Research, Innovate, Grow Research Councils delivering excellence with impact for economic growth and wellbeing

Skills for a growing economy The Research Councils support excellent researchers and develop capability through:  funding doctoral research and enhancing the employability of doctoral graduates  ensuring the best researchers work on the best research projects  fellowships for excellent researchers to develop their careers and leadership potential  encouraging intersectoral mobility through internships  enhancing skills for interdisciplinary working  building the international awareness of researchers

The Brief: “the pros and cons of short term research funding” ProsCons RC: Agility – frees funds for new research areas RS: Uncertainty over future career path RS: Post-availability – opportunities to be appointed RC: Potential loss of experience, future leaders etc. RC/RS: Recent strong focus on researcher development for post-docs (Concordat) RS/RC: Lack of career advice/development (Vitae) HEI: New projects potentially attract new blood HEI: Uncertainty over future funding/planning RC: Potentially increases researcher (brain) circulation RC/RS: Time lost getting up to speed and in job-search RC: Training for employability, knowledge exchange etc. HEI: redeployment becomes a real issue.

(INFLOW/OUTFLOW) FOCUS ON NUMBERS

RCUK: some contexts £2.6Bn funding of grant funding per annum –Seven broad disciplines with different mix of research centres/institutes, staffing, research and funding strategy –30% of all HEI research –15-20% of all PGR students at HEIs RCUK Together – working as one organisation –Collectively ‘bid’ to Government for cake size –Individually prepare arguments for each slice UK HE ( 2013/14 Data from HESA) –21,240 PhDs graduate annually –45,585 Post-docs at any one time –114,625 FT academic posts (9565 PT) Research-only (R) FT = 37,450 T+R FT = 77,170

RCUK VISIONS FOR POST- DOCS

AHRC RESEARCH TRAINING FRAMEWORK – EARLY CAREER RESEARCHERS Overarching aim: to support excellent researchers – both for the health of the UK research base and the wider economy (both AHRC-funded and more widely) Based on Oakleigh Report recommendations: (AHRC 2013) – addressed to ECRs and Research Organisations: –Careers advice and support available at an early stage and on a broad range of possible careers. –Broad definition and identification of ECRs in arts and humanities. –ECRs’ needs should inform the advice and support made available. –Senior academics informed of support available + able to provide –Mentors who understand and have experience of the ECR situation. –Networks to enable sharing of experience (online + face-to-face).

BBSRC VISION FOR POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHERS A highly-skilled community of postdocs who make informed career choices, are well networked with each other and have an affinity for BBSRC as a partner in research. Postdoctoral researchers should be highly-skilled and adaptable, and recognised as such, be integrated into their research environment and fully aware of their opportunities for training and development, be empowered through independence, and able to make well- informed decisions about their future career progression from an early stage, embrace an ethos of Continuing Professional Development (CPD). associate themselves with BBSRC and other BBSRC-supported researchers, and be connected to a broad network of fellow researchers, be properly treated as employees of their host institution and adequately supported in light of their short-term contracts.

PROFESSIONAL AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Universities of Birmingham and Leeds Protected time for high quality research Tenure-track equivalent Structured five year development and induction programme Contribute to collaboration and interdisciplinarity Fellowships leading to Academic positions

Researchers careers What do researchers do? First destinations by subject Career profiles Career profiles of doctoral entrepreneurs Doctoral graduate destinations and impact three years on Career stories portal database of careers stories Career stories on film with icould Employers’ briefings targeting the postgraduate and researcher market researchers’ skills and competencies

MESSAGES TO THE MINISTER WHAT IMPACT DO WE CURRENTLY ACHIEVE

Research Council investment helps the UK deliver world-leading productivity, quality and efficiency: 1% of global population 3% of global funding for research 8% of papers published (productivity) 16% of the world’s most highly cited paper (quality) Research excellence is essential for impact

Impact of doctoral careers In-depth study confirms the crucial role doctoral graduates play in UK businesses:  over three quarters of employers believe that losing doctoral graduates from their workforce would have a major impact on business  one in five employers consider doctoral graduates to be ‘business critical’  over 90% of employers say they improve the problem-solving skills of others  doctoral graduates bring fresh perspectives to problems or the organisation  they can boost the profile and credibility of an organisation.

Skills for a growing economy The Research Councils support excellent researchers and develop capability through:  funding doctoral research and enhancing the employability of doctoral graduates  ensuring the best researchers work on the best research projects  fellowships for excellent researchers to develop their careers and leadership potential  encouraging intersectoral mobility through internships  enhancing skills for interdisciplinary working  building the international awareness of researchers