Sharing experiences of working with PhDs at Ulster

Dr Sharon MilnerUniversity of UlsterAHECS 30th April 2014

Agenda

Roberts Agenda – Funding

Doctoral Innovation Programme (DIP)

ILM accreditation / HEA associate membership

PhD destinations

BackgroundGovernment policy – Roberts Agenda

• 2 weeks training each year

Institutional Drivers: Corporate Plan and learning & teaching strategy

Funded by DEL – ring fenced

Structure of training programmeOriginally PgCert in Professional Development

Restructured as Doctoral innovation programme (DIP)

DIP training aligned to student gaining their PhD

Doctoral Innovation Programme

Structured 3 year programme providing students with opportunities to develop and enhance research practice and their employability

Each year different focus to align with PhD process and CDC feeds into programme at strategic points1st year focus – familiarity with subject area2nd year focus – capturing data3rd year focus – writing up and refining the thesis

DIP Accreditation routes

ILM accreditation – gain 2 modules towards level 5 ILM qualification

• 6 months free membership of ILM

‘First steps to teaching’• Associate membership of Higher Education

Academy (HEA)

All of which is free to PhD Students

PhD training:

• Approx 700 PhD students at Ulster

• Generic: Not faculty or discipline specific

• Careers provision is targeted at strategic points each year• Training in 1st year (2 sessions: 1hour and 3 hours long)• Training in 2nd year (1 session: 3 hours long)• Specific workshops in 3rd year. (4 sessions 2-3 hours each)• Students also have option of booking individual 1 hour

guidance sessions.

1st year training:

• 1 hour induction session in sept ‘starting your career plan’• Topics covered:

• Intro to CDC, process of career decision making, resources

• 3 hour session in March ‘strategically planning your career’• Topics covered:

personal and professional development, exploration of skills, visualisation of their life plans/ ambitions, action plan

Each of these sessions are part of ‘block training week’

2nd year training:

• 3 hour induction session in sept ‘strategically building your career: adding value to your PhD’

• Topics covered• DLHE, labour market information and career

management theory, alumni talks, travel scholarships, managing your online presence, action plan

• Part of ‘block training’ week

3rd year training:

• 2 hour session ‘professional cvs’

• 3 hour session ‘assessment centres’

• 2 hour session ‘introduction to interview skills part 1’

• 1 hour session ‘interview skills part 2: practical’

PhD DestinationsJane, PhD Modern Poetry, gained a lot of organisational skills and increased her self-confidence during her research degree. As a result she felt able to go in a completely different direction after she left university.

A.Development Officer, Northern Ireland Council for Integrated EducationB.Secondary school teacher, Our Ladys Grammar School NewryC.Business Development Manager, Ballycastle Enterprise Agency

PhD Destinations

Nuala, PhD Chemistry, she enjoyed the research and teaching aspects of her thesis

A.Development Officer, Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE)B.Career Development Consultant, University of ManchesterC.Secondary school teacher, Our Ladys Grammar School Newry

PhD Destinations

Elaine, PhD Psychology, explored the Health & Social services complaints system in relation to children. She thoroughly enjoyed the research aspects of her PhD..

A.Post Doctoral Research Fellow, Dept of Sociological Studies, University of Sheffield.B.Lecturer, Nursing Research Institute, University of UlsterC.Secondary School Teacher, Our Lady’s Grammar School, Newry

Any questions?