EURAXESS Glossary of Terms
Have you come across a term you don’t understand?
Take a look at our Glossary of Terms.
Please note that the following definitions apply to EURAXESS.
A concerted drive, consisting of multiple activities, to promote the importance of researcher career development among your staff and researchers. For recommendations on what this should include, please refer to section 4 of the EURAXESS researcher career development model report.
A trained individual who can provide guidance and support to researchers on vocational issues.
The third of three researcher career development service levels in the EURAXESS researcher career development model, including some degree of face-to-face support for researchers. Please refer to the researcher career development model report for more information.
The framework through which EURAXESS researcher career development services will be delivered as described in the researcher career development model report.
The first of three researcher career development service levels in the EURAXESS researcher career development model which makes it possible to deliver using resources freely available through the EURAXESS website. Please refer to the researcher career development model report for more information.
The second of three researcher career development service levels in the EURAXESS researcher career development model. Please refer to the researcher career development model report for more information.
A personal guide providing one-to-one counselling and guidance to researchers on how to plan and manage their career development. There are many models used for coaching, but it is commonly considered that the coach guides learning rather than teaching directly.
An agreement that EURAXESS member organisations sign to confirm their alignment with the mission of the EURAXESS Network and the responsibilities it entails.
The online location for the tools and resources available through the EURAXESS website.
A particular section of the EURAXESS extranet that hosts e-training resources for service centre staff.
A EURAXESS project designed to strengthen relationships between industry and academia by increasing employer engagement through expertise, practical toolkits, benchmarking surveys and workshops.
The application of game playing to meet other objectives, such as the encouragement of researchers to engage with researcher career development services.
A comparison of the actual services provided in a particular area with an optimal set of services (e.g. as defined in a framework such as the Vitae Researcher Development Framework, or a bespoke researcher development framework created using the REFLEX app) to highlight areas for development.
Entities established to support start-ups through their early months in ways that range from affordable facilities and funding to direct management and training.
The movement of researchers (or industrial specialists) between academic and other sectors.
An experienced adviser in a particular area (e.g. career development) who can explain key details to those with less experience.
Literally, mobility means “to move around.” In the context of EURAXESS, this can mean researchers moving between institutions, but it can also be applied to researchers moving between sectors, disciplines or roles, or even geographically
A resource toolkit for researchers new to researcher career development that helps them identify what’s important in relation to their career, and then plan to build on their skills and knowledge accordingly whilst considering a wide range of career options.
A project designed to build capacity within the EURAXESS network to support researchers in the proactive development of their career paths through the provision of tools and training, selected and developed via stakeholder engagement and dialogue.
Researchers doing research under supervision up to the point of a PhD or equivalent level of competence and experience.
Researchers with a PhD or equivalent level of competence and experience who have not yet established a significant level of independence in developing their own research, attracting funding, or leading a research group.
Researchers with a PhD or equivalent level of competence and experience who are able to independently develop their own research, attract funding, and lead a research group.
A stage in a researcher’s career where they can be termed a “leading researcher”. This would include the team leader of a research group or the head of an industry R&D laboratory.
Researchers with a PhD or equivalent level of competence and experience who are recognised as leading their research field by their peers.
An RDF is an agreed structure against which researchers can plan continuing professional development. The Vitae RDF is a well-established version, or you can use the REFLEX to create your own bespoke RDF.
A EURAXESS project designed to build a flexible researcher development framework that can be adapted to particular organisations’ local requirements.
A set of tools and resources developed to support EURAXESS member organisations in providing researcher career development services to the most basic level of the EURAXESS careers development model.
RPOs are any organisation that hosts and supports researchers, including both academic and industrial researchers.
A process through which researchers identify areas in which they need to further develop their knowledge, skills and experience.
An online tool (see No Limits), available on the EURAXESS website, that helps researchers carry out a self-assessment.
A downloadable template for researchers to create a portfolio of research and transferrable skills evidence. It will complement a researcher’s career development plan by supporting them to identify the skills needed for particular roles, tailor their CV to specific roles and provide a basis for meetings with career advisors and coaches. Currently under development.
An organisational exercise which identifies gaps in training provision, the training needs and priorities of individuals, and solutions to aid the introduction of additional training interventions.