Advance HE is proud to be a signatory to the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers 2019, the ‘agreement between employers of researchers and research funders on the expectations for the professional development and employment conditions of researchers in the UK.’
As a signatory, Advance HE commits to the Concordat’s three guiding principles:
- Environment and culture - Excellent research requires a supportive and inclusive research culture
- Employment - Researchers are recruited, employed and managed under conditions that recognise and value their contributions
- Professional and career development Professional and career development are integral to enabling researchers to develop their full potential.
Alison Johns, Advance HE Chief Executive, said, “I whole-heartedly welcome the new Concordat with its renewed vigour to promote fair access to opportunities and the supportive and inclusive cultures in which researchers can develop and thrive. The Concordat incorporates unequivocal responsibilities for its signatories and Advance HE will embrace these commitments in our strategy and in our everyday process and practice.
“As well as our commitment to our own researchers, I believe Advance HE is in a great place to work alongside its co-signatories in delivering their Concordat commitments. Good governance, sound leadership and EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) stand out here as the core ingredients for success, and with our governance and leadership programmes, our Charters and our best practice networks keenly developed to support institutions, we look forward to working with the sector in delivering the vision of the Concordat.”
The previous version of the Concordat was published in 2008. Following an independent review and consultation it has been redrafted and published as a new document and website in 2019.
The Concordat is co-created and owned by the higher education sector as a whole. It is overseen by the Concordat Strategy Group, which includes representatives of researcher funders and institutions.
Further information about Advance HE’s leadership programmes, governance portfolio and Charters:
- Advance HE’s portfolio of programmes and events, including the 2019-20 Prospectus, ‘Development Pathway’ and development programmes.
- our initiatives and work in support of effective governance
- our equality Charters.