UWE Bristol

Researcher Skills Development

An overview of support
Dr Paul Spencer
Researcher Development Manager
UWE Graduate School
Paul.spencer@uwe.ac.uk
0117 32 83974

The Products of a Research Degree

A written body of
work

A researcher with a
set of skills

The product that the doctoral researcher

creates is not the thesis vital though that is to
their subject area through the creation of
original knowledge no, the product of their
study is the development of themselves
Sir Gareth Roberts

Why the emphasis on skills?

There should be additional training for PhD
students and postdoctoral researchers, mainly
in transferable skills, equivalent of two weeks
per year
Sir Gareth Roberts (b. 1940; d. 2007 )
SET for Success (2002)- A report to Govt on the supply
of educated talent to the UK economy

What are these skills?

UK Research Councils produced a

Joint Statement on Skills (2001) which described a
range of competences that should be developed by the
end of a research degree

Researcher Development Framework

Developed by Vitae in collaboration with
Research Councils
Knowledge, behaviours & attitudes of
researchers across a range of experience
Supersedes the JSS
See the Getting Started handout
http://www.vitae.ac.uk/rdf

The UWE Graduate School

Overarching admin support for PGR

Provides an institutional focus for PGR
Broad skills development programme
Emphasis on generic/transferable skills
Complement faculty student support

Skills Development Programme

Practical/knowledge workshops for research degrees

The IT workshops (Microsoft Office)

The Progression Examination
Writing Up
Preparing for the
Viva voce exam

Skills Development Programme

Wider research skills

Getting Published
Perfect Posters
1st Steps to Small Group Teaching
How to win funds & influence people
The digital researcher

Skills Development Programme

Transferable skills (the fun stuff?)

The Effective Researcher

Art & Science of Communication
Project management in a nutshell
Personal Skills Development Residential

Residential course Summer 2016

Skills Development Programme

Workshop suggestions in the first year

The Beginners Guide to the Research Degree

Data Management Best Practice
Searching & Organising the Literatures
Introduction to Qualitative Data Analysis

Booking places on events?

www.uwe.ac.uk/researchevents

Other resources

Vitae is dedicated to realising

the potential of researchers
through transforming their
professional and career
development.
www.vitae.ac.uk/inductions-routemap
www.vitae.ac.uk/focusonstarting
www.vitae.ac.uk/startingadoctorate
Vitae, 2015 Careers Research and Advisory Centre (CRAC) Limited.

@vitae_news

Vitae Researcher
Development
Framework
(RDF)

Describes the
knowledge, behaviours
and attributes of
successful researchers

Use it to assess your

strengths and identify
areas for further
development

Vitae, 2015 Careers Research and Advisory Centre (CRAC) Limited.

www.vitae.ac.uk/rdf

Vitae Researcher Development Framework Planner

(RDF Planner)

Online app
enables you to:
keep a record of
professional
development
identify expertise
and capabilities
upload files such as CVs, conference details, testimonials
print reports for discussions with supervisors etc.
record learning & development goals and monitor progress
view the attributes of successful researchers through different
"lenses".

Vitae, 2015 Careers Research and Advisory Centre (CRAC) Limited.

www.vitae.ac.uk/rdfplanner

Register to our website with your

university email for full access

On www.vitae.ac.uk
www.vitae.ac.uk/startingadoctorate

www.vitae.ac.uk/inductions-routemap
www.vitae.ac.uk/researcherbooklets
www.vitae.ac.uk/focus-on
www.vitae.ac.uk/researchimpact
www.vitae.ac.uk/rdf
www.vitae.ac.uk/wdrd
@Vitae_news on Twitter
#vitae15 #phdchat #phdadvice #acwri

Vitae, 2015 Careers Research and Advisory Centre (CRAC) Limited.

@vitae_news

Graduate School Community

We want doctoral students to feel connected to
each other and to the staff supporting doctoral
students.
@uwegradschool

facebook.com/groups/uwegradschool

Connected learning

janet.iocom.com/signup/westofengland

http://thedigitaldoctorate.com

www.uwe.ac.uk/graduateschool

The bigger picture about a doctorate

Wisdom from an assistant professor in the U.S.
The illustrated guide to a PhD

Some hints & tips that Ive

gathered over the last 15 years!

1. Supervisors are busy people

2. Write & get feedback on your work

as you go along

3. Be realistic its not a Nobel Prize

4. Beware the distractions

5. Take a break once in a while

6. Its all about work-life balance

7. Get help where you can

8. Its really about persistence

Where do I find out more?

Graduate School Webpages
http://www.uwe.ac.uk/graduateschool
Digitally Connected Researcher blog
http://thedigitaldoctorate.com
Vitae researcher development
http://www.vitae.ac.uk
PhD comics http://www.phdcomics.com/