10 days of development
What do we mean by development?
This means any activity that contributes to your learning and growth as a researcher.
Why 10 days?
The Researcher Development Concordat recommends that all researchers undertake a minimum of 10 days of development per year.
Recording your development
Don't forget to keep a record of your development!
What do we mean by development?
Researcher Development is any activity outside your usual job role that contributes to your continued learning and growth as a researcher.
It is ongoing throughout your career, though development needs may vary with career stage.
Examples of professional development activities for researchers might include:
- attending one of our RI training courses or workshops (short courses)
- taking part in a longer development programme (e.g. leadership development)
- online learning, e.g. via LinkedIn learning or LearnUpon (university elearning modules)
- participating in a mentoring scheme (as either a mentor or mentee)
- training as a workplace coach (or having some coaching yourself)
- undertaking reflective practice
- organising a research seminar, workshop, or networking event
- being a member of a university group, committee, network or working party
- joining a writing retreat to boost your writing progress
- policy development, public engagement, commercialisation or knowledge exchange activities
- workplace shadowing
- attending or speaking at an external conference or event
- providing training and development support to peers in your area of expertise
- peer reviewing a research paper or grant application
- participating in a research ‘sandpit’ to explore a research problem
- running a reading group
- being part of an action learning set
- joining the editorial board of a journal
- contributing to School development activities
Why 10 days?
In line with our commitment to the Researcher Development Concordat, we encourage all Huddersfield researchers to engage in a minimum of 10 days or 70 hours (pro rata) of professional development per year.
Doing so will enable researchers to develop their personal and professional competencies and gain experience, skills and confidence to support their future research career. It also contributes to our university-wide KPI of staff participation in professional development activities (2030 Strategy).
Following the university’s established Personal Development and Performance Review (PDPR) process creates a route to support development discussions and planning. Research and Innovation also coordinate an annual programme of training and development specifically for researchers, which supports the 10 days recommendation.
Recording your development
The PDPR process provides a clear mechanism for setting objectives, reviewing progress and identifying development needs. It also enables recording of the time spent on training and other personal and professional development activities. You should discuss and record this annually using the 'My PDPR' section of MyHR.
To help you with this, 'My Learning' (also accessed via MyHR) provides an online development record. Any sessions you have booked and attended internally via the system will automatically be included here. You can also add any additional personal learning/CPD (e.g. conferences) so it is shown on your record.
Please see our Guide to recording researcher development activities for further information.
Researcher development log
Our Researcher development log provides an additional means of recording further details of the development you have undertaken, supporting your reflections and career development discussions as part of your PDPR.