Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers
Supporting the career development of researchers
The Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers (commonly known as the Researcher Development Concordat) sets out the conditions required for researchers to thrive. It identifies positive working practices and highlights the different responsibilities of institutions, funders, researchers and managers of researchers in achieving this.
The Concordat has three defining 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
As a signatory to the Concordat, the University of Huddersfield has made a commitment to engaging in initiatives to make progress with these core principles and enhance the working lives of our researchers.
Internal oversight of how we are meeting the obligations of the Concordat for all staff and student researchers comes through the University Research Careers and Development Group (URCAD), chaired by the Director of Human Resources. This group is responsible to the University Research Committee (URC).
Vitae play an active role in shaping policy and practice to support the career development of researchers. The Vitae Researcher Development Framework (RDF), refreshed for 2025, supports the Researcher Development Concordat through providing a widely recognised approach to planning, promoting and supporting the personal, professional and career development of researchers.
The University is an institutional member of Vitae, which means that all students and staff members are able access the resources and benefits available. Anyone with a university email address can register for an account.
The Research and Innovation service coordinates a central researcher development offer to support academic staff researchers (postdocs and above), in line with our commitment to the Concordat. This provision is planned in line with our core internal development themes and the Vitae RDF.