Research Councils UK (RCUK) announced, on 6 January 2011, the outcomes of a review led by Professor Alison Hodge MBE to consider the progress made in implementing the recommendations related to researchers’ skills and career development made by Sir Gareth Roberts in SET for Success in 2002.
The Hodge Review report Review of progress in implementing the recommendations of Sir Gareth Roberts, regarding employability and career development of PhD students and research staff, recognises the progress made by research organisations in providing support and training for researchers is encouraging. There is a clear message in the report that both funders of research and research organisations should continue to stimulate and reinforce skills and career development opportunities.
RCUK has made a considerable investment in this agenda and expect the skilled people we support to make a demonstrable contribution to knowledge, society and the economy. We recognise that relevant expertise within research organisations, sharing of practice and contributions to national projects have been important factors in national progress in researcher development and the international standing of the UK.
The higher education sector is a major employer, but just over half of all doctoral graduates are employed in other sectors. Effective partnerships between research organisations and employers are essential to ensure that training and development opportunities for researchers are relevant to the workplace. RCUK believe it is vital that researchers are equipped with the skills to help them have a real impact on the economic and social wellbeing of the UK throughout their career.
From 2011, centralised ring-fenced payments from RCUK will cease and funding for the RCUK share of researcher development will be delivered through Research Council grants for research and research training. This places greater responsibility on research organisations for funding decisions and researcher development activities.
Further details of RCUK’s response to the recommendations made by the Hodge Review can be found here.
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Further information
Contact:
Jane Wakefield
RCUK Press and Communications Manager
Tel: 01793 444592
Notes to editors
A full copy of the ‘Hodge Review’ Review of progress in implementing the recommendations of Sir Gareth Roberts, regarding employability and career development of PhD students and research staff is available here 
.
Letters regarding changes to doctoral fees and inclusion of research staff development costs in indirect costs on grants are available from the RCUK website here.
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Research Councils UK (RCUK) is the strategic partnership of the UK's seven Research Councils. We invest annually around £3 billion in research. Our focus is on excellence with impact. We nurture the highest quality research, as judged by international peer review providing the UK with a competitive advantage. Global research requires we sustain a diversity of funding approaches, fostering international collaborations, and providing access to the best facilities and infrastructure, and locating skilled researchers in stimulating environments. Our research achieves impact – the demonstrable contribution to society and the economy made by knowledge and skilled people. To deliver impact, researchers and businesses need to engage and collaborate with the public, business, government and charitable organisations. www.rcuk.ac.uk.
The seven UK Research Councils are:
- Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC);
- Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC);
- Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC);
- Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC);
- Medical Research Council (MRC);
- Natural Environment Research Council (NERC);
- Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC).