Whether you are a postgraduate or a researcher at a UK Higher Education Institution (HEI) the AHRC is committed to supporting your training and development needs.
For postgraduates the AHRC offers funding opportunities for collaborative research training. In 2004 the AHRC introduced a framework of research training requirements for its doctoral award holders.
Review of Research Training
The AHRC has undertaken a review of all its training activities. Part of this review looked at our Doctoral Training and investigated the impact of the Research Training Framework and the research training payments the AHRC has made in support of subject-specific training provision. It also evaluated the Collaborative Research Training (CRT) scheme and whether it has led to sustained systems of research training. The results of this part of the review have now been published and can be downloaded from the Review of Research Training section of the website.
Vitae
We also fund and support the work and activities of Vitae, a national programme supporting the personal, professional and career development of researchers. By working together with the Research Councils UK, higher education institutions and research institutes, Vitae provides specific support for both doctoral researchers and research staff.
For further details on the information, advice and activities that you can access through Vitae whether you are a postgraduate, researcher, research staff or staff supporting researchers please go to the Vitae website.
The Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers
In 2008 a revised Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers was published. This 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.
The Concordat will ensure today's researchers are nurtured and supported during their career development. By setting out clear expectations for researchers, research managers, research institutions, and funders of research, the Concordat aims to enhance the research workforce and thereby sustain research excellence in the UK, bringing benefits to the health, economy and well being of our nation.
The Concordat consists of a set of key principles for the future support and management of research careers, and under each principle, an explanation of how it may be embedded into institutional practice.
The Researcher Development Statement
The Researcher Development Statement (RDS) sets out the knowledge, behaviours, and attributes of effective and highly skilled researchers appropriate for a wide range of careers. The Researcher Development Statement is an evolution of the Joint Skills Statement, and the skills and attributes of the Joint Skills Statement have been incorporated into the Researcher Developer Statement.
The Statement can be found via the Vitae website.