53 Ways to Enhance Researcher Development

As the result of recent changes in the research landscape, researchers are now commonly required to do more than just research. For example, they are often expected to take responsibility for post-research activities, including engagement with government, business, and the public. To meet these expectations, an array of skills is required, including communication, networking, leadership, and the management of stakeholders. The need to develop such skills in researchers presents a challenge to those responsible for their development. These include researcher developers, principal investigators, research supervisors, staff developers, careers professionals, research office staff, and research centre managers. These developers face additional demands from the need to help researchers develop their careers and employability. 53 solutions, each tested in practice, for meeting these challenges are presented here, accompanied by practical advice on their implementation and the potential pitfalls involved. The book's 45 contributors provide strategies drawn from experience across several continents. Designed for dipping into, the book enables those responsible for researcher development to: enrich their approaches; innovate to enhance and embed educational value; and do more with limited resources. Topic areas include: fundamentals; developing professional researchers; researcher communication; peer learning; researcher communities; researcher career development; exerting influence in your institution; and developing a career in researcher development.