Advanced Research Training for Scottish Postgraduate Human Geographers (Kindrogan Consortium)

Lead Research Organisation: University of Dundee
Department Name: Geography

Abstract

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Publications

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Description The beneficiaries of these advanced training events for human geography postgraduates in Scotland included, primarily, the students who participated in the event (at the beginning of years 2 and 3 of their PhD), the staff from the university geography units who took part, and the wider policy and other sectors which engaged with the events.
The events addressed the discipline-specific needs of postgraduate human geographers, building on the generic and discipline-specific training offered by individual geography units. Indeed, the real strength of the events was that they drew upon the diverse expertise within the six geography units, and so were able to provide a high quality, advanced set of research methods and transferable skills learning beyond what could be offered by one unit. The events provided a range of sessions to develop skills covering the three key elements of the research process - theoretical and conceptual frameworks, matters of methodology, and application and impacts of research - delivered using a set of imaginative and flexible teaching approaches (with an emphasis on interaction and discussion), which were evaluated and revised each year to suit the needs of the particular cohort. The different needs of the two year groups were also taken into consideration in designing the event, with some sessions (e.g. 'role play' of the viva voce, and career options) specifically for those at the beginning of year 3 of PhD, and other sessions (e.g. 'managing your supervisor') targeted at those at beginning of year 2.
There was a strong emphasis in the events on developing awareness and skills amongst the postgraduate students attending to reflect on the wider significance of their research, and the ways in which their research outputs can be applied to exert impact on policy and practice within the academic, private, public and voluntary sectors (and more broadly within the general public). This was achieved in a number of ways: first, the attendance of external academic speakers at the events - high-profile UK and international academics (from geography and other disciplines); second, the attendance of speakers from policy and voluntary sectors to talk to and discuss with students ways in which academic research can be effectively applied in 'real world' situations to exert impact on policy and practice; third, sessions on skills to write up and disseminate academic research within a range of contexts, including policy and the public sphere; fourth, sessions on the wider contexts of the funding, dissemination and impact of research. The involvement of speakers (who stayed for a large part of the event) from outside the academic community established strong connections between the students and these organisations. The longer term impact of this is evidenced by the positions gained by past participants (the event is now well enough established for a first, and indeed second, generation of participants to have successfully taken these research skills into the labour market). As well as holding academic positions (e.g. lectureships and research positions), previous beneficiaries of the event are now in non-academic research related positions within a range of organisations (e.g. Scottish Government).
In addition, staff attending the event from the six geography units gained an opportunity to meet and network, to discuss and review postgraduate training provision (within individual units and across Scotland), and in many cases forged new research initiatives (e.g. the development of research grant bids, and the delivery of papers at the six universities). In this way, the event formed a central element of the ESRC recognised Consortium (to which 5 PhD Quota Award Studentships were allocated 2008-10) and the wider postgraduate student and staff network of human geographers in Scotland. Further, staff had the opportunity to meet and engage with the visiting UK and international academics, again providing an opportunity to build research links and access new methods of training and learning, and with contributors from the non-academic organisations, providing a mechanism for engagement on research and policy issues and further cementing productive relationships between academia and policy and practice communities.
The event now forms a core element of the Human Geography Pathway in the Scottish Doctoral Training Centre.
In addition, at the event in 2007, student attendees proposed that a postgraduate network should be established to maintain and build the contacts made at the event, facilitated through email. Further, students suggested that an additional annual one day event should be set up, titled 'Mini-Kindrogan', to bolster the student network. The event is organised and run by students, with a programme of activities, talks, a guest speaker and a social event. This has without doubt strengthened the human geography postgraduate network in Scotland.
Exploitation Route The Human Geography Pathway (formerly the Scottish Human Geography Postgraduate Consortium) is a model of effective, progressive and innovative (e.g. we had joint supervision arrangements several years before they were considered by the DTC) collaboration between five (formerly six) Geography departments/HEIs. Other DTCs could learn much from how we developed and maintain this collaboration.
Sectors Education
 
Description The event funded by ESRC (2007-09) had three key impacts: first, provided advanced discipline-specific and transferable skills training to Human Geography PhD students in years 2 and 3 of their studies; second, provided opportunities to meet and network with other students from across Scotland, academic staff from all participating departments/HEIs, and external academic and policy/practice speakers; third, the established collaboration which organises this (and other) event, played a major role in the development of the Scottish DTC.
First Year Of Impact 2007
Sector Education
Impact Types Policy & public services
 
Description Postgraduate Advanced Training
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
Impact The advanced training event funded by this grant forms part of a larger programme of activities undertake by the Human Geography Pathway (formerly the Scottish Human Geography Postgraduate Consortium - during the period of the funding). This particular event (2007-2009) was a residential over four days, with a programme of research training, external academic and non-academic speakers, transferable skills, career planning and networking. The event was for all second and third year PhD students in Human Geography in Scotland, creating an active and supportive cohort of students across the (then) six universities. A student-led event several months later was an unplanned outcome of the event. Together these events developed the skills and capacity of a cohort of PhD students, many of whom are now in academic positions. Further, the established and experienced Human Geography Postgraduate Consortium (lead by Dr. Edward Hall) played a major role in the development of the Scottish DTC; our consortium providing the model for how the disciplinary pathways would work across the DTC.
 
Description Scottish Human Geography Pathway (formerly the Scottish Human Geography Postgraduate Consortium) 
Organisation University of Aberdeen
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The Scottish Human Geography Pathway is a long-established (20 years) collaboration between the human geography academic staff at the five (previously six - in the period of the funding) HEIs in Scotland providing postgraduate training in human geography (recognised by the ESRC) - Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and St. Andrew's. The Pathway awards studentships (as part of the Scottish DTC) and delivers advanced training events, including the annual residential event which this funding supported 2007-2009. Dr. Edward Hall was Convenor of this collaboration for this period.
Collaborator Contribution The six academic departments (in the period of the funding) provide an academic to act as a representative, attending meetings, assessing studentship applications, and delivering advanced training - including the event funded by this grant.
Impact The outcomes of the collaboration are advanced training events for human geography PhD students in Scotland, including the residential event funded by this grant, plus assessment and selection of ESRC funded studentships (as part of the Scottish DTC). Other outcomes include networking and further research and teaching collaborations between academic staff and between students, facilitated by the advanced training events.
 
Description Scottish Human Geography Pathway (formerly the Scottish Human Geography Postgraduate Consortium) 
Organisation University of Edinburgh
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The Scottish Human Geography Pathway is a long-established (20 years) collaboration between the human geography academic staff at the five (previously six - in the period of the funding) HEIs in Scotland providing postgraduate training in human geography (recognised by the ESRC) - Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and St. Andrew's. The Pathway awards studentships (as part of the Scottish DTC) and delivers advanced training events, including the annual residential event which this funding supported 2007-2009. Dr. Edward Hall was Convenor of this collaboration for this period.
Collaborator Contribution The six academic departments (in the period of the funding) provide an academic to act as a representative, attending meetings, assessing studentship applications, and delivering advanced training - including the event funded by this grant.
Impact The outcomes of the collaboration are advanced training events for human geography PhD students in Scotland, including the residential event funded by this grant, plus assessment and selection of ESRC funded studentships (as part of the Scottish DTC). Other outcomes include networking and further research and teaching collaborations between academic staff and between students, facilitated by the advanced training events.
 
Description Scottish Human Geography Pathway (formerly the Scottish Human Geography Postgraduate Consortium) 
Organisation University of Glasgow
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The Scottish Human Geography Pathway is a long-established (20 years) collaboration between the human geography academic staff at the five (previously six - in the period of the funding) HEIs in Scotland providing postgraduate training in human geography (recognised by the ESRC) - Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and St. Andrew's. The Pathway awards studentships (as part of the Scottish DTC) and delivers advanced training events, including the annual residential event which this funding supported 2007-2009. Dr. Edward Hall was Convenor of this collaboration for this period.
Collaborator Contribution The six academic departments (in the period of the funding) provide an academic to act as a representative, attending meetings, assessing studentship applications, and delivering advanced training - including the event funded by this grant.
Impact The outcomes of the collaboration are advanced training events for human geography PhD students in Scotland, including the residential event funded by this grant, plus assessment and selection of ESRC funded studentships (as part of the Scottish DTC). Other outcomes include networking and further research and teaching collaborations between academic staff and between students, facilitated by the advanced training events.
 
Description Scottish Human Geography Pathway (formerly the Scottish Human Geography Postgraduate Consortium) 
Organisation University of St Andrews
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The Scottish Human Geography Pathway is a long-established (20 years) collaboration between the human geography academic staff at the five (previously six - in the period of the funding) HEIs in Scotland providing postgraduate training in human geography (recognised by the ESRC) - Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and St. Andrew's. The Pathway awards studentships (as part of the Scottish DTC) and delivers advanced training events, including the annual residential event which this funding supported 2007-2009. Dr. Edward Hall was Convenor of this collaboration for this period.
Collaborator Contribution The six academic departments (in the period of the funding) provide an academic to act as a representative, attending meetings, assessing studentship applications, and delivering advanced training - including the event funded by this grant.
Impact The outcomes of the collaboration are advanced training events for human geography PhD students in Scotland, including the residential event funded by this grant, plus assessment and selection of ESRC funded studentships (as part of the Scottish DTC). Other outcomes include networking and further research and teaching collaborations between academic staff and between students, facilitated by the advanced training events.