UniSA Researcher Development Frequently Asked Questions

 

UniSA Researcher Development Framework and Programs

How was the UniSA Researcher Development Framework and Programs developed?

The UniSA Researcher Development Program was created, and continues to be designed, through a consultative and research-based process to deliver best practice learning and development opportunities.

What do the Domains in the Researcher Development Framework cover?

Researcher Expertise encompasses discipline-based skills and knowledge specific to the area of research, such as methodologies, techniques and profession/industry specific knowledge.

Enterprising Researcher covers research fundamentals that are generic across research areas, including research integrity, managing effective projects, measuring/evaluating impact, commercialisation and IP, partnership and engagement, ensuring effective resources, reporting, communications, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Career Focus covers personal qualities, competencies and capabilities applicable across research areas, including maintaining health and wellbeing, research leadership, teamwork, career development and creating an effective research culture.

How are the career stages defined and how might they apply to my situation?

The career stage definitions are a broad guide that enables academic staff to consider what development activities might be most relevant to their current or future career stage. 

When applying the career stages to identify potentially relevant activities, it is important to consider your individual circumstances. These could include professional or personal career interruptions, career pathway, discipline, background and experience. Different funding schemes, fellowships or programs may define career stages differently.

As a broad guide only,  the career stage definitions:

  • Early-career Researcher (ECR) – up to 7 years post-PhD conferral
  • Mid-career Researcher (MCR) – up to 15 years post-PhD conferral
  • Senior-career Research (SCR) – Levels D and E academic staff

Who provides the researcher development activities available in myRD?

Many areas within UniSA contribute researcher development activities that are available in myRD, including the UniSA Library and Academic Units, with a core group of programs facilitated by the UniSA Research Office.  

This enables us to ensure that a breadth of offerings are available to support researcher development needs across a variety of career stages, disciplines, experience levels and career and research goals.  It also enables the inclusion of UniSA expertise and context in delivering development opportunities, balanced with external facilitation as relevant.

 

Why can't I log in to myRD?

Login to myRD occurs through the single sign-on function where you enter you UniSA username and password by clicking on the HDR and Staff Sign in button on the myRD login page.  No additional set-up of passwords is required.  

If you are having issues logging into myRD, check whether you are within one of the following staff groups that can access myRD:

1. Academic Staff

    • Research only academic staff
    • Teaching and research (balanced) academic staff
    • Teaching only staff who are continuing or on fixed-term contracts

Academic staff with the following HDR candidature roles will also continue to have access to EDGEx via the role switching function (see FAQ on how to view HDR candidate’s activities for further information):

    • Principal Supervisors
    • Research Degree Coordinators
    • Research Education Professorial Leads
    • Deans of Research (or delegate)

Academic Staff on contracts may also encounter a temporary inability to login to myRD if their new contract is yet to be processed. 

Adjunct academics and emeritus professors not employed by UniSA are not able to access myRD, but can liaise with activity providers regarding participation in activities where relevant.

2. Professional Staff who administer or deliver EDGEx/myRD 

 

If you are in one of the groups above and you are unable to access myRD please contact researcher.development@unisa.edu.au  

 

How do I view HDR candidates’ development activities in EDGEx if I am a HDR Principal Supervisor, RDC, REPL or Dean?

The myRD/EDGEx platform enables you to switch between managing your own development activities in myRD to viewing HDR candidates’ development activities in EDGEx.  You can do this through the drop-down box next to your name in the top right corner of the platform. 

If you are searching for, or booking, a development activity for yourself, ensure that you are in the myRD role.  If you find an activity that interests you while in your Principal Supervisor, RDC, REPL or Dean role, switch to your myRD role to check whether it is available for academic staff and contact the activity provider if you have any queries. 

 

Who has access to my development information in myRD and how is it used?

Information held within myRD is managed by the Graduate Researcher Development team in the UniSA Research Office.  Access to the information is limited to a small group of UniSA development activity providers who are involved in ensuring development activities run smoothly and are up-to-date. 

The information in myRD, particularly Activity Feedback survey responses and participant demographics, may be used in reporting to UniSA stakeholders and to improve and inform researcher development activities.  Information used for these purposes will be deidentified.  Where the possibility of identifying a staff member arises, for example in the case of a small group of participants, the information will not be made available. 

Your training records are not visible to supervisors and managers, including your Development Reflections.

My attendance at a development activity has not been updated in myRD or is incorrect, what can I do?

Your attendance in a development activity is usually entered into the platform by the relevant activity provider and may require up to a week to process.  If after this timeframe your attendance has not yet been updated or is incorrect on your Booking Summary in myRD, please contact the activity provider. 

To find the contact email for the activity provider, open the activity description through your Booking Summary on the My Activities page. Below the activity title and above the domain and capability statement graphic, you will find the provider group name and their contact email address.

 

myRD won't let me cancel an activity booking, what should I do?

Some activities are closed off prior to the start date/time to allow providers time to prepare for your session.  If myRD doesn't allow you to cancel your booking please contact the provider.  

To find the contact email for the activity provider, open the activity description through your Booking Summary on the My Activities page. Below the activity title and above the activity description, you will find the provider group name and their contact email address.

Your record should then be updated in due course to 'Excused'.

 

How can I use myRD to reflect on my development?

The Development Reflections in myRD offers the opportunity to reflect on your capability development and your application of the learning to achieve your research and career goals.  Once you have completed an activity, the Development Reflection is available in the Completed Activities and Reflections page (under the Manage Activities tab).   You will also receive a link to the Development Reflections via email the Monday following the activity.

You can update your reflections through Completed Activities and Reflections page at any time and can print them when planning future development activities and research and career goals.

 

How do I export a record of my researcher development activities from myRD?

Export your development activity record from myRD by opening the Completed Activities and Reflections page under the Manage Activities tab.  The activities you attended or recorded yourself through the Record Your Own Activity feature are listed in a table.  To print or export this list into excel, click on the buttons above the table on the right-hand side.

As the Completed Activities list includes the Researcher Development Framework domain, you can use the excel list to identify the focus of your past development and consider where to focus in future.     

 

I am a HDR Principal Supervisor, REPL, RDC or Dean and while in this role can see a message indicating that I have a prior booking for an activity that I have not personally booked.  What does this mean?

You may occasionally see a message indicating you have a prior booking for an activity you have not personally booked because a HDR candidate with whom you have a supervisory, REPL, RDC or Dean relationship has booked this activity. 

Switch to your myRD role while this activity is open and you will be able to identify whether you can book into the activity.

 

An Activity Feedback survey or Development Reflections is appearing on my Welcome page that I do not wish to complete.

You can manage your Development Reflections and Activity Feedback surveys through the Completed Activities and Reflections page and the Activity Feedback page respectively.  Development Reflections and Activity Feedback surveys can be accessed, completed or updated by selecting the activity title.  You can also delete non-completed Development Reflection or Activity Feedback surveys by selecting the delete button.

myRD Video Guides 

How to add your MyRD calendar to another calendar (1.5 minutes)

Never miss a MyRD development activity you have booked into by adding your MyRD calendar to another calendar such as Outlook. 

To view this video with Closed Captions, please use this link and enable CC on the bottom right-hand side of the recording.