Research Councils UK (RCUK) today (6 January) announce the outcomes of a review led by Professor Alison Hodge MBE to consider the progress made in implementing the recommendations which related to researchers skills and career development made by Sir Gareth Roberts in his ‘SET for Success’ report in 2002.
The report, Review of progress in implementing the recommendations of Sir Gareth Roberts, regarding employability and career development of PhD students and research staff, highlights the progress made in implementing Sir Gareth’s recommendations and the impact the “Roberts’ Money” has had on embedding these into postgraduate research programmes and into staff development practices.
Professor Alison Hodge MBE, Chair of the panel said: “The progress made to date is encouraging and we are pleased with the attention being paid to the development of researchers careers, whether in academia or elsewhere. Sir Gareth’s views on the need for such skills and career development remain vitally important for the UK, perhaps even more so as we move into 2011.”
Key recommendations made by the report include:
- Future funding arrangements should aim to move the researcher development agenda towards clearly defined goals and progress should be monitored.
- RCUK need to ensure that specific funding and other initiatives continue to stimulate and reinforce the development of transferable skills and support for career development.
- All funders must contribute financially to the skills and career development of PhD students and research staff.
- Research organisations must ensure that expertise is maintained in specialist roles supporting the development of careers and transferable skills.
- Future developments of transferrable skills training should be focused on employment needs. Vitae could take a more proactive role as an intermediary between research organisations and employers, particularly those outside academia.
- All research organisations should recognise and reward appropriate behaviours such as good supervision of PhD students through their HR policies and practices.
- International activities in the development of researchers skills should be monitored and shared systematically by all stakeholders.
Professor Rick Rylance, RCUK Champion for Research Careers welcomed the review and said: “RCUK believe it is vitally important to support researchers in their career development if we are to maximise the impact of these skilled people on the economic and social wellbeing of the UK. We welcome the recommendations made by this review and together with Vitae and others we will consider how best to implement them.”
The recommendations in the review will be the focus of discussions at the 2011 Vitae Policy Forum which is taking place from 12 -13 January 2011 in Leeds.
The aim of the panel was to review the progress made in implementing the recommendations which related to researchers skills and career development made by the Roberts’ Review and advise RCUK and the higher education sector about future requirements for the development and training of researchers.
A full copy of the report including all recommendations can be found here.
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Further information
Contact:
Jane Wakefield
RCUK Press and Communications Manager
Tel: 01793 444592
Notes to editors
More information about the 2011 Vitae Policy Forum can be found 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).