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Research Staff

The College has a research rich culture with a significant and expanding portfolio of international quality research, which informs teaching and clinical practice. As a research intensive institution, the College has an ongoing commitment to establish and maintain research of international quality that will inform clinical practice, government policy and its teaching activity in areas
related to the broad disciplines of the veterinary and biological sciences.

The College is proud of its achievements in research, and we recognise
that our researchers are an integral part of that success.

The launch of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers in 2008 was a significant national event, raising the profile of researcher development across the HE sector. In adapting the Concordat to produce guidelines with a clear fit with the needs and aspirations of our own researchers and the culture of the RVC, we have built on examples of good practice already in existence at the College and around the sector.

HR Excellence in Research

HR Excellence in Research

The College has been recognised by the European Commission for its 'HR excellence in research'. This award recognises the positive actions that the College has taken and will continue to take to support the career development of researchers and the actions in place to implement the principles of the Concordat to Support the Development of Researchers.

The College is one of only 50 UK higher education institutions to be recognised in this way.

This is a UK-wide process, overseen by Vitae, enabling UK HEIs to gain the European Commission’s ‘HR Excellence in Research’ badge, which acknowledges their alignment with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for their Recruitment. The UK process incorporates both the' QAA Code of Practice for Research Degree Programmes' and the 'Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers' to enable institutions that have published Concordat implementation plans to gain the ‘HR Excellence in Research’ badge. The UK approach includes ongoing national evaluation and benchmarking.

The press release confirming this announcement is available to download here: UK universities receive EU Commission's recognition for researcher development.

Our Concordat implementation strategy and action plan is available to download here:

Concordat Implementation Strategy (Gap Analysis and Action Plan)

For more information about the Concordat and the HR Excellence in Research award please see below.

 

For information about how the principles of the Concordat are being implemented at the College, please see below:

 

Research Mission Statement

The College's mission in research is:

To enhance our global reputation as an outstanding independent veterinary college by:

  • Undertaking research of international quality in focused areas of global significance for animal
    and human health, and welfare by adopting a ‘one medicine’ multidisciplinary approach
  • Promoting public health and supporting society through the study of the relationships between
    people, animals and food

For more information please visit the Research pages of the College website.

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Research at the College

Research at the College is of international quality. The Research Assessment Exercise in 2008 ranked the RVC as England's best veterinary school, amongst institutions whose research is exclusively veterinary related. A total of 55% of our submitted academic staff were viewed as producing "world class" or "internationally excellent" research. As a self-governing college within the University of London, we attract a unique blend of basic and clinical scientists who work together in interdisciplinary teams within one research division.

For more information please visit the Research pages of the College website.

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Research Concordat

This section provides information on the following:

  • Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers
  • The Colleges 'Concordat' Code of Practice and Guide
  • The Colleges Researcher Association

The College is proud of its achievements in research, and we recognise
that our researchers are an integral part of that success. Life-long learning is an underpinning educational philosophy for the College and the development of our researchers to ensure they achieve their full potential within their chosen career is fundamental to our values as an institution.

Our Corporate Plan for 2009-13 seeks to deliver the College’s mission to enhance its global reputation as an outstanding independent veterinary college through seven strategic aims, one of which is ‘Excellence in Research’. We must remain attractive and competitive in the global market for world class research talent, and we recognise that to do so, the College needs to have effective leadership, management and development for this key group of
staff.

The launch of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers in 2008 was a significant national event, raising the profile of researcher development across the HE sector. In adapting the Concordat to produce guidelines with a clear fit with the needs and aspirations of our own researchers and the culture of the RVC, we have built on examples of good practice already in existence at the College and around the sector.

The College has created a Concordat Code of Practice and Guide which demonstrates the Colleges commitment to the provision of timely and effective
support for Research Staff and their chosen career paths. The Code and Guide also encourages Research Staff themselves to take responsibility for the management of their own careers.

The College has also developed an internal Researcher Association, who meet regularly to organise events specifically aimed at researchers at the College.
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HR Excellence in ResearchHR Excellence in Research

This section provides information on the following:

  • Background to HR Excellence in Research
  • Vitae
  • Researcher Concordat Working Group
  • Concordat Implementation Plan (Gap Analysis and Action Plan)

This is a UK-wide process which enables UK HEIs to gain the European Commission's ‘HR excellence in research' badge, which acknowledges their alignment with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for their Recruitment. The UK process incorporates both the 'QAA Code of Practice for Research Degree Programmes' and the 'Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers' to enable institutions that have published Concordat implementation plans to gain the ‘HR excellence in research' badge. The UK approach includes ongoing national evaluation and benchmarking.

Vitae is the national organisation championing the personal, professional and career development of doctoral researchers and research staff in higher education institutions and research institutes. Vitae play a major role in the drive for high-level skills and innovation and in the UK's goal to produce world class researchers.

The College welcomes and endorses the principles of the Research Concordat and the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for their Recruitment. The College is strongly committed to implementing the principles and recommendations of the Research Concordat.

Following the launch of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers in 2008, the College's Research Strategy Committee set up a Researcher Concordat Working Group (RCWG) in 2009 to oversee the implementation of the Concordat and Code of Practice. The RCWG is made up of representatives from the academic departments and plays a pivotal role in ensuring the principles of the Concordat are applied at the College. As part of their work, the group has developed an implementation plan - which included conducting a gap analysis and devising an action plan which sets out what the College will do to ensure the Concordat is successfully implemented. The document is available to download here:

It is a significant achievement for the College to be recognised by the European Commission for its 'HR Excellence in Research'. This means the College is committed to supporting the career development of researchers.

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Research Staff Development

The College supports and actively promotes the professional development of all categories of staff. This investment provides staff with a means to grow with the organisation whilst developing and improving personal and professional skills. The Colleges Staff Training and Development Programme provides a section specific for Researchers.

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Careers in Research Online Survey (CROS)

The College participates in the Careers in Research Online Survey (CROS). The purpose of CROS is to:

  • Support those working with research staff by making available up-to-date information on the experiences of research staff and by encouraging the sharing of good practice
  • Provide information to assist in monitoring the implementation of the Concordat

Information from this survey has helped us to develop our Concordat Implementation Strategy and Action Plan.

The sector wide report detailing the findings is published by Vitae and a copy of the 2011 report can be seen here:

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Principal Investigators & Research Leaders Survey (PIRLS)

The College also participates in the Principal Investigators & Research Leaders Survey (PIRLS). PIRLS has been designed to capture the anonymous views and experiences of principal investigators (PIs) and research leaders working in higher education in the UK.

The purpose of PIRLS is to gain responses from principal investigators about research leadership that will inform actions within the institution, the sector, and the research funders.

It aims to capture respondents’ views on how they gained the experience and capabilities that have made them research leaders, and on how the research leaders of tomorrow may gain the experience and capabilities that they will need.

Information from this survey has helped us to develop our Concordat Implementation Strategy and Action Plan.

The sector wide report detailing the findings is published by Vitae and a copy of the 2011 report can be seen here:

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