The human dimensions of the research agenda: supporting the development throughout the career life cycle

For more than a decade, increasingly explicit attention has been made in the policies of, and guidance from, various funding and overarching bodies to the overall concept of good practice in the development and management of research staff in higher education institutions. That has embodied the concept of developing researchers over the career life cycle. After outlining key aspects of the general trend, this article focuses upon some of the nuances and complexities of the concept of the career life cycle of researchers. Reference is made to illustrations of developmental strategies.