STEM and research careers

Embedding career learning into doctoral programmes

31/10/2024

CRAC was commissioned to provide a ‘thinkpiece’ for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), specifically focusing on how career-related learning could be enhanced and better embedded within doctoral programmes.

One quarter of all the responses to UKRI’s call for input on the New Deal for Postgraduate Research related to careers information, advice and guidance to doctoral researchers, including that it was insufficient and/or not of high quality and/or too heavily focused on academic careers. In many of the responses current doctoral researchers expressed views that there should be greater focus in doctoral training on developing a wider portfolio of skills beyond those needed for their research, including skills that would increase their employability in different sectors. These are aspects of careers support, which should also help doctoral researchers to recognise the skills they have and how to articulate them.

In its response to the consultation findings, UKRI committed to review the current provision of what it termed ‘careers advice’ to doctoral researchers and identify how career-related learning and related skill development during doctoral study in the UK could be enhanced.

Read the full report here:  Download