Researcher Development Framework
Richard sent me this link:
http://www.vitae.ac.uk/CMS/files/upload/Vitae-Researcher-Development-Framework.pdf
Looking around, this seems like a huge initiative. 15 million pounds of funding from 2007 to 2012. They are funded by the research councils … but their website and outward presentation looks very corporate. They have a two day conference at the Midland hotel in Manchester in early September, but the rates are about 400 pounds for 2 days. – ouch.
They have an extensive training programme for researchers at various levels … interesting to see the CVs of the long list of trainers. These appear to be of the career HE consultant types … but with a few career academics here and there.
Their website is here and here is a link to the RDF page:
http://www.vitae.ac.uk/policy-practice/167/Home.html
Lots of documents/publications on the topic of HE and researcher development as well.
All main UK Universities seem to have web pages with the model Richard linked to, including also Manchester! As for the tool itself, it appears to consist of a number of criterion referenced descriptors of researcher development. As such it may be said to draw on a skills-based perspective, breaking down the skillful activity of doing research into a variety of sub-skills.
Not sure how to relate to it 🙂
Juup
It’s quite positivist, I think, and I also think it’s related to the whole culture of accountability which, in and of itself, can trigger a variety of reactions.
I wouldn’t claim that the ‘profile’ it generates is anywhere close to defining me as a person, or even as a researcher. But, as I said, it does have some use as a prompt for introspection. Or at least it had some use for me…
Not sure the skill and sub-skill thing is something I like… but that is based on a conceptual preference and not an experience of it.
As long as it makes us look good…
and this is good? 🙂
That means we are as a group relating to it already 🙂
I already completed one of these (they also come in an easy-to-use spreadsheet) as part of my annual skills audit last February. It’s interesting as a prompt for reflecting on one’s relative strengths and scope for improvement.