An Institutional Approach to the Changing Doctoral Landscape: Exploring the Doctoral College Model

Dr Rebekah Smith McGloinDoctoral Training Programmes Manager

University of Nottingham

“Doctoral Training Programmes” Umbrella term to describe:

Doctoral Training Partnerships Centres for Doctoral Training

Industrial Doctorate Centres International Doctoral Innovation

Centres

Terminology

Changes in the funding environment

A shift in research council funding/ expectations

Post-Roberts era policy imperatives

challenges in the doctoral training landscapeo Better integration of research and generic skills training (PRES,

RCUK)o More/better employer engagement (Hodge (2011), Smith (2010)

Reviews, RCUK)o More cohort development, networking, (PRES, RCUK)o Increase capacity in postgraduate placements (Wilson (2012) Review,

RCUK)

Setting the scene for Doctoral Training Programmes

• RCUK Investment in the four-year cohort-based training programme model:– ESRC £80m (2011)– BBSRC £220m (2012)– AHRC £164m (2013)– NERC £100m (2013)– EPSRC £500m (2014)

• Also investment in the model by Wellcome Trust

and European Union investment through the Marie

Curie International Training Network actions. • Focused in research-intensive HEIs

Context

• Step change in doctoral training provision• Focus on

– Recruitment– Research integrity– Public engagement– Researcher development

• Potential poles of innovation• Pace of change particularly challenging in certain

institutions• Haves and Have-nots

Context

Current Doctoral Training Programmes at University of Nottingham

“I have no fear of making changes, destroying the image, etc., because the painting has a life of its own.”  Jackson Pollock

Where we are. And where we want to be…

Making sense and making the most

• They all share the following characteristics:– A distinctive ‘brand’– Cohort-based induction and training– Tailored training programmes that integrate specific with generic skills– Established connections to industry – Placement/internship opportunities offered– Localised governance structure – Mandatory supervisor training

• In the majority of cases they also:– offer an extended duration of study beyond 3 years (most commonly 4

years)– operate as consortia with other Research Organisations

• Some offer:– Structured laboratory rotations– The opportunity for students to co-write their research proposal with the PI – Joint or co-supervision across institutions, working towards joint awards

Key Commonalities

Academic Community

International networks

Broader Academy

(other ROs)

CohortBusiness

/Industry

Employers

Teaching and learning agenda meets research

agenda

DoctoralTraining

Programmes

Complex Connectivity: Challenge and opportunity

PRES 2013 student survey results:

‘Only very small differences between the research skills experience of those whose training was provided through a doctoral training centre and those whose was not, with negligible effect sizes.’

Evaluation

Early institutional evaluation data shows positive student experience and high satisfaction rates for:

1. Quality, relevance and pitch of the training programme2. Employer engagement with student body 3. Student learning community

How to build on early successes: A Nottingham Approach

Governance

Management and implementation Strategy Development

Restructure?

How to build on early successes: Governance

Doctoral Training Programme Management Committee

Research Board

Doctoral Training Programme Managers’ Network

How to build on early successes: Management and Implementation

• Business Process Mapping• Working with Student Administration• Finding commonalities and

efficiencies• Focus on marketing• Developing evaluation framework

• Working groups– Integration with research strategy– Internationalisation– Business engagement– Evaluation– Student experience

How to build on early successes: Strategy Development

How to build on early successes: Doctoral College – Model 1

How to build on early successes: Doctoral College – Model 2

How to build on early successes: Doctoral College – Model 3

http://www.caje-co.org/turning-challenge-into-opportunity/