Exeter has demonstrated long-term support and development of researchers at all levels, through a range of initiatives and projects.

Exeter’s commitment to researcher career development recognised through prestigious award

The University of Exeter’s long-term commitment to nurturing and developing the career development of its researchers has been recognised through a prestigious international award.

Exeter is one of eight UK institutions who have retained their HR Excellence in Research award given by Vitae, the global leader in supporting the professional development of researchers.

The HR Excellence in Research Award is an important mechanism for implementing the principles of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers.

Exeter has demonstrated long-term support and development of researchers at all levels, through a range of initiatives and projects.

The University has had a highly positive and proactive response to the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and was able switch rapidly to online training and developing new online support materials to continue supporting our researchers, focusing especially around career development and maintaining momentum.

The University was also able to support its researcher networks and bring together researchers from across all of the University campuses, for the first time.

Exeter also successfully introduced a system of ‘micro-mentoring’ for the University’s ECRs. who could benefit from one-hour targeted mentoring sessions in response initially to issues arising from the Covid-19 pandemic, but which also succeeded in helping with a number of other areas.

The University also advanced its training offer in terms Research leadership, focusing on both Early Career Researchers looking to make the jump to more senior positions, as well as strengthening the career development of senior researchers and enhancing the support they can give to staff they manage.

Drs Astrid Wissenburg, Director of Research at the University of Exeter said: “Our reaccreditation represents our decade long commitment to HR Excellence in Research and recognises the significant work from across our Professional Services, delivering collaboratively our unified, end-to-end provision of learning, development and wellbeing services. The award is key to the University delivering on its responsibilities as a signatory to the Researcher Development Concordat.”

Date: 24 November 2021