One distinct and essential element of the SEDarc doctoral training experience is the placement opportunity with a partner organisation from academia, policy, business or third sector organisations.
The importance of placement experiences has been repeatedly emphasized by research councils and students. For instance, the most recent ESRC (2021) review of PhD programs suggested that recent PhD graduates think managing a project budget, developing a business plan, setting up [their] own business and managing people are the most important transferrable skill, and yet these are among the bottom transferrable skills that DTP’s previously prepared doctoral students with. A recent survey of UKRI (2023) also showed that alongside research skills, doctoral students think that communication skills, resilience/adaptability, and organizational skills are among the most important skills needed for doctoral training. Again, with the exception of research skills, these skills have previously received less attention and limited efforts have been made to develop programs and training to enable students to enhance them.
To enhance the doctoral training experience and to address the deficiency of students’ transferrable skills training, SEDarc have developed the opportunity and secured funding for each doctoral student to undertake a bespoke placement opportunity. Through these 3-month placement experiences, we are aiming to:
- Offer outstanding placement training that propels discovery and fosters innovation in our region, nationally, and globally.
- Equip doctoral students and future researchers to thrive in challenge-led, collaborative, and interdisciplinary contexts through a portfolio of specialist research training, highly transferable digital and data skills training, and research-in-practice experiences that promote knowledge exchange and impact.
For more information relating to placements you can contact us at sedarc.placements@surrey.ac.uk
References
ESRC (2021). Review of the PhD in the Social Sciences. Retrieved from https://www.ukri.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ESRC-180324-Review-of-the-PhD-in-the-Social-Sciences-1.pdf
UKRI (2023). Appendix 3. Findings from doctoral student survey. Retrieved from https://www.ukri.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/AHRC-08022023-AHRC-FDP-Final-report-Appendix-3_Findings-from-the-doctoral-student-survey.pdf