We are pleased to today release RDF 2025 in full: Vitae RDF Final Version
Also find the Vitae RDF 2025 infographic:
Following a period of broad consultation with stakeholders (including researchers, universities and research organisations, funders (e.g. UKRI), employers, learned societies and professional organisations, research associations and connectors) RDF 2025 is now published to the phase level of detail.
Vitae’s sector-leading Researcher Development Framework (RDF) is a widely recognised and utilised approach to researcher development. The publication of Vitae RDF 2025 sets out the values, knowledge, and behaviours, of today’s researchers who can work across sectors and look to society’s future needs.
Vitae RDF 2025 recognises the critical importance of connections between the professional and career development of productive and motivated researchers and initiatives to further knowledge exchange, research integrity, open research, and research culture.
Vitae RDF 2025 is designed for:
• researchers to take control of their own professional and career development
• managers and supervisors of researchers in their role supporting the development of researchers
• researcher developers, human resources specialists and careers advisors in the planning and provision of support for researchers’ development.
The RDF phases represent distinct stages of development within each area of the framework. The release of the phase level of detail, enables support of researchers of all experience levels (postgraduate research, early career, mid-career, leading) to apply, translate and share research across a range of contexts.
The phase stage will look different for researchers depending on career aspiration and area of focus at any one time, providing a suggestion of the distance that could but won’t necessarily be travelled in each area.
Support for transition to Vitae RDF 2025
We are releasing RDF 2025 in full today in advance of a period of reflection over the summer months, whilst we prepare for a full and formal launch at our Vitae annual conference in September 2025. We anticipate some minor amendments before September, which will be detailed and shared in full with our community. We will be working with our member-led Community of Practice to develop required introduction and engagement resources for the key RDF users. Further information can be accessed at:
The Development of the Vitae Researcher Development Framework – Vitae (including FAQS)
The Vitae RDF Community of Practice – Vitae (member led community supporting member institutions to implement the new framework and to create a collaborative space to share best practices and insights on implementation)
Statement level: some minor changes
As a result of stakeholder consultation, some minor changes have been made to the previously published statement level as detailed below. These updates are captured in the full version released today.
Updated descriptor definitions:
1.1. Developed-focused: Takes ownership of ongoing professional development, building skills, capabilities, and experiences to support career growth, adaptability, and mobility. (rephrased to enhance mobility focus)
1.4 Curious: Takes an inquiring, open, and questioning approach, seeking insight, exploring new ideas, and engaging across boundaries (definition extended for clarity).
1.9 Responsible: Demonstrates personal and professional responsibility, considering the potential effects of work on participants, beneficiaries, society, and the environment (rephrased for focus on personal and professional responsibility)
3.5 Research integrity and ethics: Upholds integrity in research by applying ethical, legal, and professional standards; addresses challenges transparently and responsibly, supporting good governance throughout the research process (rephrased for focus on good governance).
4.5 Teaching and learning: Engages with and shares research through teaching, training, and learning activities to develop others and enhance knowledge, capacity, and practice (rephrased for application beyond academia)
5.1 Research culture: Fosters inclusive, equitable, open, responsible and supportive research cultures, ensuring all contributions are valued and research excellence is enabled (Descriptor name change from advocacy to research culture, with extended definition and inclusion of research excellence)