2023 Culture, Employment and Development in Academic Research Survey (CEDARS) is now live!

The University is running CEDARS from 11th April to 26th May 2023. This is your opportunity to influence research culture and researcher development at Westminster.

What is CEDARS?

Designed in collaboration between Vitae, researchers, and researcher developers across the HE sector in the UK, CEDARS seeks to gather the thoughts and experiences of researchers around the three principles of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers – employment; environment and culture; and professional and career development.

Responses to the survey are vital KPIs in the University’s HR Excellence in Research Award action plan and can powerfully inform improvements to policy and practice in a broad range of areas (including appraisals, training and development, career progression, line management, health and wellbeing). The survey is an opportunity for you to reflect on and share your experiences of how far the University values the contributions you make to it, and to shape change in the environment we work in.

How Will the Data Collected be Used?

CEDARS provides institutions with critical information on their progress in implementing the principles of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, highlighting areas for particular attention. Responses to questions on career development opportunities help shape the university’s Researcher Development Programme going forward and responses to questions on the research environment and culture at Westminster provide a baseline for improvement.

Following your feedback in the last iteration of the survey (2021), the University of Westminster has, for example:

Created the online, self-service Researcher Development Hub;
Created the Westminster Researcher Development Awards programme;
Ran specialist training workshops, including Managing Research Relationships and Research Team Leadership.

How Can I Access the Survey?

The survey is open to all academic staff and research staff at the University, and you should have received an email on Tuesday 11th April from Online Survey with a unique link to complete it.

If you have not received an email with the link, or have any questions about the survey and how your responses will be used, please contact research-knowledge-exchange-office@westminster.ac.uk