Vitae

www.vitae.ac.uk
Vitae
Annual
Report
2020 / 2021
Global leader in supporting
the professional development
of researchers

Foreword
With just a few months of remote working under 
our belts, the delivery of Vitae Connections Week 
2020 as a fully online experience was a remarkable 
event. There were over 50 sessions, an exhibition 
and overwhelming engagement in the Three Minute 
Thesis® Competition.
By March 2021, the roll-out of Connections: Getting 
to Grips as a virtual event for the second time, 
had become almost second nature. In fact, all our 
learning, development and events conducted in 
the past year have been online, and whilst we look 
forward to face-to-face delivery, the online format 
has proven a genuinely valuable alternative.
With a key focus on a culture shift that prioritises  
engagement with professional development
for researchers, it has been encouraging to see 
the uptake in the Culture, Employment and 
Development in Academic Research Survey 
(CEDARS), following last year’s pilot. It is a
testament to the dedication of our community to 
help make those much-needed shifts in the research 
environment and in upholding our Researcher 
Development Concordat commitments. We 
anticipate further engagement next year and have 
received interest from members globally.
Vitae has helped establish a firm evidence-base for 
influencing future policy decisions about the 
Spotlight on:
A year in the life of 
an evolving ‘new 
normal’ - a year in 
which significant 
achievements have 
been accomplished
research environment having recently conducted 
research on the impact of Covid-19 on researchers 
and research, commissioned by UKRI and the UK 
Department of Business Energy and Industrial 
Strategy (BEIS). Many of the findings will have 
relevance worldwide and will help improve the 
research culture, wellbeing and mental health of 
researchers and in relation to upholding Researcher 
Development Concordat commitments.
Working with the Government and others to 
develop an emergency career development plan, 
the Careers Research and Advisory Centre (CRAC), 
that manages the Vitae programme, has been 
a key stakeholder in the Career Development 
Policy Group (CDPG). Formed in 2020, the Career 
Development Policy Group brings together a range 
of organisations who believe that citizens should 
have an opportunity to access support in their 
careers. The group works with the Government 
and other stakeholders to develop policies and 
initiatives, including for researchers, that support 
career development, post Covid-19.
Navigating the effects that Covid-19 brought, has 
certainly accentuated areas for improvement in 
the research system as well as presented beneficial 
opportunities that are part of our new normal. 
The accelerated adaptation of the HE sector over 
the past 18 months demonstrates how momentous 
changes can be made in relatively short periods of 
time when necessary.
Reflecting on my term as Chair of the CRAC 
Board, the achievements accomplished collectively 
as a researcher development community have 
been significant in helping build an improved 
environment for researchers to thrive. 
So it seems timely to seize the research culture 
agenda and further our progress in developing 
an improved researcher environment globally. An 
environment that, using the Government R&D 
Roadmap, helps meet ambitions for increased R&D 
investment in the UK and reinforces the need for 
positive change in research culture. An environment 
in which researchers can flourish and reach their 
full potential.
Drs. Astrid Wissenburg
Chair of the Board of Trustees, Careers Research 
and Advisory Centre (CRAC), Director of Research, 
University of Exeter
ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21
2
ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21
3
Vitae has four aims:
–	 Influence the development and implementation of
	
effective policy relating to researcher development
–	 Enhance higher education provision to train and
	
develop researchers
–	 Empower researchers to make an impact on their careers
–	 Evidence the impact of professional and career
	
development support for researchers
Our partners include governments, funders of research, academies, professional bodies,
trusts and foundations, universities and research institutes. 
CRAC provides research intelligence and innovation for all those who support career 
development for people of all ages and in all sectors. We work in partnership with
government agencies, education organisations and providers, and employers and
professional bodies. 
CRAC is a registered charity No 313164 established in 1964.
About us
Vitae is the global leader in supporting 
the professional and career development 
of researchers, experienced in working 
with institutions as they strive for 
research excellence, innovation and 
impact. 
We are a non-profit programme, part 
of the Careers Research and Advisory 
Centre (CRAC) Ltd, with over 50 years’ 
experience of enhancing the skills 
of researchers. We strengthen our 
members’ institutional provision for the 
professional development of researchers 
through research and innovation, 
training and resources, events, 
consultancy and membership.

ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21
4
Join the culture shift
Researcher development is at the heart of improving research 
culture; bringing together wellbeing, ethics and integrity, 
leadership, and equality, diversity and inclusion to create an 
environment conducive to successful research.
Concordat to Support the 
Career Development
of Researchers (Researcher 
Development Concordat)
As part of the exciting evolution of the 
Researcher Development Concordat and
to bring all Concordats together under one 
umbrella, the Concordat Strategy Group 
(CSG) announced a review of governance 
structures in which Universities UK (UUK) 
have taken on the role of Secretariat since 
2021. Vitae will continue to play a key role 
in supporting UUK in future Researcher 
Development Concordat developments 
and in advocating for an improved 
research culture.
Vitae have been tasked by the Concordat 
Strategy Group (CSG) with gathering
Vitae Connections Week 2020
Last year, our annual conference was 
reimagined as a fully online and highly 
interactive event in response to the 
unanticipated global challenges of 
Covid-19, and the desire for accessibility 
to a remote audience. Almost 300 
participants came together virtually from 
17 countries, spanning Europe, Asia, North 
America, Africa and Australia for Vitae 
Connections Week 2020 offering the latest 
around policy and practice of researcher 
development. There were four days of 
keynote presentations, 23 ‘live’ sessions, 23 
on-demand sessions as well as expert panels, 
roundtables, fringe activities, an exhibition 
and networking opportunities. It presented 
a timely opportunity to discuss strategic 
opportunities and challenges; consider 
key sector trends like improving research 
culture; and to share innovative practice.
“The formats of the different sessions 
were excellent in maintaining interest and 
concentration. The content was also fab!”
Participant, Vitae Connections Week 2020
examples of good practice from across 
different contexts and stakeholders, 
including demonstrable impact, to share 
these with those responsible for
delivering on the Researcher 
Development Concordat’s aims. The 
examples will form part of a new ‘living’ 
digital library to be launched around 
Vitae Connections Week 2021.
“Vitae’s role in implementing the 
Researcher Development Concordat 
in partnership with the Concordat 
Strategy Group makes a significant 
contribution to embedding the 
Concordat across the sector and 
sustaining its lifecycle”
Professor Julia Buckingham CBE, 
Universities UK President; Vice Chancellor 
and President of Brunel University London; 
& Chair of Concordat Strategy Group
attended by over 50 attendees and given 
the opportunity to engage and share 
practice.
A dedicated member forum about the 
Award was also held earlier in 2021 to 
explore how the process might evolve to 
support institutional capacity building 
and embedding of the Concordat 
Principles.
Culture, Employment and 
Development in Academic 
Research Survey (CEDARS)
The pilot of the Culture, Employment and 
Development of Academic Researchers 
Survey (CEDARS) ran successfully in 22 
institutions.
The question set was then reviewed and 
refined by the CEDARS Steering Group.
53 participants attended a practice sharing 
event in March 2021 with 48 institutions 
running CEDARS in 2021.  
12,594 researchers responded to CEDARS 
2021. The results, published at Vitae 
Connections Week, show clear evidence 
of implementation of the Researcher 
Development Concordat principles.
‘CEDARS reveals valuable researcher 
perspectives on research culture, 
employment and development within the 
institution which informs our thinking 
as researcher developers. The qualitative 
data can help ascertain what’s working and 
what’s not within the institution and the 
evidence drawn from the data can be used 
as an effective lever for change.’
Dr Anna Seabourne, Head of Researcher 
Environment, University of Huddersfield
Responsible Research and 
Innovation Networked Globally 
(RRING)
Vitae have continued to play a large part 
in the HORIZON 2020 funded RRING 
consortium, which looked to establish 
a global community for Responsible 
Research and Innovation. The project also 
addressed the United Nations Sustainable 
Development Goals, through the framework 
of the UNESCO recommendation for 
science and scientific researchers. This was 
trialled in several countries with resources 
developed, training workshops and a global 
summit.
The formal phase of the project was 
completed in May 2021 and the community 
will now look to build on the network based 
on the knowledge gained through the 
project.
Vitae Member
Working Groups
The Continuous Professional Development 
(CPD) for Researcher Developers Working 
Group; Researchers Careers Working 
Group; Wellbeing Working Group and 
Researcher Networks Working Group 
provide a platform and voice on behalf 
of the community to help influence the 
global research environment.
In the light of Covid-19, the Wellbeing 
Working Group has been particularly 
active in the past year and have been able 
to draw upon practical resources created 
from Catalyst Fund projects to help 
deliver a ‘Supporting Researcher Mental 
Health and Wellbeing 2021’ event including 
researchers and supervisor training, 
supporting websites, researcher wellbeing 
and models for action learning sets.
In addition, the working group submitted 
a video presentation for the ‘UKCGE 2nd 
International Conference on the Mental 
Health and Wellbeing of Postgraduate 
Researchers’, highlighting themes and 
recommendations for stakeholder
groups.
The working group also organised an 
event in partnership with the University 
of East London (UEL) that focused 
on how supervisors could support 
researchers and their own mental 
health.
The Researcher Networks Working Group 
have been creating a new ‘Toolbox’ for 
developing and sustaining effective 
Researcher Networks. The toolbox will 
showcase examples of practice from the 
Vitae community such as inclusivity and 
sustainability of networks and should 
serve as useful digital repository for 
anyone involved in building effective 
researcher networks. 
“A strong network enables better 
mutual learning and cooperation in 
responsible research and innovation. 
We are in the process of creating a 
global network named the RRING 
community to develop and foster open 
access to a global knowledge base on 
Responsible Research and Innovation”
Dr Gordon Dalton,
RRING Project Coordinator.
HR Excellence
in Research Award
Vitae manages the HR Excellence 
in Research Award process for Vitae 
organisational members and there are 
currently 96 Vitae member institutions 
who hold the Award.
In response to interest from Vitae 
Members, Vitae supported institutions in 
preparation for submissions by running 
‘drop-in’ sessions, which so far have been
ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21
5
HR EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH

ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21
6
–	 Bureaucracy Review, UK
	
- consultation in progress  
–	 CRAC is a founder member of the 
	
newly developed Career 
	
Development Policy Group helping 
	
the Government enhance careers
	
support in response to the effect of
	
Covid-19 by helping maintain 
	
employment, productivity 
	
and progression in the UK.
Advocacy
–	 Advance HE Surveys Advisory Group 
–	 Chemistry in Cells Doctoral Training Programme Advisory Board
–	 Developing and Implementing hands-on training on Open Science and Open 
	
Innovation for Early Career Researchers (DIOSI) Advisory Board
–	 Economic and Social Research Council, North West Social Science Doctoral Training 
	
Partnership, Training, Employability and Knowledge Exchange (TEKE) Panel  
–	 EUniWell Advisory Board 
–	 National Institute for Career Education and Counselling (NICEC) Fellow 
–	 People and Culture Strategy, Department for Business, Energy and
	
Industrial Strategy (BEIS)
–	 Prosper Advisory Board 
–	 Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) Advisory Committee on Degree Awarding Powers  
–	 Queen Mary Academy External Advisory Board 
–	 Responsible Research and Innovation Networked Globally (RRING)
	
Founding Partner 
–	 Scientific Advisory Board for GW4 BioMed Medical Research Council (MRC) Doctoral 
	
Training Partnership  
–	 Technicians Commitment Advisory Board  
–	 The Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS) Data Insights 
	
Strategy Group  
–	 The European Laboratory Research and Innovation Group (ELRIG) Board and
	
Early Career Professionals (ECP) Panel 
–	 The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) International 
	
Survey of Science Association (ISSA) Advisory Board
Surveys and consultations
Vitae has gathered evidence on behalf
of the researcher development 
community to inform responses to
the following:
–	 Two extensive surveys to assess 
	
the evolving impact of Covid-19 
	
on researchers and research, and the 
	
resulting restrictions to working, on 
	
the research base, the Department 
	
for Business, Energy and Industrial
	
Strategy (BEIS) and UKRI
Vitae
sits on the boards 
and advisory groups, 
providing 
a voice for the 
professional 
development 
of researchers
Vitae in the media
Vitae has continued to gain 
global media coverage 
over the last year through 
its engagement activities 
and influence in the sector.
–	 Career tracking studies based on 
	
primary research with alumni or 
	
analysis of systematically collected 
	
outcomes data.  
–	 Several projects on diversity and 
	
inclusion themes, including for the 
	
Royal Society and the Royal 
	
Academy of Engineering.
Some particularly novel work has taken 
place, including devising a new method to 
assess the quality of careers information 
(for Health Education England) and 
establishing - for the first time - the 
profile of early-career scientists eligible 
to apply for fellowship programmes (in 
order to assess whether the fellowship 
funding model is inclusive). 
Research and Evaluation
Research and evaluation activity has been focused on a range of themes which relate to strategic interests, for a wide range of clients who 
support career development. Specialist areas include career transitions, career tracking, STEM and research careers. Many of our evaluation 
and impact studies relate to Vitae’s activities with researchers and the research environment and by providing evidence help to influence 
policy. In the past year, projects have been undertaken in the following areas: 
–	 Evaluations of a range of doctoral 
	
provision and early-career research 
	
support programmes, for funders 
	
including the Arts and Humanities 
	
Research Council (AHRC), 
	
Engineering and Physical Sciences 
	
Research Council (EPSRC) and the 
	
Royal Academy of Engineering.
–	 Longer-term evaluations of thematic 
	
funding programmes (improving 
	
outcomes for local graduates 
	
and development of conversion
	
MSc courses in data science and 
	
artificial intelligence, both for the 
	
Office for Students).
ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21
7
–	 UK Research and Development 
	
Roadmap to ensure voice of 
	
researcher development influences the 
	
Governments ambition for the UK to 
	
be a global science superpower and 
	
premier destination for those in R&D
–	 People and Culture Strategy, UK
	
the report has called for a more 
	
inclusive and sustainable research 
	
sector to benefit everyone

ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21
8
Enhance your 
development strategy 
and provision
Our evidence-based approach to researcher development 
draws on independent research, policy and frameworks; 
supporting you to identify goals and evaluate success in your 
strategy and provision.
Engaging with members
Our careers web pages have been the 
most referred to pages, with the CV pages 
maintaining around 400,000 page views 
each year. Vitae members have been 
able to benefit from the large range of 
off-the-shelf training manuals as well 
as the latest Vitae publications such as 
‘Understanding the experience
of postgraduate researchers (PGRs) 
using the Vitae Researcher Development 
Framework (RDF) at UK Universities’
Vitae festive networking 2020
The event was an opportunity for Vitae 
members supporting the career and 
professional development of researchers 
to come together and reflect on events 
and learning from 2020.
and the first Culture, Employment and 
Development in Academic Research 
Survey (CEDARS) 2020 aggregate 
results, which were created as a handy 
Powerpoint slide-set resource for Vitae 
member institutions. 
There have been 1,278,484 page views on 
the site since 01/09/20. Last year: 427,286 
visitors.
Vitae stats
(Per annum)
Page views
1,278,484
Visitors
427,286
Registered users 
+
12%
Connections Getting to Grips
For those new to researcher development, 
and one of Vitae’s flagship events, the 
second roll-out of this event as an online 
experience proved just as popular as the 
first the previous year.
Open access and
open research Vitae chat
An open access and open research 
#Vitaechat was held during Open Access 
Week and was especially welcome given 
a climate where access to facilities and 
face-to-face interaction has been limited. 
The chat was held for researchers 
and researcher developers alike, and 
heightened the important practice of 
open research and its positive impact on 
research culture.
Mental Health and
wellbeing survey
Vitae was an amplification partner for 
‘Joy and Stress Triggers: A global survey 
on mental health among researchers’ by 
the Cactus Foundation, which gathered 
13,000 responses from 169 countries. 
Online career and 
professional development 
training from Vitae
Vitae has continued to deliver training 
and support to researchers across the UK, 
Europe and beyond. We have delivered 
two workshops for researchers in 
Australia, four for researchers in Japan, 
14 for researchers based at European 
institutions, and nearly 
20 for UK institutions. 
All of our training for the 
last 18 months has been 
delivered online and 
while we look forward 
to returning to in-person 
delivery, we have proven that online 
training is a real and valuable alternative.  
The most requested topics for training 
this year have been career planning, 
enterprise, engagement and supervisory 
training.  We have also seen an increase 
in requests for individual career coaching 
for researchers.
CIRCLE
Vitae were asked by the Association of 
Commonwealth Universities (ACU) to 
develop additional resources to help 
grant recipient institutions in Africa 
to access the Researcher Development 
Framework (RDF) from the perspective 
of being at an early stage in researcher 
professional development and 
institutional strengthening programmes.  
This will support high level mapping of 
the organisation and the activity that 
they then embark on as a result. In order 
to make these resources as accessible as 
possible they will be both web pages and 
paper booklets. 
La Caixa
The third year of the La Caixa junior 
Leader programme has now been 
delivered, with all three cohorts receiving 
their residential training virtually as 
a series of half day workshops, and 
coaching for Cohorts 2 and 3 seeing an 
excellent take-up. 96% of those in the 
coaching programme rated their coach 
as excellent. We also delivered webinars 
to Cohort 3 and introduced discussion 
forums on topical issues including 
Managing Research in a Pandemic, and 
Research Integrity, using a format we
had successfully pioneered with the 
Medical Research Council (MRC) earlier 
in the year. 
Vitae Researcher Development 
Framework (RDF) and RDF 
Planner
In 2020, Vitae embarked on a series 
of projects that aimed to revisit and 
potentially refresh some aspects of 
the RDF, taking into account research 
environment and cultural changes
over the past 10 years, and anticipating 
changes to come over
the next 10 years.
Vitae invited Vitae 
Members involved with 
the RDF at a strategic 
level to learn more 
about these projects, 
progress and to share ideas about how the 
RDF intersects with other frameworks 
and institutional tools and approaches.
There are currently 78 RDF Planner 
subscriptions with five new Planner 
subscriptions from institutions in Ireland.
There are 182 registered users with 
individual subscriptions and 9,810
registered under institutional subscriptions, 
totalling 9,810 registered users.
ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21
9
Member forums
Following the success of the member 
roundtables of 2019-20, the following 
three member forums have been held 
in the last year in response to priority 
topics chosen by Vitae members:
–	 Immediate priorities for 
	
researcher development 
–	 People and culture strategy 
–	 Evolving the HR Excellence 
	
in Research Award

ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21
10
Path to Leadership in Africa
Following the commission by Wellcome and 
Accelerating Excellence in Science in Africa (AESA) of 
the report and recommendations published in 2020, 
we recently published three further peer-reviewed 
articles. Most theories of leadership focus on high-
income countries but these focus on research on 
leadership in low-income countries.
Pathways to research leadership for early career 
researchers in Africa: A potential role for African 
and Global Funders. Accepted by South African 
Journal of Higher Education - available online in 
2022
Breaking the glass ceiling: perspectives and 
strategies on gender and research leadership in 
African higher education. International Journal of 
Gender, Science and Technology. In Review
Early-and Mid-Career transition to research 
leadership in Africa.
Intellectual Property Office (IPO)
Now in our third year of collaborating with the 
IPO on the Intellectual Property (IP) for research 
programme, we have delivered 17 virtual events, 
which included four live lectures open to researchers 
from across the UK. The remaining 13 events were 
hosted by a UK research institution and included a 
presentation from their team managing IP. 
1.
2.
3.
Over 900 participants attended the sessions, and 
95% of respondents felt the session had helped them 
understand the relevance of IP in their research.  
Building on Vitae’s experience, in running and 
developing the IP for Research workshops, Vitae 
and the Intellectual Property Office have created 
a flexible ‘off-the-shelf’ IP for Research training 
package that researcher developers and/or 
technology transfer offices can use to deliver
in-house IP training either as a stand-alone event or 
as part of a wider researcher training programme.  
These resources are a response to the demand for 
greater awareness of IP for researchers and will help 
to upskill the research community in Intellectual 
Property.
Building Research Capacity for 
Sustainable Water and Food Security 
in Africa (BRECcIA)
As the final part of our contracted support for 
the BRECcIA Global Challenges Research Fund 
(GCRF) funded programme, Vitae have delivered 
four webinars to the early career researchers, 
on the topics of mentoring; impact in research; 
integrity and conduct; developing relationships. We 
are currently in discussions with BRECcIA about 
further support Vitae can provide in the next stage 
of the programme. 
Training for the Japan Science and 
Technology Agency
In the past year, Vitae has delivered three webinars 
and three training courses for the Japan Science 
and Technology Agency, aimed at young researchers, 
around the professional and career development of 
researchers. 
Training package 1
Training package 2
Training package 3
 
“Vitae really understood our 
professional development challenge - 
by providing strategic expertise and 
bespoke training sessions, Vitae enabled 
us to take our capacity development to a 
whole new level”
Dr Julie Reeves, Researcher Developer - 
Senior Teaching Fellow and
Co-investigator in the BRECcIA-GCRF 
programme
Innovative Training Networks (ITNs) and Doctoral
Networks (DNs)
Vitae is currently involved in two funded ITNs, which achieved funding in the final year 
of Horizon 2020: ‘Oligonucleotides for Medical Applications’ (OLIGOMED) which aims 
to address urgent needs in healthcare, in particular cancer, Huntington’s Disease and 
cardiovascular diseases; and ‘Systems approach of URban enviRonmEnts and health’ 
(SURREAL) where the researchers are working on an improved understanding of 
the urban health system’s complexity, and on co-designing and applying adequate 
interventions in the system. Our involvement in the PAIN-Net ITN was concluded in 
2020 with the final training, delayed due to the pandemic, was delivered virtually.
We are currently in active discussions with new applicants under the Horizon Europe 
programme for Doctoral Networks which is replacing ITNs, and expect to be a partner 
in a number of applications later this year. 
ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21
11

ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21
12
Connect with the 
community
Through a culture of engagement and practice sharing, 
researcher development professionals connect with diverse 
perspectives to generate new ideas and drive collective 
progress.
Academic Apprenticeships
The Level 7 Academic Professional 
Apprenticeship standard (L7 APA) 
develops early career academics in higher 
education, following either a teaching 
or research specialist route. Aligned to 
both the UK Professional Standards 
Framework and the Vitae Researcher 
Development Framework (RDF), this year 
the standard has been reviewed and a 
survey commissioned to understand why 
so few apprentices have undertaken the 
research specialist route. This will help 
Vitae to determine our role in supporting 
the community, working with the HE 
Trailblazer Group.
Vitae 3MT® competition
The Vitae 3MT® 2020 competition was 
transformed into an on-line virtual event, 
with global reach, through open access 
voting for the People’s Choice winner, 
attracting almost 800 registering to watch. 
Following the success of last year, 2021’s 
competition is being delivered virtually 
again. Approximately 20% more institutions 
registered their interest in holding a 3MT® 
competition in 2021 and 61 submitted entries 
to the Vitae 3MT® 2021 competition, which is 
a healthy 15% increase. 
When surveyed, institutional 3MT® 
organisers reported that the top two benefits 
of running the competition were developing 
and challenging postgraduate researchers 
and showcasing institutional research.
“Through this pandemic I’ve 
realised just how crucial science 
communication is and #3MT is an 
excellent way to build on those skills” 
Shruti Mandhani, previous Judges
Choice Winner
UK Research Staff Association 
(UKRSA)
Aside from the work being done in 
conjunction with the Researcher 
Networks Working Group, UKRSA 
have been focusing on recruitment and 
representation over the last year and 
have also been involved in and asked 
to join a number of consultations and 
other related committees such as the 
Department for Business, Energy and 
Industrial Strategy (BEIS) bureaucracy 
review and the UK Research and 
Innovation (UKRI) Early Career 
Researcher forum discussions.
UKRSA have also had a representative on 
the National Postdoc Conference (NPDC) 
Steering Group as well as on the HR 
Excellence in Research UK panel.
ELRIG Early Career
Professional Network
Vitae has continued supporting the career 
and professional development strands 
and activity of the ELRIG Early Career 
Professional network - the not-for-profits 
organisation serving the life science and 
drug discovery communities. Building such 
global networks is imperative for Early 
Career Professionals (ECPs) as they navigate 
the variety of career options ahead of them. 
The ECPs are from academia, not-for profits 
and industry, and the collaboration helps 
Vitae gain and maintain understanding 
from an employer’s perspective, given that 
so many early career researchers go into 
careers beyond academia.
Consortium for the 
Humanities and the
Arts South-East England 
(CHASE)
This year we have concluded our 
third CHASE research internship with 
publication of the ‘Understanding the 
experience of postgraduate researchers 
(PGRs) using the Vitae Researcher 
Development Framework (RDF) at UK 
Universities’ methodology report and 
accompanying 15 case studies.
As part of a series of projects that aim 
to revisit and potentially refresh some 
aspects of the RDF, Vitae’s latest RDF 
project has been identifying issues and 
questions that should be considered, to 
make recommendations for the future 
RDF over the next 10 years.
Engineering and Physical 
Sciences Research Council 
(EPSRC) review of doctoral 
education
EPSRC undertook a strategic review 
of their doctoral training programmes 
to align with the UK R&D Roadmap 
of increased investment in R&D and 
the People and Culture Strategy. As 
part of this review RAND Europe and 
Vitae were commissioned to conduct 
a literature review and deliver a series 
of focus groups with current doctoral 
researchers and alumni. These six focus 
groups explored their experiences of 
their doctoral education and how well 
prepared they felt for their chosen 
careers.
ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21
13

ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21
14
ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21
15
Looking to the future
The Covid-19 pandemic has given many of us the opportunity 
to do things differently, to take different perspectives, and to 
respond to new challenges.
Strengthening opportunities to 
collaborate with both new and existing 
members will be a priority for Vitae in 
the coming year, as well as continuing 
to develop our relationships with wider 
stakeholders in researcher development. 
For example, with the UK Government, 
in particular the Department of Business, 
Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), 
we will be feeding into the Research and 
Development (R&D) People and Culture 
Strategy and highlighting linkages to 
the implementation of the Researcher 
Development Concordat, together with 
the Concordat Strategy Group. Further, 
as a growing focal point for improving 
research culture in institutions, we will be 
supporting the researcher development 
profession to maximise and demonstrate 
our collective value, ensuring the needs 
of individual researchers and the wider 
environment are met. 
Globally, we will take advantage of recent 
transformations, both technologically 
and in working practices, to ensure 
an open dialogue with our members, 
colleagues, and partners, that supports 
mutual learning and fosters a culture 
of engagement and practice-sharing 
amongst researcher development 
professionals. 
Building on the success of member 
forums, working groups, and our learning 
and development offer for researchers 
internationally, we will look for new ways 
to support your research ambitions, 
generate new ideas, and discover what 
works well for you and your researchers. 
Having spent time looking back through 
the pandemic, we aspire to look forward 
with you as we co-create an environment 
in which researchers can flourish and 
reach their potential.
Looking back at what has been achieved 
across researcher development practice and 
policy, for research culture, and by Vitae, 
should give us all reason to celebrate the 
many individual and collective successes. 
Now, at the start of Vitae’s programme 
year, we are taking stock of these successes 
so that we can build from them as we 
define our immediate and future priorities. 
Priorities that, as ever, will be informed by 
the ongoing challenges facing researcher 
development and our members, as well 
as new opportunities to position and use 
researcher development to achieve the wider 
aims of institutions, policy makers and the 
research system.
With this in mind, we will be consulting 
on future evolutions to Vitae membership 
to help shape our offer so that we adapt 
to your cultural, strategic and global 
perspectives. We aim to meet the differing 
needs of our members in pursuit of an 
environment conducive to successful 
research that is underpinned by evidence-
based goals, strategy and provision for 
researcher development. 
The consultation and broad evolution of our 
membership offer in partnership with our 
members, will complement other specific 
areas to be refreshed, including the UK 
process for the HR Excellence in Research 
Award and the Researcher Development 
Framework (RDF).

Vitae, © 2021 The Careers Research and Advisory Centre (CRAC) Limited
Global leader in supporting
the professional development
of researchers
We are a non-profit
programme, part of the
Careers Research 
and Advisory Centre
(CRAC) Ltd with over
50 years’ experience
of enhancing the skills &
careers of researchers 
www.vitae.ac.uk