Professor Alan Miller

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Professor Alan Miller Vice Principal for
Research
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Becoming a young researcher at St Andrews

• 10.15. The Value of Skills Development for PGR
  Students
• Prof Alan Miller
• 1040. The Transition from Undergraduate to
  Research Student
• Prof Christopher Smith, (Dean of Arts)
• 1050. Becoming a Researcher
• Prof David Cole-Hamilton, School of
  Chemistry
• Prof Greg Woolf, School of Classics
• Social Sciences student -
  Kimo Quaintance, 3rd yr International Relations
• Life/Physical Sciences student - Erica
  Cartmill, 2nd yr Psychology
• Arts student
  - Richard King, 2nd yr English
• 1150. Questions Answers Panel (All of above
  speakers)
• 1215. Buffet Lunch
• Poster Sessions Units participating in
  the generic skills programme and UK GRAD

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What employers say PhD job applicants need to
improve

• Verbal communication
• Especially in interviews
• Making PhD topic accessible to non-specialists
  (e.g. employers, sponsors...)
• Commercial awareness and awareness of
  sector/employer applying to
• Articulation/explanation of skills they have
• Full range of transferable skills

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Intended Benefits

• Support to successfully complete your degree
• Raise awareness of the skills you already have
• and those youll develop on the way
• Preparation for future careers Employability
• Social and intellectual benefits of mixing
• Rounded Individuals

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Roberts Report

• the training elements of a PhD particularly
  training in transferable skills need to be
  strengthened considerably.
• include the provision of at least two weeks
  dedicated training a year, principally in
  transferable skills.

Higher Stipends!
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Joint RC Skills Statement

• Research Skills and Techniques
• Research Environment
• Research Management
• Personal Effectiveness
• Communication Skills
• Networking and Teamworking
• Career Management

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Skills Development at St Andrews

• Induction
• Logbook
• Individual Skills Analysis
• Course provision
• Monitoring
• Feedback from you and your supervisors

All students treated equally (RC non-RC)
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Training Element
2 weeks skills development for postgraduates
- typically not in a solid
block Options Presentations/Seminars
University and School Courses (overlap) RC
UKGRAD schools for 2nd/3rd year PGs
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Individual Skills Analysis

• Meet with your supervisor
• Analyse the skills needed for your research and
  your career development (for Year 1)
• Identify opportunities provided by the University
  
• Identify opportunities provided by the School
• Agree a programme and obtain approval from your
  School Postgraduate Convener

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Logbook

• Skills analysis
• Recording
• Reflecting
• Monitoring
• Review
• Career benefits

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Types of Opportunities
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GRADskills web page
http//www.st-andrews.ac.uk/gradskills/
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