HR Excellence in Research – Bath Spa University
Source: https://bathspa.ac.uk/research-and-enterprise/research-strategy/hr-excellence-in-research
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:18
HR Excellence in Research – Bath Spa University
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HR Excellence in Research
Bath Spa University was awarded the HR Excellence in Research award in January 2012, and has successfully retained this since 2014.
"A UK-wide process, incorporating both the QAA Code of Practice for Research Degree Programmes and the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, enables institutions to gain the European Commission's "HR excellence in research" badge acknowledging alignment with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for their Recruitment."
This award reflects the University's current and on-going commitments to maintaining an active research portfolio. This commitment extends to concentrating on developing the research environment for our staff and students and building on our areas of strength while also fostering new research areas.
The University offers a comprehensive
Researcher Development Programme
for all staff and research students.
Researcher Development Concordat
In order to align ourselves with the European charter and code, the University has undertaken an audit of existing practice in relation to the support and career development of research staff across the University. An Action Plan has been agreed on how we can align ourselves more closely with the principles of the Concordat, and this has been approved and acknowledged by the European Commission.
The Action Plan is a working document, and is updated regularly. We undertake an annual self-assessment of our progress against the Action Plan through the University Research and Ethics Committee (REC) and the HR Excellence in Research Working Group, and submit a report to
Vitae
– the global leader in supporting the professional development of researchers and who manage the UK process – every two years for external evaluation.
A new
Concordat
was launched by Universities UK in 2019, with three clear
Principles
of
environment and culture
,
employment
, and
professional and career development
. The principles are underpinned by obligations for the four key stakeholder groups,
funders
,
institutions
,
researchers
and
managers of researchers
, to realise the aims of the Concordat.
The University completes and annual report which sets out progress against its action plan to meet with the requirements of the Concordat. Once approved by the Board of Governors, this is submitted to the Researcher Development Concordat secretariat at Universities UK. The annual reports for 2022/23 and 2023/24 which have been approved by the University's Board of Governors can be found below.
Annual Report for the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers 2022/23
Annual Report for the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers 2023/24
Annual Report for the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers 2024/25
Original documents submitted in 2011:
Concordat audit and gap analysis
Action Plan for the Implementation of the 2008 Concordat
Concordat Action Plan summary
Concordat consultation processes
2011/12 annual review:
Concordat Action Plan - Jan 2012 update
Concordat Action Plan - June 2012 update
2012/13 review:
Concordat Action Plan - June 2013 update
2013/14 review:
Concordat Action Plan - January 2014 update
Concordat Action Plan - July 2014 review
2014/15 review:
In May 2015, RKECC set up a Working Group to do a comprehensive review of the Action Plan over summer 2015 for consideration at the November RKECC 2015 meeting.
Concordat Action Plan - November 2015 review
2019/20 Action Plan and Gap Analysis:
The Action Plan and Gap Analysis undertaken against the three core principles of the new Concordat in academic year 2019/20 can be found below:
Environment and Culture
Employment
Professional and Career Development
12 year review of HR Excellence in Research Award
12 Year HR Excellence in Research Report
Backwards Looking Action Plan for 2021-2024
Forwards Looking Action Plan for 2024-2027
Glossary of Terms
Associated documents
The HR Excellence in Research Working Group has reviewed our progress and action plan against the 2019 Concordat gap analysis that was undertaken when the University signed up to the new Concordat in July 2020.
Documents relating to this review can be found below:
10 year HR Excellence in Research evaluation report
Two year review of progress: 2019/20 and 2020/21
Two year Action Plan for the period 20221/22 and 2022/23
Glossary of Terms
The HR Excellence in Research working group has reviewed our progress and Action Plan for the implementation of the 2008 Concordat. Documents relating to this review can be found below.
8 year HR Excellence in Research Evaluation
2 Year Concordat Action Plan 2020-2022
Review of Concordat Action Plan 2017-2019
Case Study A - Contract Researcher Engagement
Case Study B - Impact Research Assistants
The HR Excellence in Research working group reviewed our progress and Action Plan for the implementation of the 2008 Concordat. A six year review was submitted to RKECC for approval on 25 January 2018, and was subsequently sent to Vitae for external review. Documents relating to this review can be found below.
Six year evaluation review - 2018
Concordat Action Plan 2017-2019
Appendix A – Bath Spa Research Statistics
Appendix B – Principal Investigators and Research leaders Survey 2017 – Action Plan
Bath Spa University Concordat Action Plan - January 2018 - Review of Progress
RKECC undertakes an annual internal self-assessment of our progress in achieving the actions/outcomes set out in our action and implementation plan. A successful two year evaluation of the Action Plan was undertaken in 2014, with progress subsequently monitored by RKECC against success measures. A successful four-year evaluation was undertaken in January 2016.
The current
Action Plan for the Implementation of the 2008 Concordat
to Support the Career Development of Researchers was approved by RKECC in January 2016.
Bath Spa University Four year Concordat Action Plan Evaluation Report
Appendix A - Bath Spa Research Statistics 2015-16
Appendix B - Progress against two year evaluation success measures
Appendix C - Terms of Reference and Membership of HR Excellence in Research Working Group
Appendix D - PIRLS 2015 Action Plan
Case Study 1 Early Stage Researcher Programme
Case Study 2 HEA Creative Writing Practitioners Report
Bath Spa University Concordant Action Plan - two year evaluation
You might also be interested in
Strategy Overview
Research and Enterprise
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
Research Centres
Skip to main content
HR Excellence in Research
Bath Spa University was awarded the HR Excellence in Research award in January 2012, and has successfully retained this since 2014.
"A UK-wide process, incorporating both the QAA Code of Practice for Research Degree Programmes and the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, enables institutions to gain the European Commission's "HR excellence in research" badge acknowledging alignment with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for their Recruitment."
This award reflects the University's current and on-going commitments to maintaining an active research portfolio. This commitment extends to concentrating on developing the research environment for our staff and students and building on our areas of strength while also fostering new research areas.
The University offers a comprehensive
Researcher Development Programme
for all staff and research students.
Researcher Development Concordat
In order to align ourselves with the European charter and code, the University has undertaken an audit of existing practice in relation to the support and career development of research staff across the University. An Action Plan has been agreed on how we can align ourselves more closely with the principles of the Concordat, and this has been approved and acknowledged by the European Commission.
The Action Plan is a working document, and is updated regularly. We undertake an annual self-assessment of our progress against the Action Plan through the University Research and Ethics Committee (REC) and the HR Excellence in Research Working Group, and submit a report to
Vitae
– the global leader in supporting the professional development of researchers and who manage the UK process – every two years for external evaluation.
A new
Concordat
was launched by Universities UK in 2019, with three clear
Principles
of
environment and culture
,
employment
, and
professional and career development
. The principles are underpinned by obligations for the four key stakeholder groups,
funders
,
institutions
,
researchers
and
managers of researchers
, to realise the aims of the Concordat.
The University completes and annual report which sets out progress against its action plan to meet with the requirements of the Concordat. Once approved by the Board of Governors, this is submitted to the Researcher Development Concordat secretariat at Universities UK. The annual reports for 2022/23 and 2023/24 which have been approved by the University's Board of Governors can be found below.
Annual Report for the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers 2022/23
Annual Report for the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers 2023/24
Annual Report for the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers 2024/25
Original documents submitted in 2011:
Concordat audit and gap analysis
Action Plan for the Implementation of the 2008 Concordat
Concordat Action Plan summary
Concordat consultation processes
2011/12 annual review:
Concordat Action Plan - Jan 2012 update
Concordat Action Plan - June 2012 update
2012/13 review:
Concordat Action Plan - June 2013 update
2013/14 review:
Concordat Action Plan - January 2014 update
Concordat Action Plan - July 2014 review
2014/15 review:
In May 2015, RKECC set up a Working Group to do a comprehensive review of the Action Plan over summer 2015 for consideration at the November RKECC 2015 meeting.
Concordat Action Plan - November 2015 review
2019/20 Action Plan and Gap Analysis:
The Action Plan and Gap Analysis undertaken against the three core principles of the new Concordat in academic year 2019/20 can be found below:
Environment and Culture
Employment
Professional and Career Development
12 year review of HR Excellence in Research Award
12 Year HR Excellence in Research Report
Backwards Looking Action Plan for 2021-2024
Forwards Looking Action Plan for 2024-2027
Glossary of Terms
Associated documents
The HR Excellence in Research Working Group has reviewed our progress and action plan against the 2019 Concordat gap analysis that was undertaken when the University signed up to the new Concordat in July 2020.
Documents relating to this review can be found below:
10 year HR Excellence in Research evaluation report
Two year review of progress: 2019/20 and 2020/21
Two year Action Plan for the period 20221/22 and 2022/23
Glossary of Terms
The HR Excellence in Research working group has reviewed our progress and Action Plan for the implementation of the 2008 Concordat. Documents relating to this review can be found below.
8 year HR Excellence in Research Evaluation
2 Year Concordat Action Plan 2020-2022
Review of Concordat Action Plan 2017-2019
Case Study A - Contract Researcher Engagement
Case Study B - Impact Research Assistants
The HR Excellence in Research working group reviewed our progress and Action Plan for the implementation of the 2008 Concordat. A six year review was submitted to RKECC for approval on 25 January 2018, and was subsequently sent to Vitae for external review. Documents relating to this review can be found below.
Six year evaluation review - 2018
Concordat Action Plan 2017-2019
Appendix A – Bath Spa Research Statistics
Appendix B – Principal Investigators and Research leaders Survey 2017 – Action Plan
Bath Spa University Concordat Action Plan - January 2018 - Review of Progress
RKECC undertakes an annual internal self-assessment of our progress in achieving the actions/outcomes set out in our action and implementation plan. A successful two year evaluation of the Action Plan was undertaken in 2014, with progress subsequently monitored by RKECC against success measures. A successful four-year evaluation was undertaken in January 2016.
The current
Action Plan for the Implementation of the 2008 Concordat
to Support the Career Development of Researchers was approved by RKECC in January 2016.
Bath Spa University Four year Concordat Action Plan Evaluation Report
Appendix A - Bath Spa Research Statistics 2015-16
Appendix B - Progress against two year evaluation success measures
Appendix C - Terms of Reference and Membership of HR Excellence in Research Working Group
Appendix D - PIRLS 2015 Action Plan
Case Study 1 Early Stage Researcher Programme
Case Study 2 HEA Creative Writing Practitioners Report
Bath Spa University Concordant Action Plan - two year evaluation
You might also be interested in
Strategy Overview
Research and Enterprise
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
Research Centres