The following is an excerpt from a press release on the UK GRAD Programme website. It is the launch of a national organization to support doctoral students and researchers. It seems to be the joining of forces of UK GRAD and other organizations. Vitae is supported by Research Councils UK (RCUK) and managed by CRAC: The Career Development Organisation.
The new ‘researcher development’ programme 2008-2012
Launch of Vitae
Vitae, a new initiative to champion the professional and career development of researchers, was launched on 25 June by Ian Pearson MP alongside the new Concordat to support the career development of researchers.
Funded by Research Councils UK (RCUK) and managed by CRAC: The Career Development Organisation, Vitae builds on previous work by the UK GRAD Programme and UKHERD to build capacity in the HE sector to support researchers. Delivered in partnership with our regional Hub host universities, Vitae will work with higher education institutions, researchers and employers to make real and positive change.
The new website for the Vitae program is www.vitae.ac.uk. For those interested, it might be worth looking out for the Vitae Researcher Development Conference in September 2008. If there is one improvement in Vitae over the UK Grad program, I hope they better cater for non-EPSCR funded researchers.
I remember that UK Grad used to organize certain meetings in which EPSRC funded students did not need to pay, whereas non-EPSRC funded student were asked to pay a substantial amount. Another suggestion could be for Vitae to have more subject specific ventures that may attract more students. Any program which intends to provide support to graduate students and researchers should be applauded.
I’ll keep a lookout for further interesting developments at Vitae.
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