UK Training Requirements for Research Students

The UK Research Councils issued a joint statement of "Training Requirements for Research Students" in 2001. This was replaced by the "Researcher Development Statement" (RDS) in 2010, as detailed in the "Researcher Development Framework". In the process they seem to have simplified it, down from seven to four domains:

• Domain A: Knowledge and intellectual abilities
  The knowledge, intellectual abilities and techniques to do research.
• Domain B: Personal effectiveness            
  The personal qualities and approach to be an effective researcher.
• Domain C: Research governance and organisation
  The knowledge of the standards, requirements and professionalism to do research.
• Domain D: Engagement, influence and impact
  The knowledge and skills to work with others and ensure the wider impact of research.

Note: the Joint Statement of the Research Councils’ Skills Training Requirements for Research Students (JSS) has been replaced by the Researcher Development Statement (RDS) as the reference document for the professional development of researchers, including postgraduate researchers. The RDS is a strategic statement setting out the knowledge, behaviours and attributes of effective and highly skilled researchers appropriate for a wide range of careers. It has been endorsed by key organisations including RCUK, UK funding bodies, UUK and the QAA.

The RDS updates the JSS and extends researcher development beyond the doctoral experience. All the JSS skills and attributes have been incorporated into the RDS and a mapping of the JSS against the framework and vice versa is available for reference.

The Researcher Development Framework (RDF) underlies the Researcher Development Statement (RDS) and represents a major new approach to researcher development, to enhance our capability to build the UK workforce, develop world-class researchers and build our research base.

For more information on the Researcher Development Framework, associated Statement and related resources go to www.vitae.ac.uk/rdf

From: "Researcher Development
Statement" (RDS), Vitae, 2010.