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This analysis summarises responses to RCUK’s 2011 survey of research organisations (ROs) regarding the impact of Roberts funding to date, responses to changes in funding and strategies to 2013.

The 2011 survey was voluntary and consisted of open-ended questions. 

 

The data have a number of limitations as a result. Response rate was 50% of all ROs in receipt of Roberts funding in 2010/11, but this includes 92% of the Russell Group and 1994 Group research-intensive universities where much of the Roberts funding was concentrated.

In April 2008, the HERDA-SW Research Management Group Research Training network submitted a proposal to run a pilot South West Universities GRADschool during 2008/9. The aim of the proposal was to demonstrate and pilot a mutually beneficial regional collaboration in the area of generic skills training for research students.

Recently there has been growing interest in an alternate business model, social enterprise. This is a different way of doing business that trades for a social purpose whereby the social or environmental aims of the business are of equal importance to its commercial activities. Consequently the skills required for running a successful social enterprise combine those typical of enterprise activities generally with a strong motivation and passion for social improvement. We have found that this aspect is useful in engaging researchers because at the heart of social enterprise is a strong commitment to achieving a better society, a motivation that resonates with that which typically drives the research agenda and researchers themselves. This collaborative project with Vitae has been successful in developing written and associated video materials to explore enterprise skills with early career researchers. There are plans to disseminate the resources via Vitae as part of the ongoing move to produce development resources that are freely available to HEIs as part of the research skills development agenda, this is likely to be in January 2011.

This Forum allows research staff the valuable opportunity to join discussions, hear developments, share practice and network.

This conference showcases presentations and posters from UoP research students. We offer research students a valuable opportunity to practice presenting, listen to presenters, test their posters, view the work of other research students and, participate in the overall experience of a cross-discipline researcher conference.

As a follow up to our ‘SmartStart’ PhD inductions (see practice 929) that we organise or the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry (PCMD; in collaboration with the University of Plymouth) we hold an ‘Annual Researcher Event’. All doctoral students at PCMD are required to attend the two-day residential event, where they present on an aspect of their research to an audience consisting of their peers and academic staff from PDMC. Each year two students receive an award for their outstanding presentation and abstract. The event is also complimented by an annual dinner.

We have developed a PGR progress tracking system called ‘MyPGR’ which is an online tool capable of managing and monitoring PGR students. The system provides a record of interactions between students, supervisors and professional services staff. It also allows for the prompt provision of management information related to PGR students. The system will be operational for all students on MPhil/EdD/Phd programmes from commencement of the 2010/11 academic year.

A drop-in day at the Careers Advisory Service for postgraduate researchers, with bespoke resources and mini-presentations advertising the range of services available.

An evaluation of the use, impact and effectivenessof career development interviews, by survey of research staff.