New UKCGE report on structures and strategies in doctoral education published

Rebekah Smith McGloin

Director of Doctoral School and Research Operations, Nottingham Trent University

Carolyn Wynne

Director — Doctoral College & Centre for Research Capability and Development. Coventry University

This report allows readers to see inside the structures and strategies which shape institutional approaches to doctoral education in the UK and Ireland. 

78% 
of respondents wanted to grow the doctoral population over the next 5–10 years 
42.3%
reported that they wanted to grow their at-distance’ programmes 
>50%
have diversity’ as a key metric, and it does not appear in the top five strategic priorities 

Structures and Strategy in Doctoral Education in the UK and Ireland offers a fascinating insight not only into current practice in graduate schools or equivalent as set out in contemporary priorities, activities and targets, but also into the shared challenges graduate schools face and their ambitions for their future and the future of doctoral education across the sector.

The value of this report lies not only in its comprehensive data collection and analysis. It also comes from the sparks that are generated from the frictions which are revealed. 
Professor Chris Smith, Executive Chair— Arts and Humanities Research Council, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

This most recent report builds from previous UKCGE publications that have charted changes in structures that support doctoral education, to include a new focus on institutional strategies, priorities and commitments which shape the work of graduate schools across the UK and Ireland. 

The 2022 report draws on the detailed responses from 74 higher education institutions, additional research on trends in national and international policy and practice in doctoral education and comparator data from the previous reports in this series, to offer readers an insight into the policy drivers, changing markets and the major challenges and opportunities which have driven decision-making in the doctoral space in the UK and Ireland in the last six years.

The important findings, outlined in the report, cover issues related to: 

  • graduate school identity, 
  • leadership,
  • access to resource, 
  • space,
  • new ways of working, 
  • responses to the pandemic 
  • and the evolving policy agenda related to diversity and inclusion and health and well-being. 

The report is an essential read for Deans and Directors of Graduate Schools or equivalent, research leaders, research policy-makers and funders and anyone with an interest in contributing to the urgent work required to ensure doctoral education can play a significant role in delivering both the kind of research that can drive post-pandemic recovery and the trained, highly skilled doctoral graduates who are happy and confident to lead it. 

A free online launch event will take place on Friday 29th April at 1.00 — 2.30pm.