Type of document | Web application |
URL of the practice | http://www.vitae.ac.uk/researchers/291411/RDF-Professional-Development-Planner.html |
Summary | VITAE is the UK organisation championing the personal, professional and career development of researchers.
The Vitae RDF Planner has been developed in response to sector- wide requests for an interactive straightforward way for researchers to manage their professional and personal development with regard to the Vitae Researcher Development Framework (RDF). RDF is a guide to one’s development which enables researchers identify strengths and weaknesses to prioritise for future personal and career development.
The Planner enables researchers to: - identify their expertise and capabilities - plan their professional development - access relevant institutional development resources - inform professional development and appraisal conversations - set personal professional targets - record evidence of progress and achievements
The RDF Planner is structured into four domains and twelve sub-domains exposing characteristics or ‘descriptors’, going from technical knowledge to personal qualities. For each descriptor it is possible to identify one’s stage of development or levels of Performance: A) Knowledge and intellectual abilities The knowledge, intellectual abilities and techniques to do research. B) Personal effectiveness The personal qualities and approach to be an effective researcher. C) Research governance and organisation The knowledge of the standards, requirements and professionalism to do research. D) Engagement, influence and impact The knowledge and skills to work with others and ensure the wider impact of research.
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Stakeholders | Developers: The Vitae Researcher Development Framework was developed by and for researchers, in consultation with academic and the public and private sector. Beneficiaries: - Researchers : to evaluate and plan their professional Development - Principal investigators and supervisors of researchers : in their role supporting the development of researchers - Researcher developers, trainers, human resources specialists, careers advisors, senior managers and others: in planning and providing support to researchers - Policy makers, funders and other organisations : to inform and reinforce policy and strategy relating to researchers - Employers : to provide insight into the unique blend of researchers’ skills and to enable exploration of researchers’ potential benefits to the company as employees
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Validation | The Researcher Development Framework was created through interviews with researchers and empirical data leading to the identification of the characteristics of excellent researchers
The RDF Planner was developed during 2012, and is currently being piloted with a number of UK and international institutions until the end of March 2013.
Conditions of use: http://www.vitae.ac.uk/researchers/274251/RDF-conditions-of-use.html
VITAE terms and conditions: http://www.vitae.ac.uk/policy-practice/1663/Terms-and-Conditions.html
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Constraints | In order to use the web based RDF planner, an institutional subscription is needed. Individual subscriptions will be possible as off summer 2013. Subscriptions imply fees. |
Sustainability | One risk is that researchers start using the RDF planner via their institution’s subscription and stop using it when leaving that institution. One may have to stop paying subscription fees, which endangers sustainability. |
Transferability | The application was developed by researchers for researchers working in higher education. It concentrates on aspects of researchers’ context and would therefore suit the population of the SAIA project. |
Contact details | 01223 448530 |
URL of the practice | http://www.vitae.ac.uk/researchers/291411/RDF-Professional-Development-Planner.html |
Publication/Access Date | The RDF Planner web application was developed during 2012.
An excel prototype developed in 2010 is accessible to all on this link http://www.vitae.ac.uk/researchers/291411/RDF-Professional-Development-Planner.html
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Author/Publisher | VITAE |