B3 - Transitioning professionals from practice / professional backgrounds to academia

Workshop overview: 

Within the field of the creative arts, we have a heterogeneous population of researchers, many of whom have come from practice, industry and beyond with excellent knowledge and potential, and yet, struggle to apply it in a research context.  Individuals transitioning in from any area of public (e.g social work, nursing) or private sector (e.g. engineering, business management) are attractive applicants for the expertise and contacts they bring from a world outside of academia and which are increasingly sought after in today’s impact driven research culture.  Like early career researchers, transitioning researchers have an advanced knowledge of a particular field or specialism, but unlike ECRs, often have no PhD, no publications and little experience of research funding regimes.  This workshop seeks to gain opinions and explore what the characteristics of a transitioning researcher might look like, and, what strategies we, as research professionals, effectively support the transition to academic, REF-ready researcher?

Workshop topics covered: 

• Outline what transitioning researchers might look like;
• Determine characteristics they possess, distinct from other classifications (such as ECR);
• Brainstorm development strategies to reach REF ready status;
• Celebrate the diversity offered by this group to our traditional research population; 

Themes covered: 

• Developing research talent;
• Contribution of research developers to REF ready researchers;
• Enabling career transitions into academia

Workshop outcomes: 

By the end of the workshop, participants should: 

• Identify a new grouping of researchers with distinct needs;
• Share peer knowledge among attendees (challenges etc);
• Put forth positive strategies for the upskilling of this new grouping;
• Anticipate future challenges in the area and plans to mitigate for

Format: 

Information giving followed by brainstorming