The European Science Foundation (ESF) has released a new report detailing its feasibility study on a pan-European professional development framework. The aim of the study was to assess the applicability across Europe of a generic framework for the professional development of researchers based on the Vitae Researcher Development Framework (RDF).
The RDF is a UK-context framework set up with the purpose to better define researcher's professional profiles and to develop guidance for the continuous professional development of researchers. The report reveals that there is a real demand among researchers for a more structured approach towards researchers' professional development and active career planning.
The new ESF-co-funded study, with its members from the ESF MO Forum on Research Career Development, has applied the existing Vitae Researcher Development Framework in Europe. The RDF has been designed for researchers to evaluate and plan their own personal, professional and career development; and for principal investigators and supervisors of researchers in their role supporting the development of researchers. It is also aimed at helping trainers, developers, human resources specialists and careers advisors in the planning and provision of support for researchers' development. Additionally, it is expected to help employers to provide an understanding of the blend of skills unique to researchers and their potential as employees.
The testing of the RDF in different European settings reportedly gave encouraging results in overcoming some of the identified deficiencies and in progressing towards a shared understanding of the skills and attributes that characterise modern researchers. Furthermore, the RDF proved to be a solid basis for making researchers reflect on their skills and attributes and on their career aspirations in general. It is seen to provide an important potential to support the professional development of researchers in any national or institutional environment.
The report detailed that there are big differences between countries in their overall awareness and readiness to engage and invest into the general development and career development of researchers. However, there is a real demand among researchers for a more structured approach towards researchers´ professional development and active career planning.
