Researcher Development
Training opportunities and career development
Falmouth University has adopted the Concordat to support the Career Development of Researchers as a strategic development tool and guide to providing specific research support opportunities. We have also mapped our provision onto VITAE's approach to researcher development, which is broadly acknowledged as the definitive benchmark in the area. Specific training options, workshops and seminars, resources and guidance are posted on the University intranet (StaffSpace for academics and Learning Space for research students).
The main mechanism for staff development and appraisal is the annual performance development review process, which includes discussion of research and innovation. Our research career development track defines the progression route for academic staff through to Professor positions. This is managed through an annual internal call for promotion to the Professorial and Fellowship Board, offering public recognition for individual academic distinction and leadership in terms of research achieved in a field of learning relevant to the strategic aims of the University.
Research & Knowledge Exchange investment schemes
We have a number of internal research and knowledge exchange investment schemes to support early stage research and/or knowledge exchange projects and preparation for external funding proposals:
Research & Knowledge Exchange investment schemes:
- Research & Knowledge Exchange Investment Fund for Projects
- Research & Knowledge Exchange Investment Fund for Leave
- The 'Doctoral Track' for staff to undertake PhDs
- AIR Conference Fund
The focus for the research and knowledge exchange investment schemes is on supporting early and mid-career researchers on pilot and feasibility projects that might lead to larger external funding bids, supporting staff leave to pursue significant research or innovation opportunities, activities that support the development of networks, and underwriting the costs of hosting conferences and staff PhDs.
Over recent years we have supported several successful cross-disciplinary international conferences at Falmouth, such as Air Pressure in April 2013 and Fascinate August 2013 and 2014, both of which were convened in collaboration with research students.
The 'Doctoral Track' was introduced in 2012 in recognition of how demanding a PhD can be on a member of staff as a CPD activity. The scheme offers a range of additional support options, including access to an experienced mentor and buying out additional time on top of the normal research and scholarly activity allowance of 35 days.
The Conference Fund is a flexible, open-ended scheme supporting staff to deliver peer-reviewed papers at conferences.
Full details of the scheme and how to apply are available on the Research & Knowledge Exchange pages on the University intranet (Sharepoint).