As part of Kent’s commitment to the Researcher Development Concordat, the University is required to produce a Concordat Action Plan and Annual Report for submission to Vitae in June 2021. This work is being coordinated by the Graduate and Researcher College (GRC), whose remit includes supporting the professional and career development of academic and research staff in conjunction with colleagues in Divisions and other Professional Services departments.

To encourage input into these strategic documents, which will guide the University’s plans to implement the Concordat principles across the institution and record progress already made to embed support for researchers into our working practices, the GRC is organising three Concordat focus groups for staff who research at different career stages:

When to participate?

Early-career researchers (including PDRAs, RAs, Research Associates and ECRs): Thursday 13 May, 11am-12.30pm (online)

Mid-career researchers: Tuesday 11 May, 2pm-3.30pm (online)

Senior researchers and research leaders: Wednesday 12 May, 2pm-3.30pm (online)

The focus groups will explore:

• the scope, accessibility and efficacy of current support for staff who research
• barriers to accessing support, or to progression or job satisfaction
• your recommendations for future planning and support for researchers.

Dr Alison Charles, Researcher Developer (Academic), said:

“These sessions are a great opportunity to discuss initiatives and ideas to support research staff and, most importantly, to tell us what more needs to be done to support your development. All feedback will be anonymised so this is your chance to say what you really think about researcher development at Kent and to ensure that the researcher voice is heard loud and clear.”

How to give us feedback?

To book your place at a focus group, please complete our expression of interest form.

Please note that if you are unable to attend a focus group, we encourage you to submit feedback anonymously via our feedback form, available until 23.59 on 31 May 2021.

Finally, there is still time to complete the CEDARS survey, running at Kent till 23.59 on 19 May 2021. Learn more in the blogpost or go straight to the survey via this link.

Any queries, please contact the GRC. We look forward to receiving your feedback.