Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers

About the Concordat

What is the Concordat?

The Concordat was created in 1996, revised in 2007 and it is signed by a number of bodies, including University Research Councils and Universities UK. The HR Excellence in Research Award demonstrates a commitment to meeting the principles of the European Charter and Code.

A UK-wide process 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 Researchers

The UK process incorporates 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 Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers is an agreement between funders and employers of research staff to improve the employment and support of researchers and research careers in the UK higher education. It sets out clear standards that research staff can expect from the institution that employs them, as well as their responsibilities as researchers. The Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers 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 Vice Chancellor's Letter of Commitment to the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers at the University of Suffolk.

The Researcher Development Concordat (RDC) (also known as the 'Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers') is an agreement between stakeholders to improve the employment and support for researchers and researcher careers in higher education in the UK.

The three main principles of the Concordat are:

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 are integral to enabling researchers to develop their full potential

These principles are underpinned by obligations for the four key stakeholder groups, funders, institutions, researchers and managers of researchers, to realise the aims of the Concordat.

University of Suffolk Annual Report, the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers (2022-2023)