CEDARS is your chance, available every two years, to tell us your experience of what being a researcher at Bristol is like, and what more we can do to support you.
It’s not the only chance – you also get to fill in things like the Staff Survey – but it’s the only survey that is aimed specifically at research staff and those who manage them. And it’s the only survey that delivers its data directly into Bristol Clear and hasn’t been digested by another part of the organisation.
Consequently, it’s a survey that we listen to carefully, and draw data from constantly to shape what we do.
The survey runs in May, for one month. The data is then analysed, compared with CEDARS data from across the UK, data from previous CEDARS (CROS) surveys, and shared with both your local Research Staff Reps, and the Research Staff Working Party.
The data also informs our concordat action plan, and is used by the national body ‘Vitae’ to generate a report for the sector.
CEDARS is recognised as an ‘official’ survey for university data-gathering purposes… it’s supported by HR, the Research Staff Working Party, and the university’s management more generally. That means that what you tell us carries weight, and is reported. That’s why we work closely with research staff to ask the questions that they want to answer, so that you can tell us what you want to tell us. This year, research staff have added questions on well-being, work-life balance, and the impact of the COVID working patterns.
CEDARS is being updated for launch as we speak, and should go live next week. Please support us to support you, by filling it in as honestly as possible, and encouraging others to do the same.
If you have any questions about the CEDARS survey, then please let us know by emailing us at bristol-clear@bristol.ac.uk