UCD Research and Professional Development Planning and Implementation

1. UCD Research and Professional Development Planning and Implementation Dr Emer Cunningham Graduate Studies Office University College Dublin IUA Fourth level network Annual Conference, Trinity College, Dublin Tuesday 10th November 09 UCD Graduate Studies Office UCD Oifig an Léinn Dochtúireachta

2. UCD Structured PhD Key Elements • Doctoral Studies Panel • Research and Professional Development Plan • Transferable Skills training • Credits and Modules • Progression

3. UCD Research and Professional Development Plan What is it? A Planning toolfor the timely progression and completion of the student’s research and professional development A Framework that facilitates communication between students and their supervisors by giving the discussion a structure

4. UCD Research and Professional Development Plan The Aim of the RPDP is to Create PhD graduates who: • Have specific research skill and general professional skills • Have a greater awareness of their opportunities & worth • More employable – both in academia and outside academia.

5. UCD Research and Professional Development Plan Structure of RPDP 1) Research Planning 2) Professional Development Planning 3) Doctoral Studies Panel Meetings Record

6. UCD Research and Professional Development Plan Research Planning • Guidelines for preparing a research plan and using it as a roadmap during the student’s doctoral programme • Flexible • Is a useful resource when it comes to writing up • Best Practice

7. UCD Research and Professional Development Plan Professional Development Plan-1 • Guidelines are provided to help the student identify the skills the student has and those which they need and to what level • Provides a format to plan for the development of these skills • Builds into a record of skills developed over the course of study. • Important for future employment opportunities

8. UCD Research and Professional Development Plan Professional Development Plan-2 Self Assessment of Existing Skill Set and identify needs • Ethics • Communication Skills • Personal Effectiveness • Team working /Leadership • Career Management • Entrepreneurship and Innovation

9. UCD Research and Professional Development Plan Meetings • The RPDP process involves the formal documentation of a series of regular meetings between the student, their supervisor and their doctoral studies Panel. • It is recommended that the students has a formal meeting within the first month of their arrival at UCD then at 3 month, 6 month & 12 months intervals.

10. UCD Research and Professional Development Plan Doctoral Studies Panel dfasdfsfsdfsdfsdfsdfsdfsdfsdfsd • Monitors progress of • student with RPDP • Offers advice & guidance • RPDP can be used to to advise on • transfer & final submission School Office • Holds RPDP • records • Sends reminders • & receipt for • submission PhD Student • Owns RPDP • Completes RPDP in • consultation with • Supervisor & DSP • Responsible for • timely submission PhD Supervisor • Supports student • in the development • & completion • Responsible for • sign-off of relevant • sections • Reviews RPDP to • advise on transfer • and final submission

11. UCD Research and Professional Development Plan Background • Based on a PDP developed in University College London • Piloted in UCD with a group of 85 PhD students who started in Sept ’06 • Monitored and reviewed 2006-2007 • Amended versions in place for all UCD PhD students from Sept ’07, further updated for ’08 intake

12. UCD Research and Professional Development Plan Survey of 2006 PhD Students and their Supervisors • Online survey • Discussion sessions with Supervisors 3) Coffee mornings with students

13. UCD Research and Professional Development Plan Results of online Surveys • 66% of students and supervisors believed the RPDP a useful tool in progressing a student through their PhD programme • 83% of students & 75% of supervisors believed completion of a Research Plan is an important tool to aid the students research. • 92% of supervisors agreed or strongly agreed that it is beneficial for students to use the RPDP to develop their professional skills.

14. Positives of RPDP • Significant buy-in from students • RPDP considered to contain relevant questions • Keeps student focused • Regular formalised meetings were viewed as essential ensuring the researcher is prepared for and have thought about the important issues for discussion • Meetings generate momentum • Framework was considered useful by supervisors to provide quality supervision

15. Weaknesses of RPDP • There had been a lack of communication with Supervisors regarding the RPDP • Original version in 2006 was considered too long and there was too much jargon • Original version in 2006 Perceived as too formal and over complicated • No formal acknowledgement of receipt of documentation by the Graduate School • Professional Development Plan needs to take into account the variety of ages/experiences of students

16. Recommendations • Imperative to involve the Supervisor in RPDP Planning from the outset- rolling information sessions • Engage with the RPDP at the earliest opportunity to gain the most benefit • Have a flexible approach to the documentation -College specific versions designed