the relationship between research and training ian diamond esrc rcuk/hea conference 25.11.06
TRANSCRIPT
The Relationship between Research and Training
Ian DiamondESRC
RCUK/HEA Conference 25.11.06
Challenges for the UK:
Preparing our researchers, securing our
economic future
Basic Premises
All teaching should be informed by researchInvolving research in teaching can excite and inspire
studentsInvolving research in teaching can offer an opportunity
to raise awareness of careers in researchAll researchers should teach
All teaching should be informed by research
Students should expect teaching that reflects the state of the art
Involving research in teaching can excite and inspire students
Whole course or inculcated throughout the curriculum
– We need both!
Examples of good practice
Whole Course– Undergraduate seminar series in population (Ni Bhrolchain,
Southampton) – note assessment, attendance– Thinking Psychologically (Remington et al, Southampton) –
note year
Fully integrated– Statistics for ‘Subject x’
Involving research in teaching can offer an opportunity to raise awareness of careers in research
Major needs for increases in numbers of best students seeing research as an attractive career
ESRC Demographic Review 2005
Used Administrative (HESA) and Survey Data to assess future trends (and needs) in the social science workforce.
Social Sciences and Sciences Compared: (iv) Age
Age profiles of Sciences and Social Sciences (HESA Staff Record 2003/04)
36.49
33.15
17.44
12.87
0.05
18.08
30.01
32.84
18.94
0.130.00
5.00
10.00
15.00
20.00
25.00
30.00
35.00
40.00
34 and under 35-45 46-55 56+ Age unknown
Age Group
%
SciencesSocial Sciences
Social Sciences and Sciences Compared: (i) Gender
Gender profiles of Sciences and Social Sciences (HESA Staff Record 2003/04)
26.25
73.75
40.36
59.64
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Female Male
%
SciencesSocial Sciences
Disciplines Compared: Age
HESA Staff Record 2003/04: Age bands
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
13 P
sych
ology
19 P
hysic
s
34 T
own a
nd Country
Pla
nning
35 G
eogra
phy
36 L
aw
37 A
nthro
pology
38 E
conom
ics
and E
conom
etric
s
39 P
olitic
s an
d Inte
rnat
ional
Stu
dies
40 S
ocial
Polic
y an
d Adm
inis
tratio
n
41 S
ocial
Work
42 S
ociolo
gy
43 B
usines
s an
d Man
agem
ent S
tudie
s
44 A
ccounta
ncy
45 A
mer
ican
Stu
dies,
46 M
iddle
Eas
tern
and A
frica
n Stu
dies,
47 A
sian
Stu
dies
65 C
omm
unicat
ion, C
ultura
l and M
edia
Stu
dies
68 E
ducatio
n
Age unknown56+46-5535-4534 and under
Nationalities of permanent staff under 35 by UoA in 2003/4
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
UK - 34 and under - Permanent Other EU - 34 and under - Permanent
USA and Canada - 34 and under - Permanent Rest of World - 34 and under - Permanent
Disciplines Compared: GenderHESA Staff Record 2003/04: Gender
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
13 P
sych
ology
19 P
hysic
s
34 T
own and C
ountry P
lannin
g
35 G
eogra
phy
36 L
aw
37 A
nthro
pology
38 E
conom
ics
and E
conom
etric
s
39 P
olitic
s an
d Inte
rnat
ional
Stu
dies
40 S
ocial
Polic
y an
d Adm
inis
tratio
n
41 S
ocial
Work
42 S
ociolo
gy
43 B
usines
s an
d Man
agem
ent S
tudie
s
44 A
ccounta
ncy
45 A
mer
ican
Stu
dies,
46 M
iddle
Eas
tern
and A
frica
n Stu
dies,
47 A
sian
Stu
dies
65 C
omm
unicat
ion, C
ultura
l and M
edia
Stu
dies
68 E
ducatio
n
MaleFemale
Social Sciences and Sciences Compared: (ii) Grade
Grade profiles of Sciences and Social Sciences (HESA Staff Record 2003/04)
13.72
17.7616.35
44.87
7.29
13.46
22.64
40.03
11.5612.30
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Professors Senior Lecturers &Researchers
Lecturers Researchers Other Grades
%
SciencesSocial Sciences
Disciplines compared: Employment Status
HESA Staff Record 2003/4: Terms of Employment
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
13 Psycholo
gy
19 Physic
s
34 Town a
nd Country
Pla
nning
35 Geogra
phy
36 Law
37 Anth
ropolo
gy
38 Econom
ics a
nd Econom
etrics
39 Polit
ics a
nd Inte
rnatio
nal Stu
dies
40 Socia
l Polic
y and A
dmin
istra
tion
41 Socia
l Work
42 Socio
logy
43 Busin
ess and M
anagement S
tudie
s
44 Accounta
ncy
45 Am
erican S
tudie
s,
46 Mid
dle E
astern
and A
frican S
tudie
s,
47 Asia
n Stu
dies
65 Com
munic
ation, C
ultura
l and M
edia S
tudie
s
68 Educatio
n
Fixed TermPermanent
Summary
There exist many challenges in renewing and retaining the social science workforce
In some disciplines these are very similar to (some of) the natural sciences
In other disciplines these are very similar to (some of) the natural sciences!
What can be done?
Raising awareness through teaching– Undergraduate experience of research should act as a turn
on to research – not just academic research eg local authorities, other government
Contact with researchers – see teaching
Vacation bursaries
Giving students a more realistic experience of a research position and research employment
Helping students make informed career choices – positively or negatively
Creating an excitement around research careers in the student body – need to raise prestige of vacation bursaries
Motivating research staff with renewed enthusiasm about research careers
All researchers should teach
Professors should profess– ESRC Professorial Fellows Scheme– Market will expect
Researchers should be involved in a little teaching– Inspire students– Relate to students– Career opportunity– Quality Assurance
Some Issues
Reward and RecognitionTime to develop – RCUK Academic Fellowships