CEDARS survey

CEDARS is designed to reflect the principles of the Researcher Development Concordat. The survey provides essential evidence to:

• track progress in implementing the Concordat at the University
• support our submission for the HR Excellence in Research Award (HREiR)
• contribute to the research environment element of the Research Excellence Framework (REF)
• understand the needs of researchers and those who support them
• inform internal policies, culture and professional development activities
• monitor progress over time and benchmark against national data
• support equality and inclusion work, including initiatives like Athena Swan

At a national level, aggregated responses help shape and strengthen the wider UK research environment. The results are used to identify actions that promote a healthy and supportive culture where researchers can thrive.

The survey is open to researchers and those involved in supporting or managing researchers. This includes:

• early career researchers: for example, research staff, postdoctoral researchers or research fellows who are not yet fully independent
• established researchers: for example, senior research fellows, lecturers, senior lecturers, readers, professors, research directors or research group leaders
• research support staff: for example, research assistants, technical specialists or core facility staff
• teaching-only staff who also conduct research

We take your privacy seriously. Your responses are anonymous and stored securely. Here is how we protect your data:

• You do not need to provide any personal information.
• The raw survey data can only be accessed by a small, designated group within Vitae, Organisational and Staff Development Services (OSDS) and the Planning (Analytical Services) team.
• Data is stored securely using an encrypted platform (Jisc Online Surveys) and in accordance with the University of St Andrews collection and use of employee personal data.
• Any free text responses containing identifiable information will be redacted.
• Groups with fewer than five responses will not be analysed separately.
• Surveys are not a mechanism for formal complaints.
• Aggregated institutional response data may be shared with Vitae to support national benchmarking.
• Neither the University nor Vitae will report or share data in a way that identifies individuals.

Data shared with Vitae will be handled in line with Vitae’s Privacy Policy.

If you have any concerns about how your data is used, please contact the University’s Head of Information Assurance and Governance at dataprot@st-andrews.ac.uk.