The HR Excellence in Research Award (HREiR), endorsed by the European Commission and managed in the UK by Vitae, provides an internationally recognised framework and mechanism for implementing the principles of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers. By retaining the Award, the RVC has demonstrated its sustained and long-term commitment to fostering a supportive, inclusive and research-led environment that enables researchers at all stages of their careers to thrive.
As part of the renewal process, the RVC undertook a comprehensive internal gap analysis to assess how its existing policies and practices align with the Concordat’s principles. The RVC also submitted a robust action plan, developed in collaboration with RVC researchers, which outlined the steps that will be taken to further strengthen its support for researchers and ensure the commitment to the Concordat continues to be embedded across the organisation.
Professor Ken Smith, Head of the RVC Graduate School and Chair of the Research Concordat Working Group, said:
"Retaining our HR Excellence in Research Award is very important to the whole research community at the RVC, and the renewal application was an excellent example of the teamwork that is so important in research."
Professor Oliver Pybus, Vice-Principal (Research and Innovation) at the RVC, said:
"I am delighted that our continued efforts to support the RVC research community have again been recognised by this award from Vitae."
www.rvc.ac.uk/research/about/developing-our-researchers/concordat-implementation-strategy
About the RVC
- The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) is the UK’s largest and longest established independent veterinary school and is a Member Institution of the University of London.
- It is one of the few veterinary schools in the world that hold accreditations from the RCVS in the UK (with associated recognition from the AVBC for Australasia, the VCI for Ireland and the SAVC for South Africa), the EAEVE in the EU, and AVMA in the USA and Canada.
- The RVC is ranked as the top veterinary school in the world in the QS World University Rankings by subject, 2025.
- The RVC offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in veterinary medicine, veterinary nursing and biological sciences.
- The RVC is a research-led institution, with 88% of its research rated as internationally excellent or world class in the Research Excellence Framework 2021.
- The RVC provides animal owners and the veterinary profession with access to expert veterinary care and advice through its teaching hospitals and first opinion practices in London and Hertfordshire.
