. The survey will provide valuable information on how we can create a healthy and supportive research culture to ensure our researchers can thrive.

We also seek feedback from anyone who supports research such as research professionals and technicians. Your input and that of your colleagues is very important and highly valued, and we appreciate the contribution you are making to enhancing our positive research culture by telling us about your views and experiences.

As a thank you for completing the survey, we will invite you to enter a prize draw to win your choice of:

In addition, the Department(s) with the highest % completion rate will win up to £350 vouchers to contribute to a Departmental social. Departmental prizes will be proportionate to size. If first prize is allocated to a smaller department, a second prize may also be allocated.

Why CEDARS is important

Professor Julie Barnett, Associate Pro Vice Chancellor (Research) says:

At the University of Bath we use CEDARS to help us improve our support for research staff and deliver against the principles of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers. Our Research Staff Working Group (RSWG) whose members are made up of research staff, use the data gathered to set priorities and advocate for change. We are recognised for providing a positive research culture for our research staff through our HR Excellence in Research Award. The activities we have taken forward are supported by our new University Research Culture Strategy and Action Plan.

By completing CEDARS you are also helping organisations such as Vitae to influence policy making and for advocacy. Vitae is a non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting the professional and career development of researchers. Aggregated data is used by Vitae as the national evidence base reflecting the experiences of researchers and research-enabling professionals.

How your feedback makes a difference

Through CEDARS, the RSWG and subsequent focus groups we have made a difference in the following ways:

  • ensuring all new research staff are aware of the opportunity to access to 10 days career and professional development activities each year
  • introducing induction one to one discussions for all new research staff so that they are aware of the opportunities available
  • establishing off-campus career retreats with a focus on careers beyond academia and opportunities to talk to alumni who work in industry
  • providing bookable one to one career discussions centred around individual career needs and advice
  • introducing in-person writing retreats to provide a quiet space, away from shared offices
  • improving the recruitment process, induction and continuity of the Research Staff Working Group who advocate on for and on behalf of research staff
  • formally establishing the Co-Chair of the Research Staff Working Group as a member of the University Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee to strengthen the research staff voice

We are also currently working on:

  • providing new guidance on the “Eligibility of Staff to be Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator on an Externally Funded Research Project” (to be approved at University Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee in May 2025)
  • launching The Researcher Academy in June 2025 to bring together all the development opportunities, careers advice, events and support for research staff in one accessible place online
  • ensuring that all research staff have been offered an annual career conversation with a member of academic staff, who is not a direct line manager
  • introducing the “Guidelines for Authorship and Acknowledgement in Research Outputs” to improve the clarity on how and when individuals or groups receive credit for their contributions to research outputs
  • improving research staff promotion guidance, communication and transparency

How your data will be used

All responses are anonymous, and we protect your anonymity in a number of ways:

  1. You do not provide any personal information (i.e. your name or email address).
  2. Any questions regarding protected characteristics are not mandatory or specifically linked to your other survey responses. You will not be identified or identifiable in any published results.
  3. The aggregated data will be used by Vitae to analyse UK-wide trends and provide benchmarking for the analysis of each university who participates in the Survey.
  4. In addition, only a few people at the University of Bath will have access to the raw data; the Researcher Development Manager, the Research Culture Manager and a data analyst. They will use it to help understand and report on key insights.
  5. The raw data will not be disseminated beyond the people in these roles and will be stored securely for 10 years to track improvements overtime.
  6. Any reports generated from these data will be analysed to ensure full anonymity. This means that if there are too few responses for specific protected characteristics or other groups within the university, these will not be analysed separately. In addition, no individually identifiable free-text responses will be reported.