We aim to develop Imperial’s Early Career Researchers (ECRs) so that they have the mindset, knowledge and key underpinning skills needed to be successful in the 21st century, enabling their potential within or beyond academia.

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We will achieve this by:
  • Working in partnership with our external and internal stakeholders to define what we mean by Imperial ECR key underpinning skills, mindset and knowledge and ensuring this is communicated across the Imperial community.
  • Collaborating with experts across Imperial to ensure all ECRs have opportunity to access key underpinning skills training, including professional, technical and research computing skills, as well as opportunity to develop entrepreneurial and commercial acumen and ethical awareness. We will also collaborate with Imperial experts to deliver bespoke and tailored personal and interpersonal skills training.
  • Delivering inclusive facilitated learning and development opportunities, in partnership with expert teams across Imperial.
  • Establishing a strategically led, user driven Governance structure, including specialist/technical advisory groups, which identifies gaps in our current provision. This structure will enable a quick response to the evolving researcher development landscape and ensure that ECRI continues to meet the needs of Imperial’s ECRs through regular stakeholder and expert engagement.
  • Engaging in regular review of our facilitated learning and development opportunities, staying up to date and ensuring cohesive, inclusive and high-quality provision.

We will support the career development of ECRs at each stage of their professional career, enabling Imperial’s diverse pool of ECR talent to navigate effectively through linear and non-linear pathways.

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We will achieve this by:
  • Working in partnership with expert teams across Imperial to develop distinct and bespoke career development opportunities for ECRs and effective signposting to complementary provision provided by these services.
  • Recognising the essential skills required to navigate increasingly nonlinear career paths and transitions between career levels, we will collaborate with ECRs and key partners across Imperial to identify specific development and support needs at critical points in career pathways.
  • Deepening our collaboration with the Alumni Office, enabling ECRs to access a wide range of career routes through initiatives such as alumni career events and through showcasing the careers of Imperial PGR alumni and former research staff now working in different sectors.