Any additional feedback or comments about the project, please contact: osds@st-andrews.ac.uk.

1. Recognition of the importance of recruiting, selecting and retaining researchers with the highest potential to achieve excellence in research.

2. Researchers are recognised and valued by their employing organisation as an essential part of their organisation’s human resources and a key component of their overall strategy to develop and deliver world-class research.

3. Researchers are equipped and supported to be adaptable and flexible in an increasingly diverse, mobile, global research environment.

4. The importance of researchers’ personal and career development, and lifelong learning, is clearly recognised and promoted at all stages of their career.

5. Individual researchers share the responsibility for and need to pro-actively engage in their own personal and career development, and lifelong learning.

6. Diversity and equality must be promoted in all aspects of the recruitment and career management of researchers.

7. The sector and all stakeholders will undertake regular and collective review of their progress in strengthening the attractiveness and sustainability of research careers in the UK.

The HR Excellence 8 yr Review Report (PDF, 516 KB) maps actions to the following Strategic Themes and provides the Principles that are covered by those actions:

1. Improve quality and effectiveness of induction, institutionally and locally, for all research staff.

2. Supporting professional and career development of researchers and improving the knowledge (including EDI), skills and confidence of PIs in managing researchers.

3. Focus on developing a mentoring/coaching culture to support professional and career development for research staff, academics & professional staff who support research and focus on supporting a positive research environment based upon equality, diversity, inclusion, dignity & respect.

4. Improve information and support around career paths and career planning and enhance the employability and entrepreneurial skills of researchers across all cohorts.

5. Focus on improving the wellbeing of researchers and those who support them.

6. Support the development of research-associated communities, researcher networking and engagement with CPD, University policy development and processes.