understanding and supporting international mobile researchers dr linda hui yang & dr lowry...
TRANSCRIPT
Understanding and Supporting International Mobile Researchers
Dr Linda Hui Yang & Dr Lowry McComb
Centre for Academic and Researcher DevelopmentDurham University
4 July 2014UKCGE International Annual Conference
∂
Summary
• Durham University context;• Aims of the Research Environment for International
Research Students (REFIRs) project;• Key findings• Workshop: How to Survive Your PhD
∂
Durham University• Located in the North East
of England.• Founded in 1832.• Two campus locations.• 3rd oldest university in
England (after Oxford and Cambridge).
• Top 5 university in the UK• UNESCO World heritage
site.
∂
The City of Durham
∂
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.
∂
Three Faculties
• Arts and Humanities;7 departments/schools.
• Science; 7 departments/schools.
• Social Science and Health;10 departments/schools.
∂
Sixteen Colleges
• People;Students (FT & PT) and staff.
• Multidisciplinary community; Accommodation, facilities, academic and social events.
• Support;Pastoral and welfare.
∂
REFIRS Project
• HEA-funded• One-year;• Case study (Durham).
∂
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.
∂
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.
∂Research Environme
nt
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
∂
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.
∂
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.
∂
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.
∂
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).
∂
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).
∂
How to Survive Your PhD Workshop
• Title: How to Survive Your PhD
• three-hour
• International (non-UK) PGRs who have recently started research degree
• Capacity: 30
∂
• Challenges (transition & doing a PhD)Interactive, discussion & mini-presentations PGRs share experience & concerns
• Resources & solutions Generic, subject-specific & transferable skills; opportunities for development
• Plan of developmentThink ahead; PhD & Careers
How to Survive Your PhD Workshop
∂
Thank you & any questions?
Contact details:
Dr Linda Hui Yang
∂Research Environme
nt
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