RCUK welcomes Higher Education Commission report into postgraduate education

Research Councils UK (RCUK) welcomes the final report of the Higher Education Commission’s independent inquiry into postgraduate education.

RCUK supports excellent research, as judged by peer review, that has an impact on the growth, prosperity and wellbeing of the UK. The UK comes second only to the United States in terms of the impact of the research it funds and the esteem in which this work is held.

We acknowledge that a vibrant system of postgraduate education is vital if the UK is to achieve its ambition to be the leading knowledge-based economy of the world, that our system of postgraduate research education remains world-class and that the higher education landscape is changing.

Much of the activity conducted by RCUK already supports the recommendations made in this report. In particular, RCUK:

is helping to build better understanding of career destinations of postgraduate researchers, their career progression and the various economic and social impacts they achieve
has developed postgraduate research funding mechanisms that allow flexibility to higher education institutions to offer longer postgraduate research courses including four-year courses in certain strategic and interdisciplinary areas
has stimulated a step-change in the provision of a broad range of transferable skills training for postgraduate researchers to ensure that higher education institutions embrace transferable skills fully in their training programmes
funds the Vitae Programme which provides careers advice to postgraduate researchers and helps drive institutions to provide their postgraduates with the employability skills they need to succeed.

We are working closely with HEFCE, the other funding bodies, universities and other stakeholders to consider the issues of research quality and employer demand for postgraduates across all sectors and disciplines.

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Further information

Contact:
Katie Clark
Press and Communications Manager
Tel: 01793 444592 or email: Katie Clark

Notes to editors

The seven UK Research Councils are:

Postgraduate education: an independent review by the Higher Education Commission is available to download here.
Research Councils UK (RCUK) is the strategic partnership of the UK's seven Research Councils who annually invest around £3 billion in research. We support excellent research, as judged by peer review, that has an impact on the growth, prosperity and wellbeing of the UK. To maintain the UK’s global research position we offer a diverse range of funding opportunities, foster international collaborations and provide access to the best facilities and infrastructure around the world. We also support the training and career development of researchers and work with them to inspire young people and engage the wider public with research. To maximise the impact of research on economic growth and societal wellbeing we work in partnership with other research funders including the Technology Strategy Board, the UK Higher Education funding bodies, business, government, and charitable organisations. www.rcuk.ac.uk.
- 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).