Research Environment for International Research Students

(REFIRS)

Dr Linda Hui Yang & Dr Lowry McComb Centre for Academic and Researcher Development

Durham University3 July 2013

HEA Annual Conference

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Summary

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

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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.

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The City of Durham

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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.

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Student Profile • Summary12,087 Undergraduate Students .3,028 Taught Postgraduate Students. 1,548 Research Postgraduate Students (PGRs).15,273 Total Student Numbers.

• PGRs1133 FT PGRs.407 PT PGRs.48% of total FT PGRs are from outside the UK.60% of total PT PGRs are from outside the UK.

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Three Faculties

• Arts and Humanities;7 departments/schools.

• Science; 7 departments/schools.

• Social Science and Health;10 departments/schools.

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Sixteen Colleges

• People;Students (FT & PT) and staff.

• Multidisciplinary community; Accommodation, facilities, academic and social events.

• Support;Pastoral and welfare.

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REFIRS Project

• HEA-funded (Individual Teaching Development Grant);

• One-year;• Case study (Durham).

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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.

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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.

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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 group1. Co-enquirers check needs & expectations2. Co-enquirers rank needs & expectations3. Co-enquirers brainstorm practices addressing needs & expectations4. Co-enquirers recommend practices addressing needs & expectations

11. Check focus group findings with participants

12. Write final report & interview senior management staff

MREEMethodology for

Research Environment

Evaluation

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Research Environment

Research Community

Knowledge & Skills

Employment &

Career

Facilities

Pastoral Support

• Supervisor• Internal PGRs

& staff• External PGR

& academics

• Research• Language• Publication• Teaching• Funding

application• Transferable

skills

• Office & social space

• Library• Computing

support• Technical

support• Equipment

necessary for research

• Emotional• Mental

health• Staff in

department• PGRs with

families

• Application of research & skills

• Career in academia and industry

• Support for Ovs PGRs

• Employment-related skills

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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).

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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).

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Research Environment

Research Community

Knowledge & Skills

Employment &

Career

Facilities

Pastoral Support

• Supervisor• Internal PGRs

& staff• External PGR

& academics

• Research• Language• Publication• Teaching• Funding

application• Transferable

skills

• Office & social space

• Library• Computing

support• Technical

support• Equipment

necessary for research

• Emotional• Mental

health• Staff in

department• PGRs with

families

• Application of research & skills

• Career in academia and industry

• Support for international PGRs

• Employment-related skills