RCUK has circulated to its contacts within HEIs a
statement
of
its expectations regarding researcher development activities, which clarifies the
position regarding future payments and reaffirms that RCUK remains committed to
researcher development.
In response to the Roberts Review (2002) recommendations regarding training and
career development for research students and staff, RCUK has provided funds to research
organisations to support the transferable skills and career development of research
students and staff.
These funds have been provided as coordinated ring-fenced payments throughout
the previous and current government spending review periods. Discussions regarding
the future of the payments have been ongoing throughout 2009 and 2010, and were
the focus of a high level policy forum for senior staff from the HE sector and funding
organisations (Vitae
Policy Forum, January 2010).
One of the themes highlighted in the outcomes of this Forum was that “many felt
that ring-fenced funding was no longer considered essential for maintaining the
‘Roberts’’ agenda and there were potential advantages for institutions in having
more flexibility to define and tailor provision to meet local strategies/needs”.
Ring-fenced funding is intended to raise the profile of an agenda and provide
momentum, but is not a long-term solution, and to ensure the continuation of high
quality researcher development, it must be embedded in normal practices of research
organisations and funding bodies.
The recent letter therefore also notes that RCUK expects researcher development
to be embedded in normal practice of research organisations and funding bodies.
RCUK welcomes the recommendation in
One Step Beyond: Making the most of postgraduate education
by Professor Adrian Smith that “Going forward, HEIs should ensure that transferable
skills training is embedded as standard in the funding and design of all postgraduate
research programmes.”
- ends -
Further information
Contact:
Jane Wakefield
RCUK Press and Communications Manager
Tel: 01793 444592
Notes for editors
- For more information please see the FAQ here
- 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 the third sector.
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).