1. Research Environment for International Research Students (REFIRS)
Dr Linda Hui Yang & Dr Lowry McComb
Centre for Academic and Researcher Development
Durham University
3 July 2013
HEA Annual Conference

2. Summary Durham context; Aims of the REFIRS project; Methodology;
Key findings.

3. Durham University Founded in 1832.
Third oldest university in England (after Oxford and Cambridge).
Two campus locations.
Located in the North East of England.
UNESCO World heritage site.

4. The City of Durham

5. Rankings 4th position in the Sunday Times University Guide 2013;
5th position overall in the Complete University Guide 2012/13;
5th position overall in the Times Good University Guide 2012/13;
80th position in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2013.

6. Student Profile Summary 12,087 Undergraduate Students .
3,028 Taught Postgraduate Students.
1,548 Research Postgraduate Students (PGRs).
15,273 Total Student Numbers.
PGRs
FT PGRs.
PT PGRs. 48% of total FT PGRs are from outside the UK. 60% of total PT PGRs are from outside the UK.

7. Three Faculties Arts and Humanities; 7 departments/schools.
Science; 7 departments/schools.
Social Science and Health; 10 departments/schools.

8. Sixteen Colleges People; Students (FT & PT) and staff.
Multidisciplinary community; Accommodation, facilities, academic and social events.
Support; Pastoral and welfare.

9. REFIRS Project HEA-funded (Individual Teaching Development Grant);
One-year;
Case study (Durham).

10. Aims of REFIRS Project
An evaluation of the extent to which various different research environments meet international PGRs’ expectations and needs;
Recommendations for best practice for ensuring research environments are suitable for international PGRs;
A methodology which is applicable to other institutions wishing to evaluate their research environments.

11. Research Method: Participatory approach
Co-enquirers; Final-stage overseas full-time PGRs; East Asia and Middle East regions; All three faculties.
Qualitative data collection; Semi-structured interviews; Focus Group.
Thematic data analysis.

12. MREE Methodology for Research Environment Evaluation
1. Set up on-line questionnaire
2. Call for participation
3. Identify co-enquirers
4. Fill-in on-line questionnaire & arrange interviews
5. Check questionnaire & prepare interviews
6. Conduct semi-structured interviews
7. Transcribe & analyse data
8. Check findings with participants
9. Refine findings & prepare for focus group
10. Conduct focus group
1. Co-enquirers check needs & expectations
2. Co-enquirers rank needs & expectations
3. Co-enquirers brainstorm practices addressing needs & expectations
4. Co-enquirers recommend practices addressing needs & expectations
11. Check focus group findings with participants
12. Write final report & interview senior management staff
MREE Methodology for Research Environment Evaluation

13. Research Environment Research Community Pastoral Support Knowledge &
Supervisor
Internal PGRs & staff
External PGR & academics
Emotional
Mental health
Staff in department
PGRs with families
Research
Language
Publication
Teaching
Funding application
Transferable skills
Research Environment
Research Community
Knowledge &
Skills
Employment
&
Career
Facilities
Pastoral Support
Office & social space
Library
Computing support
Technical support
Equipment necessary for research
Application of research & skills
Career in academia and industry
Support for Ovs PGRs
Employment-related skills

14. Research Community
Supervisor; Regular meetings; prompt and constructive feedback; tailored supervision; contact point for networking; employment and career; emotional support; monitoring progress; prompt arrangement of new supervisor.
Internal PGRs and staff; Feedback on research; belonging to active research group; interactions with senior PGRs; integration with UK PGRs; opportunities to interact with PGRs (different research area & disciplines); support for interdisciplinary PGRs; suitable working/social space.
External PGRs and academics; Access to completed research projects by external PGRs; external researchers; regional/international research community & collaboration; financial support.

15. Knowledge and skills
Research skills; Subject/discipline-specific training; management of supervisor(s)/supervision; identifying and addressing training needs;
Language; Advanced-academic writing; subject-specific terminology; foreign language which is essential for research; speaking skills;
Publication; Subject-specific support for publication; journal rankings;
Teaching; Equal teaching opportunities; support for teaching(culturally specific needs; diversified classroom);
Funding applications; More opportunities; support on making funding applications;
Transferable skills; Popular courses; awareness of transferable skills; skills for cultural and academic transition.

16. Employment and Career
Application of research skills; Career choices (own research field and broader context); subject-specific & generic research skills.
Career paths in academic and industry in the global context; Interests & choices; beginning of PhD programme.
Application of research in non-academic context; Application in non-academic context & benefits to the society.
Support addressing the international PGRs’ needs; Competitive advantages; UK and own context; visa.
Employment-related skills; Identifying skills; how to improve; job-application.

17. Facilities
Office and social space; Office (own PC, bit of privacy); social area (tea break; fridge, microwave; chair/sofa).
Library; Hot drinks; good collection of references; longer opening hours.
Computing support; PC quality; prompt response & assistance.
Technical support; Prompt, advanced & professional support; designated technicians.
Equipment necessary for research; Free (printing, photocopy, DDS stickers, data analysis software).

18. Pastoral Support
Emotional support; Supervisors; friends from same country;
Support on mental health; Stress (friends); Counseling service?; Nightline?
Support from staff in department; Support mechanism in department (noticing); friends, supervisor;
Support for PGRs with families; PGRs (work and family); family (cultural transition; language; school; social activities).

19. Research Environment Research Community Pastoral Support Knowledge &
Supervisor
Internal PGRs & staff
External PGR & academics
Emotional
Mental health
Staff in department
PGRs with families
Research
Language
Publication
Teaching
Funding application
Transferable skills
Research Environment
Research Community
Knowledge &
Skills
Employment
&
Career
Facilities
Pastoral Support
Office & social space
Library
Computing support
Technical support
Equipment necessary for research
Application of research & skills
Career in academia and industry
Support for international PGRs
Employment-related skills