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International PGR Support Evaluation - Durham University Research Project

Explore the REFIRS project conducted at Durham University, evaluating research environments for international postgraduate researchers. Discover key findings, support methods, and facilities provided to meet the diverse needs of the research community.

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International PGR Support Evaluation - Durham University Research Project

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  1. Understanding and Supporting International Mobile Researchers Dr Linda Hui Yang & Dr Lowry McCombCentre for Academic and Researcher Development Durham University 4 July 2014 UKCGE International Annual Conference

  2. Summary • Durham University context; • Aims of the Research Environment for International Research Students (REFIRs) project; • Key findings • Workshop: How to Survive Your PhD

  3. 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.

  4. The City of Durham

  5. Student Profile • Summary • 12,087 Undergraduate Students . • 3,028 Taught Postgraduate Students. • 1,548 Research Postgraduate Students (PGRs). • 15,273 Total Student Numbers. • PGRs • 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.

  6. Three Faculties • Arts and Humanities;7 departments/schools. • Science; 7 departments/schools. • Social Science and Health;10 departments/schools.

  7. Sixteen Colleges • People;Students (FT & PT) and staff. • Multidisciplinary community; Accommodation, facilities, academic and social events. • Support;Pastoral and welfare.

  8. REFIRS Project • HEA-funded • One-year; • Case study (Durham).

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

  11. Supervisor • Internal PGRs & staff • External PGR & academics • Research • Language • Publication • Teaching • Funding application • Transferable skills • Emotional • Mental health • Staff in department • PGRs with families • Office & social space • Library • Computing support • Technical support • Equipment necessary for research • Application of research & skills • Career in academia and industry • Support for Ovs PGRs • Employment-related skills

  12. 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.

  13. 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.

  14. 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.

  15. 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).

  16. 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).

  17. 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

  18. How to Survive Your PhD Workshop • 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 development • Think ahead; PhD & Careers

  19. Thank you & any questions? • Contact details: • Dr Linda Hui Yang • hui.yang@dur.ac.uk

  20. Supervisor • Internal PGRs & staff • External PGR & academics • Research • Language • Publication • Teaching • Funding application • Transferable skills • Emotional • Mental health • Staff in department • PGRs with families • Office & social space • Library • Computing support • Technical support • Equipment necessary for research • Application of research & skills • Career in academia and industry • Support for international PGRs • Employment-related skills

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