Research staff

The profile of academics carrying out research suggests that women and black and ethnic minority staff are underrepresented (HESA 2006/07). This has many consequences, not least in terms of an institution’s research profile and the promotion of those groups of academic staff.

The Concordat

The Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, negotiated and endorsed by all the main public and private funders of research in 2008, sets out the expectations and responsibilities of researchers, their managers, employers and funders. It aims to increase the attractiveness and sustainability of research careers in the UK and to improve the quantity, quality and impact of research for the benefit of UK society and the economy. It contains specific provisions to promote equality and diversity among researchers. ECU was on the working party to develop the Concordat and has endorsed its principles.

Key principles

• Recognition of the importance of recruiting, selecting and retaining researchers with the highest potential to achieve excellence in research.
• Researchers are recognised and valued by their employing organisation as an essential part of their organisation's human resources and a key component of their overall strategy to develop and deliver world-class research.
• Researchers are equipped and supported to be adaptable and flexible in an increasingly diverse, mobile, global research environment.
• The importance of researchers' personal and career development, and lifelong learning, is clearly recognised and promoted at all stages of their career.
• Individual researchers share the responsibility to proactively engage in their own personal and career development, and lifelong learning.
• Diversity and equality must be promoted in all aspects of the recruitment and career management of researchers.
• The sector and all stakeholders will undertake regular and collective review of their progress in strengthening the attractiveness and sustainability of research careers in the UK.
  

The European Commission adopted a Charter for researchers and a code of conduct covering the recruitment of researchers in March 2005, to encourage and assist in the development of good practice within member states. The principles of this document have been incorporated into the Concordat.