Research Staff Representation, Research Staff Working Group & Concordat Champions

Find out about the RSWG, Research Staff Representatives and Concordat Champions.

The Research Staff Working Group

The Research Staff Working Group meets three times per year and is chaired by the Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research Culture. This group reports to the Research Culture Committee (RCC). Full terms of reference, membership and meeting minutes are available.

  • To ensure that senior decision makers are briefed on Research staff perspectives with regards to changes that may affect them.
  • To be proactive in ensuring that they are consulted on University policy developments likely to affect Research staff.
  • To champion the role of Research staff in the University, both through the Working Group and individually in their roles.
  • To champion the Research Staff Representatives (Reps) Committee.
  • To take on specific tasks as individuals or small groups outside of meetings where appropriate.
  • To consult on and contribute to the development of training and development for research staff.
  • To encourage issues to be raised by the wider academic community.
  • To receive and discuss issues brought by the Research Staff Reps Committee and take forward as appropriate.

The Research Staff Reps Committee

The Research Staff Reps Committee represents research staff from across the institution and facilitates engagement within the University. The committee meets six times a year, either side of the Working Group meetings. Additional meetings may be arranged to discuss or consult upon specific topics of importance. Minutes of the previous meetings are available. Research Staff Representative Committee Terms of Reference May 2024 (PDF, 159kB)

Research Staff Reps

Research Staff Representatives (reps) from each school make up the committee membership and are in place to provide the link between research staff and the central University structure. They facilitate communication – both locally where they work and across Faculties between Research staff and the wider research and academic community. The Co-Chairs are also part of the Working Group. For more information see the Reps Charter: Research Staff Reps Charter (PDF, 169kB)

Concordat Champions

As part of the University’s commitment to the Concordat to support the career development of researchers each School is encouraged to appoint a local Concordat Champion. The role of the Champion is to help raise awareness of the Concordat and our collective role in supporting careers of researchers. Champions are academic members of staff who are on School committees, and they work closely with Research Staff Reps, Heads of Schools and others to address the local research culture.