Research Student Development Programme and the ePortfolio
Dr. Richy Hetherington
Training and Development - history
National Changes
Number of research students has increased Full time academic positions have not
Data from http://www.hesa.ac.uk & Vitae
HEI full time
Academic staff
99/00 113,790
11/12 117,845
2010 26% Doctoral Graduates work in HE
research 6 months after graduation, 19%
after 3.5 years
A changing employer environment
Competency Frameworks
Appraisal and feedback
Performance Management
Self Assessment
Roberts Report 2002
“Many employers do not initially pay those with PhDs any more than they would a new graduate, viewing the training (particularly in transferable skills) that PhD students receive as inadequate preparation for careers in business R&D.”
“Institutions are not adapting quickly enough to the needs of industry”
Research council Joint Skills statement
(A)Research Skills and Techniques: validate problems, critical thinking, a knowledge of recent advances
(B) Research Environment: broad understanding of context,. confidentiality, ethics commercial exploitation of research
(C) Research Management: effective project management(D) Personal Effectiveness: self-discipline, motivation, and
thoroughness(E) Communication Skills: promoting the public understanding(F) Networking and Teamworking: In the institution and the
wider research community(G) Career Management: Commitment to continued
professional development
Researcher Development Framework
RDF Headings
A1 Knowledge base
A2 Cognitive abilities
A3 Creativity
B1 Personal qualities
B2 Self management
B3 Professional & career development
C1 Professional conduct
C2 Research management
C3 Finance, funding & resources
D1 Working with others
D2 Communication & dissemination
D3 Engagement & impact
Now a Requirement
Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) requirement for all UK research degrees
Funders expectations BBSRC, MRC have skills requirements
National and International competition to provide good quality training (part of the prospectus)
Development Programme Goals
Helping researchers be more effective Aiding timely progression and thesis
completion Improving research outcomes & therefore
academic career prospects Develop researchers’ broad range of skills
so options outside of research are available Improve confidence in skills gained and
their use in a variety of roles
Research Student Development Programme
Electronic booking system
Appropriate staffing Monitoring Evaluation Accommodate Changes Additions
Development Programme Timetable
In total over 100 hours of training development offered each year
Excluding safety training first year Phd has 5 compulsory sessions totalling 7.5 hours
There is one compulsory sessions per year, a professional approach is expected
RCUK expects students to undertake 2 weeks
(80 hours) a year on skills development
Selection of Evaluation Results
Workshop Facilitator %good/ very good %poor Average
ScoreAttendees
2012/13
Grant Writing: Travel Grants Dr Gwen AverleyMrs Alicia Cresswell 80% 0% 4.8 10 (5)
Writing Your First Year Report Prof John Kirby 96% 4% 4.5 81 (25)Careers Outside of Research Dr Lorna Dargan 74% 0% 4.4 23 (11)Systematic reviews - approaching the literature
Erika Gavillet 100% 0% 4.8 7 (2)
Writing a Literature Review Mrs Alicia Cresswell 100% 0% 4.9 51 (20)Personal Development Plan (PDP) Preparing for your Progress Review Panel
Prof. Dianne FordDr. Lorna Dargan 100% 0% 4.6 81 (65)
The Research Environment Dr Gwen Averley 57% 0% 4 11 (7)Presentation Skills using PowerPoint Mrs Sue Vescey 100% 0% 4.4 12 (7)
Achieving Career Success
Dr Lorna DarganProf. Deborah Henderson
100% 0% 4.8 6 (4)
Academic Integrity & Plagiarism
Dr Richy Hetherington Ms Erika Gavillet
85% 0% 4.4 21 (13)
Introduction to IT Databases (Lecture)Mrs Rebecca McCready 100% 0% 4.6 6 (3)
Wider View
• Postgraduate conference• FameLab• 3 Minute Thesis• Demonstrating and leading seminars• Biotechnology YES• Research Seminars• Institute training• Internships (PIPS)
The ePortfolio
eProgression instructions
Blog integrated with “My Skills”
Record meetings
Students add attendees
Self Assessment/PDP
2011 PRES Results for FMS students
How important are opportunities available for me to further develop my research skills
1% not important, 94% important
How important are opportunities to develop a range of transferable skills
3% not important, 82% important
Development programme Impacts
Timely progression and degree completion Good research outcomes (fewer thesis
corrections, more publications) More public engagement and publicity for
the research Building confidence: 97% said ‘Recording
your Research’ session improved their awareness in project & time management
Good News
More Good News
Summary
Supervisors have a responsibility to support researcher student’s development
Development programme and ePortfolio are there to help with this and to support student’s research activity
Benefits supervisors and the institution as well as the research students