Our Commitments
Oxford’s Concordat Action Plans
Introduction
Being a researcher involves a demanding juggle of focus on near-term goals while building one’s career. Challenges can include insecurity of employment, difficulties allocating time to professional development and varying levels of support from the wider research environment.
Recognising that systemic changes are needed, researchers, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and research funders worked together to produce the National Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers.
The 2019 National Concordat
First launched in 2008 and updated in 2019, the Researcher Development Concordat is an agreement signed by most UK universities and major funders to improve conditions and opportunities for researchers.
The Concordat has three defining principles covering Environment and Culture, Employment, and Professional and Career Development.
For each of these principles, the Concordat outlines the key responsibilities of the four main stakeholder groups; researchers, managers of researchers/PIs, HEIs and funders.
These responsibilities are cast as obligations, given the pressing need to improve standards and ensure a consistency of experience for researchers across the UK.
Oxford’s Concordat Action Plans
In 2021 Vice-Chancellor Louise Richardson signed the 2019 National Concordat on behalf of the University of Oxford, triggering a process to design a related action plan to deliver on priorities for Oxford in the first three years.
2022-25
The first of Oxford’s Concordat Action Plans ran from April 2022 to March 2025.
Key achievements included:
- a new governance structure involving researcher representatives, academic advocates for researchers and relevant professional support staff that ensures researchers’ experiences and opinions inform decision-making at all levels of the university
- a Charter for the Career Development of Researchers (see below) summarising what researchers can expect and what they are responsible for, including annual Career Development Reviews (CDRs) and at least 10 days' professional development pro-rata, per year
- a new HR Self-Service online portal module to facilitate CDRs and professional development planning, alongside enhanced career support
- commitments to review contract type where researchers have been employed for 4 or more years on one, or sequential, contracts
- the launch of a University-wide 'Research Culture Toolkit' to strengthen research culture in departments and faculties
2025-30
The second and current Concordat Action Plan (available as PDF or web page) runs from April 2025 to March 2030.
The plan focuses on nine objectives under the three national Concordat principles in the tables below; the objectives in bold type are the priority areas.
- Environment and Culture
- Further equip PIs/managers appropriately in inclusive management and leadership skills, beginning with effective recruitment of research staff by the PI/manager and panel
- Strengthen the researcher representation framework and effectiveness of governance
- Ensure support for the mental, physical and social wellbeing of researchers within provision for all staff
- Employment
- Reshape employment approaches for researchers at Oxford and clarify internal career structures
- Improve engagement in and effectiveness of inductions and signposting to key resources
- Enable researchers to raise concerns relating to behaviour and equitable treatment early, and to receive support with the aim of resolution, thereby providing a realistic choice as to whether to report formally
- Career development
- Achieve routine engagement in annual reviews focusing on career and professional development (CDRs/PDRs or equivalent) and continue improving their effectiveness
- Achieve routine researcher engagement in professional development and the sustained provision of relevant development opportunities
- Strengthen researcher career mobility; including into and out of academic roles
Oxford’s Charter
Additionally, in 2024 as part of the first Concordat Action Plan, Oxford produced its Charter for the Career Development of Researchers (available as PDF or web page).
Based on the commitments of the Action Plan, this Charter briefly sets out what you can expect at the University followed by the responsibilities that you, as a researcher, have towards your own career development. This Charter and the Researchers’ Trailmap are designed to help you make the most of everything Oxford offers, support your conversations with your academic manager/PI, reviewer and/or mentor, and provide reassurance.