Liverpool and Exeter Doctoral Colleges Officially Launched

The University of Liverpool and the University of Exeter have this month officially launched Doctoral College Structures, both aimed at enhancing the student experience for doctoral research students. 

Liverpool and Exeter Doctoral Colleges Officially Launched

The University of Liverpool and the University of Exeter have this month officially launched Doctoral College Structures, both aimed at enhancing the student experience for doctoral research students. 

The new Liverpool Doctoral College (LDC) will deliver a range of training options to meet student interests and career ambitions, and is supported by staff across faculties and the University’s Post Graduate Research Development Team. 

The launch was supported by a series of PGR welcome events running over three days, which incorporated tailored sessions in networking, induction and feedback for new and current students. The new system moves PGR development training away from a compulsory set of activities, to an opt-in approach where academic supervisors will play a key role in defining training and development needs and helping students to choose the options that best support their future career. 

Commenting on the launch, Director of the Liverpool Doctoral College, Professor Graham Kemp said: The LDC has been established to give our thriving doctoral community a flexible, choice-led approach to PGR development training. It will provide all our PGR students with the skills to help them succeed in their research, as well as training and placement opportunities which will equip them for a range of careers in academia, industry and the public and charitable sectors.” 

The University of Exeter Doctoral College will also provide training, resources and facilities for those in the early stages of their careers, but highlights a key role for the college to support the professional development of future research leaders.

Through a comprehensive range of resources and courses that enhance research, encourage innovative new ideas and nurture the talent of the brightest minds, Exeter’s Doctoral College also aims to provide a platform to give doctoral researchers an active voice within the University to enable them to participate in decision-making and to take responsibility for shaping their own experience.

Professor Michelle Ryan, Director of the Doctoral College, said: The launch of the University of Exeter Doctoral College demonstrates our commitment to support and sustain the vibrant interdisciplinary research already undertaken by our post graduates and early career researchers. In the Postgraduate Research Survey 2015, the University performed extremely well in overall satisfaction — the development of the Doctoral College will build on this result to create a truly exceptional network of support for the development and management of doctoral research provision across the University and with our partner organisations.”

The new Exeter Doctoral College was officially launched on at the University’s Streatham Campus, with over 300 current postgraduate students and researchers attended an event hosted by Professor Ryan. Guest speaker Jorge Cham, creator of PhD Comics officially launched the college with a talk and screening of his latest film, The PhD Movie 2 – Still in Grad School’.

Links:

The Liverpool Doctoral College

The Exeter Doctoral College