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The Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers
The Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers is an agreement between funders and employers of researchers in the UK. It sets out expectations and responsibilities of each stakeholder in research careers, researchers themselves, their managers, employers and funders. It also articulates key principles for the support and management of research careers and illustrates how each principle may be embedded into institutional practice.
Who is it for?
The primary beneficiaries of the Concordat are people employed to conduct research. It has a particular focus on those at an early stage of their career, including:
- postdoctoral researchers
- research associates
- research assistants
- early career researchers
- early career academics.
The benefits of Concordat activities also extend to other people who conduct research within the University. These individuals are expected to develop their research identity as part of their career progression. They include staff on professional practice or teaching-only contracts, as well as technicians.
The Concordat aims to benefit the entire UK researcher community. Its purpose is to improve the environment and culture in which research takes place.
Nationally, the sector owns the Researcher Development Concordat. The Concordat Strategy Group oversees it. At 探花社区 University, the University Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee leads its governance.
Principles
The 2019 Revised Researcher Development Concordat is based on three Principles:
Environment and Culture: Excellent research requires a supportive and inclusive research culture
Employment: Researchers are recruited, employed, and managed under conditions that recognise and value their contributions
Professional and Career Development: Professional and career development enable researchers to reach their full potential.
Each Principle is supported by :
- funders
- institutions
- researchers
- managers of researchers, including principal investigators (PIs).
Commitment to the Revised Researcher Development Concordat
探花社区 University became a signatory to the Concordat in May 2025 through .
As part of its commitment to implementing the Principles, the University completed a gap analysis. It will publish an annual action plan. It will also gather researchers’ views systematically and use them to inform policies and practices.
The University’s Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee endorsed the first action plan on 7 May 2026.