Further resources to explore

 

DocEnhance

DocEnhance project aimed to enhance transferable skills intelligence and integration into PhD programmes by involving the non-academic sector in developing a more employment and innovation-oriented curriculum for PhD programmes, facilitating work-based learning and business-education partnerships through developing PhD courses and tracking of PhD graduate career paths. The major outputs of the project are a recommended transferable skills curriculum for PhD programmes; a novel course concept and material and an open-access career tracking survey.

DocEnhance platform offers three online courses:

  • Data stewardship: the course gives an introduction to research data management.
  • Career management & entrepreneurship: Course helps doctoral candidates acquire the competencies needed to become more entrepreneurial and gain the mindset to exploit change to create value, either for themselves or for others.
  • Supervision: The resource can be used as part of organized, taught doctoral supervision courses both face-to-face, or online, and tailored to the needs of different supervisory target groups (beginning, young supervisors, more mature, or mixed groups, and industry supervisors). 

Discovery Learning

 

Discovery Learning project explored how novel approaches such as gamification, worked-based learning, or connection with practitioners can be used to help PhD students develop their develop transferable skills.  The aim of the project was to build evidence and verify that whether this new model of education is an effective tool for training of transferable skills with a practical potential in higher education. Statistical and observational analysis of data collected in the project as well as main conclusions and lessons-learnt are summarised in the report published on the project website.  The project website offers also examples of webinars using the tested approach in training various career related topics.  Beside you can also check Discovery Learning Skills ontology providing an overview of skills that help researchers contribute to innovation in different contexts. It tries to offer an answer to the question: What skills do PhD holders need to successfully engage in innovation processes (regardless of sector or type of innovation) and/or to create impact through

EURAXESS Portal

 

EURAXESS portal offer plenty of online resources on career development for both researchers and institutions. Researchers at the beginning of their careers might benefit from checking the Career Handbook for Young Researchers or Career Orientation Tool highlighting resources to help them explore careers for researchers, including advice, quizzes, information and much more. The website also offers a series of virtual seminars that follow the career path of a researcher. Webinars on topics such as soft skills, project management and other competencies that can help you boosting research career were prepared by the trainers are experienced researchers in the area and/or career advisors. Industry Career Development Module is designed for independent researchers to explore opportunities for working in other sectors. It provides information about working outside academia and available careers in other sectors. The Manual for Scientific Entrepreneurship provides help for PhD students learn about the major steps for research results valorisation and you will get practical tips, links and recommendations.

VITAE Researchers Career Stories

 

Careers stories are personal narratives focused on the experiences and decisions that the story tellers found significant. They offer inspiration and insight into the lives and career decisions of the story tellers. VITAE collection offers over 150 career stories with researchers talking about their career history and choice. Included are also stories of researchers sharing their experience with moving outside academia and how they have used skills gained during doctoral training to develop careers in different sectors or as entrepreneurs.