Challenges and opportunities: Challenges: financial pressures; technological changes; understanding and meeting audience needs; institutional positioning. Opportunities: positive contributions to research culture; using AI in development; collaboration.

In a challenging landscape opportunities include making a difference to research culture, using AI in researcher development and collaboration with other institutions. Read more from the #researcherdevelopment public report with @Vitae-news.bsky.social: buff.ly/76YyQRl #VitaeCon #VitaeCon2025

Programmes and delivery: Programmes for research students and staff cover a wide range of topics; opportunities for professional and technical staff are more limited. Most activity is delivered through synchronous sessions.

Most activity is delivered through synchronous sessions, although asynchronous delivery is more frequently used for delivery to research students. Read more from the #researcherdevelopment public report undertaken with @Vitae-news.bsky.social: buff.ly/76YyQRl #VitaeCon #VitaeCon2025

Engagement: Barriers are lack of recognition in workload and limited awareness of opportunities. Engagement is strengthened by embedding reflections in performance reviews, targeted communications and senior leaders’ support.

Critical barriers to engagement are lack of recognition in workload allocation and lack of awareness of available opportunities. Read more from the #researcherdevelopment public report undertaken with @Vitae-news.bsky.social: buff.ly/76YyQRl #VitaeCon #VitaeCon2025

What a fantastic couple of days we had exhibiting at #VitaeCon2025 this week!

We’re heading into the weekend feeling inspired by the enthusiasm of the researcher development community 🙌 Thanks to everyone who visited our stand, we're excited to build on these connections in the weeks ahead!

Researcher development study: public report - Research Consulting Read the full report here: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17158658

Researcher development study: public report

www.research-consulting.com/researcher-d...

Our academics were at the @vitae-news.bsky.social #VitaeCon2025 this week, where they attended a session about this new report on researcher development across the UK and Australia. Well worth a read!

Structures: Responsibility is shared across institutional units, reflecting specialisation and proximity to researchers. Roles involve high levels of fractional input: staff balance researcher development with other duties.

Responsibilities for #researcherdevelopment are shared across different parts of institutions, reflecting specialisation and proximity to researchers. Read more from the #researcherdevelopment public report undertaken with @Vitae-news.bsky.social: buff.ly/76YyQRl #VitaeCon #VitaeCon2025

Strategy: Only a minority of institutions have dedicated researcher development strategies. Research Committees are the key governance route for researcher development.

Only a minority of institutions have a dedicated researcher development strategy and research committees are a key governance route. Read more from the #researcherdevelopment public report undertaken with @Vitae-news.bsky.social: buff.ly/76YyQRl #VitaeCon #VitaeCon2025

Evaluation: Evaluation is used to assess impact, inform programme development and share good practice. Key challenges include gathering longitudinal data and granularity of evaluation.

Researcher development study illustrates the importance and challenges of effective evaluation. Developing robust approaches to evaluation are key areas for development. Read more from the #researcherdevelopment public report with @Vitae-news.bsky.social: buff.ly/76YyQRl #VitaeCon #VitaeCon2025

People on a stage presenting with an audience.

Happening now at #VitaeCon2025 the panel 'Approaches to evidencing the impact of researcher development' with speakers Dr Anna Seabourne, Dr Karen Clegg, Martin Edmondson, Dr Sophie Morris and Dr Robin Mellors-Bourne.

Infographic in a purple box detailing challenges and opportunities. Image from Research Consulting Limited.

An infographic detailing 'Engagement' in a dark blue box. Image from Research Consulting Limited.

An infographic detailing 'Evaluation' in a gold box. Image from Research Consulting Limited.

Building researcher capability - read the report from Research Consulting @researchconsulting.bsky.social and Vitae of a baseline study of researcher development in 14 UK and Australian universities, launched today at #VitaeCon2025:

www.research-consulting.com/researcher-d...

Challenges and opportunities: Challenges: financial pressures; technological changes; understanding and meeting audience needs; institutional positioning. Opportunities: positive contributions to research culture; using AI in development; collaboration.

In a challenging external and internal landscape opportunities include making a positive difference to research culture, using AI in #researcherdevelopment and collaboration with other institutions. #VitaeCon #VitaeCon2025 7/7

Programmes and delivery: Programmes for research students and staff cover a wide range of topics; opportunities for professional and technical staff are more limited. Most activity is delivered through synchronous sessions.

Most activity is delivered through synchronous sessions, although asynchronous delivery is more frequently used for delivery to research students. #researcherdevelopment #VitaeCon #VitaeCon2025. 6/7

Engagement: Barriers are lack of recognition in workload and limited awareness of opportunities. Engagement is strengthened by embedding reflections in performance reviews, targeted communications and senior leaders’ support.

Critical barriers to engagement are lack of recognition in workload allocation and lack of awareness of available opportunities. #researcherdevelopment #VitaeCon #VitaeCon2025 5/7

Structures: Responsibility is shared across institutional units, reflecting specialisation and proximity to researchers. Roles involve high levels of fractional input: staff balance researcher development with other duties.

Responsibilities for #researcherdevelopment are shared across different parts of institutions, reflecting specialisation and proximity to researchers. #VitaeCon #VitaeCon2025 4/7

Strategy: Only a minority of institutions have dedicated researcher development strategies. Research Committees are the key governance route for researcher development.

Only a minority of institutions have a dedicated researcher development strategy and research committees are a key governance route #researcherdevelopment #VitaeCon #VitaeCon2025 3/7

Evaluation: Evaluation is used to assess impact, inform programme development and share good practice. Key challenges include gathering longitudinal data and granularity of evaluation.

The study illustrates the importance and challenges of effective evaluation, and developing robust and effective approaches to evaluation, including longitudinal evaluation are key areas for future development #researcherdevelopment #VitaeCon #VitaeCon2025 2/7

Infographic showing the main findings from the researcher development study, covering aspects of evaluation, strategy, structures, engagement, programmes and delivery, challenges and opportunities.

At #VitaeCon2025 we launched the report from a researcher development study in partnership with @Vitae-news.bsky.social with 14 UK & Australian universities, supporting 40,000 research staff and students. See the infographic & public report: buff.ly/76YyQRl

#researcherdevelopment #VitaeCon 🧵1/7

We're having a great time on day 2 of #VitaeCon2025 - fantastic talk from Dr Julie Bayley, and a Prosper shout-out from our long-standing collaborator Dr Anne Marie Sowerbutts at The University of Manchester

Dr Wayne Mitchell speaking on a stage in front of a screen at #VitaeCon2025.

#VitaeCon2025 has started at We The Curious in Bristol!

Dr Wayne Mitchell, Imperial College London, is presenting the Keynote, 'Where are the researchers that look like me?'

I'm at #VitaeCon2025 in person today and tomorrow - looking forward to catching up with lots of lovely researcher developers and learning about new developments

Today, our colleague @angharadroberts.bsky.social will be attending the Vitae conference in Bristol Feel free to connect and say hello if you are around. #VitaeCon2025

The VitaeCon2025 logo of people in a magnifying glass with a blue cloud behind it. The words Vitae International Researcher Development Conference are next to it, with the Vitae logo below.

People in a seminar room during a workshop. Photograph from #VitaeCon2024.

On Monday 22 September, the in-person element of #VitaeCon2025 starts at We The Curious in Bristol!

Login to the online conference platform and save a seat for the sessions you wish to attend: events.bizzabo.com/VitaeCon2025...

Following the Vitae Online Conference, our colleague @angharadroberts.bsky.social will attending the in person conference in Bristol. Feel free to connect before the conference next week. #VitaeCon2025

The VitaeCon2025 logo of people in a magnifying glass with a blue cloud behind it. The words Vitae International Researcher Development Conference are next to it, with the Vitae logo below.

The speakers for the panel session 'Future-Proofing Researcher Development: Policy Perspectives on Economic Sustainability in HE.'

Thank you to all who have attended the online element #VitaeCon2025

Future-Proofing Researcher Development: Policy Perspectives on Economic Sustainability in HE

Explore how national and institutional policies can align with the values of the Vitae RDF 2025

events.bizzabo.com/VitaeCon2025...

The three domains wheel of the RDF 2025.

Join our RDF Community of Practice at #VitaeCon2025 now as we focus on how institutions are using the RDF 2025.

This session features case studies, and shares best practices for RDF 2025, with the opportunity to ask questions.

Join now: events.bizzabo.com/VitaeCon2025...

Log on to see @rschrobuk.bsky.social and @angharadroberts.bsky.social at the Vitae Online Conference today discussing our Researcher Development Project, and join in the conversation. #VitaeCon2025

The VitaeCon2025 logo of people in a magnifying glass with a blue cloud behind it. The words Vitae International Researcher Development Conference are next to it, with the Vitae logo below.

People sat around a table talking with laptops in front of a window.

Welcome to Day 1 of the online element of #VitaeCon2025!

We’re starting off with a panel session at 10:00am, ‘Empowering Researchers: Global Insights for Skills-Driven Careers in Research.’

Save your seat and join now: events.bizzabo.com/VitaeCon2025...

The VitaeCon2025 logo of people in a magnifying glass with a blue cloud behind it. The words Vitae International Researcher Development Conference are next to it, with the Vitae logo below.

The online element of #VitaeCon2025 has started!

We have a mix of community workshops and panels across today and tomorrow.

The online element of #VitaeCon2025 will take the nine key values identified as central to the Vitae RDF 2025 as a focus.

events.bizzabo.com/VitaeCon2025...

The VitaeCon2025 logo of people in a magnifying glass with a blue cloud behind it. The words Vitae International Researcher Development Conference are next to it, with the Vitae logo below.

The SkillsForge logo in purple and pink colours.

SkillsForge are excited to be exhibiting at #VitaeCon2025!

SkillsForge supports the full postgraduate researcher lifecycle while embedding the Vitae RDF to strengthen researcher and supervisor development.

skillsforge.com

Book by 9am tomorrow: vitae.ac.uk/support-serv...

The VitaeCon2025 logo of people in a magnifying glass with a blue cloud behind it. The words Vitae International Researcher Development Conference are next to it, with the Vitae logo below.

Tomorrow is the start of the online element of #VitaeCon2025!

Don’t forget to login to the conference programme and to save a seat for the sessions you wish to attend – this is required for attendance.

events.bizzabo.com/VitaeCon2025...