Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers
As a signatory to the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, Oxford is committed to creating an environment where researchers can thrive.
The Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers is a national agreement that sets out the principles for creating an inclusive, supportive and rewarding environment for researchers. It provides a framework for improving the employment and career development of research staff, recognising that investing in researchers is essential to delivering excellent research.
At Oxford, the Concordat underpins our commitment to fostering a positive research culture where researchers are supported to develop their skills, explore career opportunities and thrive at every stage of their careers. By embedding the Concordat’s principles across the University, we are strengthening research practice, supporting professional development and ensuring that researchers have access to the opportunities and resources they need to succeed.
Professor Irene Tracey on research culture at Oxford University
What the Concordat means for you
The University works collaboratively with researchers, research leaders and professional service colleagues to deliver its commitments, monitor progress and continuously improve the research environment for our research community. University’s Charter for the Career Development of Researchers sets out what you can expect at the University, and your responsibilities.
At Oxford, our commitment means that research staff can expect:
- opportunities to undertake at least 10 days of professional development each year (pro rata)
- an annual career development conversation
- access to training, mentoring, coaching and networking opportunities
- support to explore careers within and beyond academia
- recognition of diverse contributions to research
- an inclusive and supportive research environment.
Delivering the Concordat is a shared responsibility across the University. These commitments are delivered through collaboration with colleagues across the University and are embedded within our wider work to strengthen research culture.
Delivering the Concordat at Oxford
Oxford delivers its commitments through the Concordat Action Plan 2025-2030, which sets out the University’s priorities for strengthening the career development of researchers over the next five years. Building on the progress made through our first Action Plan, the 2025-2030 plan focuses on embedding the Concordat’s principles across the University and driving continuous improvement in the researcher experience.
Our priorities are to:
- Increase participation in annual career development reviews and professional development, ensuring researchers have regular opportunities to reflect on their career aspirations and development.
- Strengthen inclusive leadership and management, equipping principal investigators and academic managers with the knowledge and skills to support researchers effectively.
- Enhance employment and career pathways, reshaping employment approaches for researchers and providing greater clarity around career structures and progression at Oxford.
Complementing the Action Plan is the Charter for the Career Development of Researchers, which translates the University’s commitments into clear expectations for researchers and their managers. The Charter outlines the support researchers can expect during their time at Oxford – from induction and career development reviews to professional development opportunities and a supportive research environment – while also encouraging researchers to take an active role in their own career development and in fostering a positive research culture.
Together, the Action Plan and Charter guide our work across the Concordat’s three principles.
Progress and impact
This infographic summarises the key achievements during the first Concordat Action Plan period (April 2022 – March 2025) which were reached through the collaborative efforts of many colleagues in departments, faculties, divisions and central teams.
For further detail on progress to each of the specific commitments over time, please see our Annual Reports to the Concordat Action Plan:
“The quality and impact of our research depends increasingly on creative people working together effectively, united by a commitment to rigour and openness, and an enthusiasm to support each other’s future success. Our people make our environment.”
The Researchers' Town Hall
Tuesday, 3 June 2025 at the Oxford Martin School.
This hybrid event, held in the lecture theatre at Oxford Martin School and streamed online, gave researchers the chance to meet the authors of the new Concordat Action Plan 2025-30, ask questions, share thoughts, and help shape the future of career development for researchers at Oxford.
For further information
If you are a member of staff, you can find additional content on the Charter & Concordat for the Career Development of Researchers OxIntranet page. Please note you will need Single Sign On (SSO) credentials to access OxIntranet.
For further information about this page or Oxford’s commitment to the Concordat, please email Mary Muers (Lead, Research Environment Programmes at [email protected] or the Researcher Hub at [email protected].