The Network for the Centres of Doctoral Training (CDTs) in Energy

In 2009 the RCUK energy programme invested ca. £60M in energy doctoral training by establishing 12 Energy Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs). This is a major investment in the education of over 600 young people and, collectively, it has put the UK in a strong position internationally in having an innovative and coordinated programme to provide the highly trained personnel to drive the low carbon economy. These Centres now form a significant component of the RCUK Energy Programme. The vision for the proposed Network is to capitalise upon this investment and maximise value in support of EPSRC's three clear goals: Delivering Impact, Shaping Capability and Developing Leaders. The Network will also provide a mechanism to integrate the energy CDTs with other components of the RCUK energy programme, in particular the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC).
The aim of the proposed Network is to maximise the quality and benefits of the training programmes through coordinated activities. Further, it will collectively raise the external profile of the CDTs, both with industry and internationally in a manner which is supportive of the RCUK energy brand. The proposed Network will provide added value by achieving the following objectives:
(i) Effective coordination of training activities across the CDTs through a number of measures including common training and summer schools;
(ii) Maximising the impact of local, school and public engagement activities already planned or delivered by the CDTs through the sharing of best practice, quality materials and by collaborating at high profile events.
(iii) Coordination of the 12 CDT Directors, providing a forum to shape grand challenges in energy research and to discuss key issues such as the development of future energy research leaders and the progress of the CDTs.
(iv) Maximising the impact and value of existing industrial engagement in the energy CDTs, ensuring that UK industry understands the CDT model, knowledge exchange and the international programme for the promotion of the CDTs model.

Through coordination it is our aim that the network will maximise the value and impact made by the RCUKs investment in these Centres. A key role of the Network will be to stimulate collaboration between the Centres both in terms of taught activities where we plan to promote the sharing of resources and opportunities for joint student teaching but more importantly in research. We hope to promote centre research collaboration and joint cross-centre supervision of students. Our planned Grand Challenge Sandpits are designed to bring the academic expertise residing in the different Centres together so students at different Centres can work together on large Grand Challenge projects which will make significant impact when all the research findings are pulled together. The Network, through the stimulation of cross-Centre collaborations will help to maximise the value for the UK from the investment it has made in these Centres.

The relationships between the Centre Directors and Centre Managers that are put in place through the activities of the Network should ensure that the cooperation and close working across the Centres continues beyond the lifetime of the Network Grant.

This project will bring together the 12 RCUK Centres for Doctoral Training in energy. The major impact in the short term will be on the students and research engineers that these Centres are training, the academics and management staff involved in the Centres and the industry partners that are working closely with them.
Students - the CDT students will benefit from increased opportunities to network with peers working in different energy research areas helping them to gain increased knowledge and understanding of different energy technologies as well as social and economic factors. They will also benefit from opportunities to collaborate with colleagues from other centres and access, if appropriate, training provided by those centres. Students involved in joint projects or the Grand Challenge project will benefit from enhanced opportunities to develop their team working skills and experience of working in multi or inter-disciplinary projects.

Academia - academia will benefit from new inter and cross-disciplinary approaches to Energy Grand Challenges through our sandpit activities. They will also gain new experience in collaborative delivery of taught and research training and from the resources shared across the CDTs.

Industry - industry will benefit from increased information about the CDTs which will be made available in a central resource that clearly signposts to them how they can participate in the Network and work with individual Centres. They will benefit from the opportunity to meet CDT students and learn about their research at the industry Show and Tell event we plan to hold. They will also be able to maximise the impact of time and resources put into the CDTs through opportunities for the sharing of resources and coordination of seminars, visits etc.

Society - The students trained by the CDTs will go on to take roles in industry and the public sector. Society will benefit from the enhanced training they have received and the appreciation of the breadth and scale of the energy challenge that they have gained. The CDT Network should help the students to gain this appreciation and understanding of the wider energy landscape through opportunities to network and learn about different technological and societal energy issues. Coordination of public engagement activities will ensure that high quality materials are used and that maximum impact is made when the CDTs go into schools or participate in other activities and the Impact and Outreach Officer will ensure that maximum impact is made from the research generated by the CDTs.