We are committed to empowering and supporting all researchers to conduct research at the highest level, and to helping them build and sustain their careers.

Research excellence is a key component of our strategic plan, The Way Forward 2018-2023.

In 2010, we became one of the first universities in the UK to apply for, and receive, the HR Excellence in Research Award. We have retained the award since then following biennial review.

Commitment to supporting career development

The framework for how research careers in the UK should be managed and supported is set out by the 2019 Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, of which Cardiff University is a signatory. Building on the widespread improvements made across the sector since the 2008 Concordat it is based on the principle that we must work together to create a supportive and healthy research culture in which our researchers can thrive.

Implementation of the Concordat is used by the European Commission as evidence of an institution’s commitment to the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. In the period 2010-2020 our work in this area was informed by the 2008 Concordat and since 2020 our progress has been monitored against the 2019 Concordat.

Progress

Over the last twelve years we have made continuous progress in the ways in which we support and develop our research staff.

An overview of the University’s progress is available in the following documents:

Previous Concordat action plans

Previous reviews under the HR Excellence in Research scheme

Further information

Further information and guidance can be found on the Researcher Development Concordat website.