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Leading the Way 2006 home Programme Keynote sessions Workshop groups

Workshop groups

A. Discipline specific collaborations

Committee Room 5, Workshop session 1 (13:00) and 2 (13:50)
Dr Andrew Edwards, University of Wales, Bangor

Dr Edwards gave an insight into the regional collaborative programme he had been involved with for Oral Historians. Key themes arising from this workshop were:

• How to fund and continue to fund schemes after an initial period of support?
• There is huge value in regional PGR discipline-based networks
• NW and (north) Wales collaborations are effective

B. Local GRADschools and collaborative training

Committee Room 8, Workshop session 1 (13:00)
Dr Richard Hinchcliffe, Director of Postgraduate Skills Training, University of Liverpool

Dr Hinchcliffe led a group looking at the role of collaborative regional GRADschools. Key themes arising from this workshop were:

• Regional GRADschools could run with the agreement and support of the NW Hub coordination team
• Identification of resources, location, costing and current / planned provision
• Could cover 800-900 PGRs each year
• MRes could / should be included

C. Distance and E-learning

Committee Room 8, Workshop Session 2 (13:50) and 3 (14:50)
Simone Kruger, SOLSTICE and Prof Alistair McCulloch, Head of Research, Edge Hill College of Higher Education

Prof McCullloch and Dr Kruger have identified a regional need for distance and e-learning in the area of skills development. Key themes arising from this workshop were:

• The resource would address the skills in the Joint Skills Statement
• Would be particularly useful to part-time researchers
• Offers a clear proposal for collaboration and the group was in agreement that this would be a valuable resource, and could work with the good collaborative relationships within the NW hub

The suggestions from this workshop will be progressed by the NW Hub coordination team

D. How HEIs plan to create provision for postdocs and how this links into postgraduate provision

Committee Room 5, Workshop session 3 (14:50)
Dr Jennifer Allanson, Academic Toolkit Project Manager, The University of Manchester

Dr Allanson led a discussion and ideas generating session on how we can provide for fixed-term researchers (FTRs). Key themes arising from this workshop were:

• A regional network would be valuable to avoid duplication of effort
• Regional networking for FTRs an those supporting them would be a great opportunity
• The promotion of 'regional career progression' to allow FTRs to consider options wider than their current institution of employment

As a result of this workshop Susan Hogan, Postdoc Development Officer for the Faculty of Humanities at The University of Manchester has proposed a regional network to support those working on the development of fixed term research staff. If you are interested please contact susan.hogan@manchester.ac.uk.

E. Evaluation and feedback - how do you effectively evaluate the programmes you deliver?

Committee Room 9, Workshop session 1 and 2 combined (13:00, 90 minute session)
Julie Groome, Senior Programme Development Manager, UK GRAD Programme

With the implementation of the Roberts agenda now starting to become more embedded, and with the revised QAA Code of Practice for Research Degree Programmes launched in 2005, the focus on being able to evaluate provision is becoming more important. There are broad issues around how do we as a sector demonstrate that the skills agenda is making a difference, which pick up the work of the Rugby Team www.grad.ac.uk/nationalpolicy. On an Institutional level it's also important to be able to effectively evaluate programmes in order to ensure that they are meeting the needs of our researchers. This session addressed:

• the external drivers for evaluation the impact of skills development (eg Roberts, QAA Code of Practice, Rugby Team, etc)
• the various methods of evaluation and how they can be used

F. Research Student Experience Questionnaire

Committee Room 9, Workshop session 3 (14:50)
Prof Chris Park, Director of Graduate School, Lancaster University HE Academy

Prof Park used this workshop session to look at how a national PGR survey could be useful to the sector and Higher Education Institutions (HEI). Key themes to ensure a useful survey included:

• Broad representation - by HEI and student type
• Learn from / link in with other similar questionnaires
• The survey should be completed towards the end of a doctorate but before submission
• The survey must be carefully designed and well timed to ensure a significant response rate

Postgrad Talent NW is supported by the NW Regional Hub of the Research Councils’ UK GRAD Programme.
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