Researcher Development Concordat launches annual reporting templates

The Researcher Development Concordat has launched two new templates to support signatories in their annual reporting. One template is tailored to universities and research institutes, while the other is tailored to funders and regulators.

As part of their signatory responsibilities, institutions are expected to develop an action plan within one year of signing the Concordat, and to submit a short report each year thereafter summarising the progress they have made and noting any changes to their action plans. The purpose of these reports is two-fold:

• For institutions to reflect on their progress and consider their next steps
• For the Researcher Development Concordat Strategy Group (RDCSG) a) to have oversight of the progress being made and the barriers to be overcome and b) to fulfil its obligation to report annually to Research England and to the funding bodies in the devolved nations.

In September 2022, the RDCSG approved the development of the new reporting templates, seeking to streamline the reporting process and minimise the burden on institutions while at the same time standardise the information that is provided. This will make it easier to monitor and evaluate progress across the sector, as well as support institutions and share good practice widely. Another benefit, is that the template wording aligns with that in the UK process of the HR Excellence in Research Award (managed by Vitae), meaning Award holders are no longer required to submit a report for the Concordat in the year they submit their paperwork for the Award.

Guidance on using the new templates

The new reporting templates can be accessed on our resources page, as well as in the links above.

When completing the templates, institutions are asked to provide the following information in respect to each of the three pillars (environment and culture, employment, and professional development of researchers):

• Institutional context/approach in relation to the Concordat
• Strategic objectives and implementation plans
• Measures of success
• Actions taken, and evaluation of progress made
• Lessons learned, and any modifications to the action plan and measures of success
• A forward look to key objectives in the next reporting period
• A brief statement describing the report approval process

Universities and research institutes are also encouraged to consider the unique context for each of their key stakeholder groups (institutions, managers of researchers, and researchers).

For more information on the Concordat reporting process, as well as how to align reporting with the HR Excellence in Research Award, see here.

The RDCSG will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the new templates, and make changes where necessary. If you have any questions, or suggestions on how the reporting process could be improved, please contact CDRSecretariat@universitiesuk.ac.uk.