Connections: getting to grips with researcher development

Connections: Getting to Grips with researcher development is a programme for those who have recently taken on responsibility for supporting researchers in their professional development, whether as a full-time role or as a part-time activity.

Developing researchers can be hugely rewarding but often challenging. These introductory events help you to ‘get to grips’ with your new role and to:

• navigate the researcher development landscape, seeing it from institutional, national and international perspectives
• gain insights into how to add value in your role, create impact and effectively engage researchers in their professional development
• concentrate on your own professional development, with opportunities to engage through interactive sessions
• connect with other professionals who support researchers in this way

We expect participants to come from a range of roles within the institution, including those who dedicate just a portion of their time to researcher development. For example, the events will be relevant to academics, senior managers, human resources professionals, teaching and learning professionals, and staff from research offices, careers services and libraries, as well as researcher development professionals.

We welcome participants from anywhere in the world who are new to their role (~less than 18 months’ experience) in supporting the professional development of researchers. For example, you might support researchers’ through:

• Training and development
• Research administration
• Research supervision
• Staff development
• Doctoral Training Partnerships or Centres
• Graduate Schools
• Careers services
• Research and enterprise offices

The Connections: Getting to Grips 2025 programme will take place online across three mornings in April and May 2025. Each session will focus on a topic.

23 April 10:00-12:30 – Policy in practice
30 April 10:00-12:30 – Engaging researchers
7 May 10:00-12:30 – Leading and developing training

Vitae members:

£40 per session

All three sessions £100 – Offer valid only until 31 March 2025

Non Vitae members:

£50 per session

All three sessions £130 – Offer valid only until 31 March 2025

Bookings are now open!