Welcome to Induction for Research Postgrads Professor John Breen Dean, Graduate School

Today: morning Introduction (me!) Research Design & Methods (Dr Jill Pearson) Quantitative methods & The role of the Statistical Consultancy Unit (Dr Jean Saunders) Student Wellbeing (Dr Declan Aherne) Health & Safety (Philip Thornton) Careers (Elaine Kiely) Use of Library and Information Services (Aoife Geraghty)

Today: afternoon UL Writing Centre Guide to UL regulations for PGRs (Michael Frain) Planning for Best Practice in Research (JB) Open Forum Discussion (chaired by JB)

Enjoy the campus! Use the facilities Sports - Arena Concert hall – UCH Irish world music centre Arts  Irish Chamber Orchestra  National self portrait gallery  Hunt museum (UL- Shannon)  Other art galleries

Today … Intro to UL Graduate School Nature of research degree Why more PhDs??? Managing expectations … yours and the university’s Role and responsibilities of researchers Good research practice: working with your supervisor(s) Research Training and Supports

UL Graduate School Is your one stop shop for everything to do with your Postgraduate Research Experience at UL From applications, admissions, monitoring your progress, training courses, thesis submission, examination … examination board

Graduate School is responsible for … Research & taught postgraduate strategy, procedures, regulations Postgraduate recruitment & advertizing Postgraduate admissions Advice on Postgraduate funding / scholarships Postgraduate infrastructure / desk space Faculty & student induction & training Management of the thesis submission process

Who does what? John BreenDean Graduate Studies Michael FrainGraduate Administrator Anne O’DwyerResearch Training Coordinator Marie Beaumont Administration (Thesis submission) Sinéad Cooney Research Postgraduate Admissions

Why more PhD graduates? Your country needs you! Building Ireland’s Smart Economy (2008) Number of researchers per 1000 population: Ireland 14 th of 30 OECD countries Targets:  SET: 543 (2005)  997 (2013)  HSS: 187 (2005)  315 (2013)  UL: 67 (2005)  134 (2013) – all PhDs

Kinds of PhDs Minimum 3 year programme  Average in UL is 4.2 years “Traditional model”: single supervisor per postgrad Increasing trend towards more joint and team supervision Added value: Personal Development Planning, generic transferable skills, planning a research-based career So: moving towards …

Fourth level Ireland Structured PhD programmes (4 years)  Taught modules early in the programme, beginning of the project, then  3 years research programme leading to PhD thesis You will hear of “Greps”  Graduate Research Education Programmes  Name used by IRCSET / IRCHSS for structured PhD programmes

Four years, not for years! Experience in a number of countries is that >5 years there is a sharp decline in finishing rates UL recent average completion time is 4.2 years 4 years is a realistic goal – but remember your funding situation may be for 3 years!

Funding? Hope you are funded If not: check possibilities for the research councils  ircset.ie (Science, Engineering, Tech)  irchss.ie (Humanities, Social Sciences) Some get funded after Year 1: Grad School organizes advisory sessions A few UL scholarships may help: call in May

IRCHSS: check it out now! Call is open at present. Closes 11 th January Does offer funding to PGRs who are currently registered Briefing session yesterday: presentation on GS website

The Nature of a Research Degree Observation: a masters or PhD dissertation is probably the largest piece of work you have ever faced and it can be daunting Implications: have to think about to approach a large piece of work  Planning and preparation are critical to success  Establishing a good working relationship with your supervisor(s)

What is a Masters/PhD? Masters “…must show evidence of independent enquiry and/or originality in either conclusions or method” PhD should “…show evidence of independent enquiry, originality in the methods used and/or in the conclusions drawn and must make an appreciable new contribution to knowledge or thinking in the candidate’s field.” Academic Regulations.

Afternoon Managing expectations: yours and ours Ethics and Governance Planning your research strategy Acquiring the necessary skills

So, for now Thank you!