It provides an important opportunity for staff who undertake research, manage researchers, or contribute to research endeavours by providing professional services for researchers (eg research developments, research officers or technical staff) to share their current employment experiences.
The results from CEDARS will be used to inform actions within Loughborough University; previous surveys have led to the creation of a Research Staff Association and revisions to the Code of Practice for Employment of Research Staff, including changes to the process for conversion from fixed-term to open-ended contracts for research staff who have had multiple contracts.
The results of the survey are vital for the University to judge how well we are fulfilling our obligations from the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, and also for our retention of the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award. The aggregated UK data is used by Vitae to understand researchers’ experiences across the UK, and by research funders to achieve their obligations within the Concordat.
The survey should take approximately 20 minutes to complete and closes at 11.30pm, 6 June 2023. Responses to CEDARS are anonymous and no attempt will be made to identify individuals. If you provide any identifying information within ‘free-text’ questions, this will be removed prior to sharing with others, for example, within University reports as appropriate.
Professor Dan Parsons (Pro Vice-Chancellor of Research and Innovation) said: “Participation in CEDARS 2023 is hugely important, and I would encourage as many colleagues as possible who are involved in research and innovation to share their views and experiences. To make positive change, we need to know what is working well and what is working not so well.
“CEDARS this year comes at a time in which I am developing the University’s Core Plan for Research and Innovation, which will deliver the ambitions of the 2030 Strategy – Creating Better Futures – Together, which seeks to significantly raise our ambitions around research and innovation across our two campuses. CEDARS will be central to the evolution of that plan.”
Anne Lamb (Director of Human Resources) added:
“In addition to evidencing our commitment to the Concordat, CEDARS will provide further context to the recent Staff Experience Survey results. We appreciate the time taken to share your views and experiences and are keen for a high response rate, so results are valid and so that the University can instigate change."
The link to complete CEDARS for Loughborough University will be circulated via email.
If you have any questions, please contact Dr Katryna Kalawsky.