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A bespoke, pilot programme designed exclusively for postdocs/research staff in the Department of Engineering and sponsored by the Head of Department and the Director of Research. Participants were selected through an application process and needed to gain the support of their academic supervisor/PI.

 

 

A programme accredited by the Institue of Leadership and Management (ILM), covering both theory and practice of management and leadership. It is designed for Research Staff who are interested in developing these key skill areas, both to support their current roles and their career development – whether in academia, industry, business or other contexts. Format: induction and taster (60-120 mins), seven one-day workshops over four months, a two-day residential intensive with a computer business game simulation, directed reading and discussion via an online forum, two written assessments.

This is a brief summary of the organisational model that we have adopted in order to work more closely with Schools, Faculties and Departments and 'partner' with them in understanding and providing for the needs of their particular staff in a ‘bespoke’ way where appropriate. This positions us better to target our resource towards meeting real needs, while striving for enhanced alignment between UCL’s research strategy and individual aspirations. This new model also enables us to work more closely in partnership with other key people deployed at a Faculty or Department level, such as Research Facilitators, Research Leaders, HR Consultants, Faculty Managers etc.

Workshops are facilitated by editors of high impact journals who discuss with participants key aspects within the writing process and the aims of the journal. Brief writing exercises on papers published by participants take place during the workshop. In addition, selected published articles from the journal are being discussed highlighting relevant points of interest that inform the writing process.

Our Loughborough Local GRADschool is now well established and ready to increase in size. We run a three day, non-residential model. This gives us a good balance between sustainability and impact. It is held open primarily for third year research students and has a real empahsis on what happens next after the PhD.

This scheme funds young researchers to work within entrepreneurial technology-driven business to develop: 1) a practical understanding of how to transform research ideas into commercially successful products and services; 2) leadership and transferable business skills.

An ePortfolio is an external facing website owned and maintained by a research student.

Research Staff are offered individual coaching to work on topics of their choice, such as personal effectiveness, career management, and other challenges at work.

Teaching for Researchers is an accredited L&T for Research Staff and PhD students who see teaching as a professional development opportunity. The course consists of 2 modules and each module takes place over an academic semester. In total, participants have to attend 4 sessions in each module. There are also support sessions planned that are tutor led and link to the assessment tasks that need to be completed. All sessions last 2 hours over lunch-time. The course started in January 2010, two new cohorts have been created for the October 2010 intake. In total, +130 participants are currently registered, attend sessions and submit assignments. The course is accredited by the Higher Education Academy (HEA) The high interest from RS and PGRs demonstrates that researchers see learning and teaching as a valuable training opportunity as part of their personal and professional development.