Developing Researchers’ Competencies through CARE–KNOW–DO and upSkill.Map, aligned with EU and UNESCO Priorities

<ns3:p>Background In an era of unprecedented global challenges—climate breakdown, widening inequalities, geopolitical instability, and technological disruption—the research community faces mounting pressure to deliver not only disciplinary excellence but also sustainable and socially relevant solutions. Traditional competency frameworks, including the European Commission's ResearchComp, Vitae's Researcher Development Framework, and the OECD's Core Competency Framework, have made significant strides in recognizing transversal skills. However, inadequate training for real world problems and limited academic opportunities are deepening global skills mismatches, while these frameworks rarely position sustainability, equity, and justice as central pillars, creating a critical gap in preparing researchers for contemporary challenges. Methods This mixed-method study addresses this limitation by introducing upSkill.Map, a validated, interactive self-assessment instrument designed to foster responsible, innovative, and "eco-outwards" research careers. The novel tool uniquely integrates personal, professional, and planetary dimensions, operationalizing the CARE–KNOW–DO model through eight competency clusters encompassing 28 transversal skills. This framework guides researchers to reflect on values and purpose (CARE), deepen knowledge and understanding (KNOW), and apply skills through practice and societal engagement (DO). Rigorous validation combined psychometric analysis (exploratory factor analysis and reliability testing, Cronbach’s α = 0.963), expert review, and comprehensive user feedback, confirming a stable structure, strong validity, and conceptual coherence. Results Five key competency factors emerged: 1. Responsible and Policy-Engaged Research; 2. Collaborative and Inclusive Research Leadership; 3. Interdisciplinary Networking for Research Innovation; 4. Methodological Breadth with Societal Impact; and 5. Resilient Capacity Development. Findings from 40 researchers revealed consistent prioritisation of resilience, collaboration, and capacity building, underscoring their strong commitment to these competencies. However, the results also exposed limited institutional support for responsible research, interdisciplinary engagement, and impact translation, highlighting urgent developmental needs and the necessity for structured, context-sensitive training embedded in doctoral and early-career development programs. Conclusion By embedding care, sustainability, and justice at its core, upSkill.Map transcends traditional competency frameworks to offer both evaluative and developmental capabilities. It empowers researchers to prioritize competencies that build rigorous, ethically grounded, and socially responsive research cultures while advancing capacity aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals. Beyond individual reflection, the instrument provides institutions and policymakers with a scalable mechanism to strengthen researcher development, implement context-sensitive training, and accelerate systemic transformation toward sustainable, equitable, and impactful research ecosystems.</ns3:p>