Vitae researcher development conference 2010: realising the potential of researchers 06 September 2010 - 07 September 2010

Details

Day

Day 2

Session

C

Start time

11.00

Strand

Postgraduate researcher

Code

C2

Presenters

Ms Barbara Calland - Programme manager: Employers, Vitae

Outline

Employers' views of the value of researchers are critical. The Smith Review stated that ‘increasingly, postgraduate level continuing professional development is being developed with and for employers and delivered in flexible ways. This model of responsive and tailored postgraduate provision will play an important role in upskilling and re-training the UK workforce.'

This workshop will present the outcomes of the first phase of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) funded study by DTZ; the economic impact of PhDs. 

The study was commissioned by the EPSRC to better understand and articulate the benefits resulting from its investment in PhD training to enable it to justify its spend on science and engineering and to inform where best value is being achieved. The study addresses the following questions:

• What do employers gain from doctorate holders and how does this differ from the value gained from holders of other qualifications?
• In what ways do doctorate holders contribute to the competitiveness of the employer, both directly (eg through contribution to innovation via knowledge transfer, impact on absorptive capacity) and indirectly (eg through their influence on others around them)?

There will also be an update on Vitae's work with employers and a discussion of how these studies will inform future work.

Outcomes

Participants will:

• have explored the purpose and findings from the first phase of the DTZ study on the economic impact of PhDs
• be updated on Vitae's work with employers
• have considered the implications of recent work on future projects.

Format

Presentation and discussion.