How can staff- and student-led initiatives improve research culture for PGRs?

Research Culture is defined as ‘the behaviours, values, expectations, attitudes and norms of our research communities’ [1]. The postgraduate experience has a direct impact on the success and completion rates of doctoral students [2,3]. Indeed, the university research culture, the school-level culture and the student experience are all interdependent. The school’s strategic objective is to work in partnership with doctoral students to improve the research student experience through developing inclusive and supportive transition and retention practice, increasing belonging, engagement and student satisfaction. Through incentives, reward, and bespoke programmes, the school have committed time and resources to support PGRs in the research environment and the wider university. Therefore, this work reports the measures of positive action delivered both by staff- and student-led programmes to enhance PGR culture and experience, as members of the School’s Research Society (consisting of PhD students, Postdoctoral Researchers and Academics) and Postgraduate Research Committee (Academics and Professional Services). A new Research Culture and Community Champion was appointed and began consultation with a focus group of PhD students across the 4-year PhD student lifecycle to determine student needs. A such, a Journal Paper competition to encourage dissemination, participation in the Northern Ireland Science Festival, greener lived spaces supporting social contact, be active charity fundraisers, a dedicated PGR careers event, away days and bespoke training, among others have been trialled from 2023-25. Results are already demonstrating improved student engagement, increased satisfaction and the foundations of an improving research culture within the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

1. Powell, J., Britton-Drewry, E., et al., 2024. Research Culture Initiatives in the UK, 2024. Online: UK Research & Innovation.
2. Ali, A. and Kohun, F., 2007. Dealing with Social Isolation to Minimize Doctoral Attrition-A Four Stage Framework. International Journal of Doctoral Studies, 2.
3. Deem, R. and Brehony, K.J., 2000. Doctoral Students' Access to Research Cultures-are some more unequal than others? Studies in Higher Education, 25 (2), 149–165.