MURG supports the Concordat to support the Career Development of Researchers and is one of the signatories.
NEW MURG Postgraduate Sub-Committee – NOMINATIONS DUE 24TH FEBRUARY 2012
Information about the committee
There will be 5 people on the postgraduate sub-committee – the Chair and 4 Ordinary Members.
The postgraduate sub-committee will have its initial meeting at the same time as the MURG executive committee meeting in May 2012, to allow everyone to be introduced to the new committee. Thereafter the postgraduate sub-committee will liaise via email / Skype etc.
The aim of the postgraduate sub-committee will be to establish a network of postgraduate researchers at MURG member universities and to communicate with this network via email or other appropriate method. The committee will be expected to canvas the network on the issues pertinent to the research of postgraduate students and to feed this back, via the chair, to the MURG executive committee. They will also be expected to develop a workshop specifically aimed at postgraduate students to investigate these issues further.
Information about the Chair of the Postgraduate Sub-Committee
The chair will be expected to attend all MURG executive committee meetings (approx 3 per year). The aim will be to feedback all issues relating to postgraduate research to the executive committee and to update them on the progress of the workshop.
The Chair will also be invited to give a short paper on their research at one MURG event.
MURG is delighted that Jen Reynolds at VITAE has agreed to mentor the Chair of the postgraduate sub-committee. It is envisaged that the initial meeting between mentor and mentee will take place at the MURG Spring Conference on 27th – 28th March 2012 at Coventry University. There will also be a short training session for mentor and mentee prior to the start of the mentoring scheme – the date is still to be confirmed for this. The aim of the mentoring will be to support the Chair in learning more about committee work as well as on their research activities and future career.
It is envisaged that the Chair will hold the post for 1 year and then step down to allow another postgraduate to take on the role and receive mentoring.
Funding will be available to cover travel and other expenses to attend MURG meetings.
TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE COMMITTEE, PLEASE SEND A COPY OF YOUR CV TO MURG.ADMIN@NTLWORLD.COM
MURG SPRING CONFERENCE 2012
In March 2012 MURG’s Spring conference will cover supporting postgraduate research in modern universities. It will have a session on “High Quality Postgraduate Resources In Modern Universities – Ensuring Equality And Diversity” with presentations on The European Commission ‘HR excellence in research’ badge as well as the Athena Swan Charter , the Daphne Jackson Trust and the Collaborative Hub of Opportunities for Researchers in Universities in Scotland [CHORUS] initiative.
MURG Postgraduate Sub-Committee – BACKGROUND INFORMATION
At MURG’s executive committee meeting in September 2011 it was decided to establish a new postgraduate sub-committee. MURG is committed to postgraduate career progression as a signatory of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers. The chair of the new sub-committee will also attend the Executive Committee meetings to feed issues to the committee on postgraduate and early career researcher issues. The new committee will also be tasked with organising a conference for postgraduate researchers at modern universities.
We are opening the nominations for the Chair of the Postgraduate Sub-Committee. The Chair will also be funded to present a short paper on their research at one of the MURG events and will also benefit from a mentor from VITAE to support them through their year-long office as Chair of the postgraduate sub-committee. This is an excellent opportunity for a postgraduate or early career researcher to gain committee experience – an important tool for career progression.
It is hoped that the new position within MURG will follow principles 13 and 14 as set out in the Concordat:
“13. Employers and researchers can often benefit if researchers have an input into policy and practice through appropriate representation at staff meetings and on organisation or management committees.
14. Mentoring arrangements should be supported by employers as a key mechanism for career development and enhancement.”
If you have any nominations, please contact the MURG administrator, Dr Helen Rolph, on murg.admin@ntlworld.com with the name, email address and research background of your nominee. Institutions can nominate more than one person to the committee. The person selected as Chair will oversee a sub-committee of 4 members. Any nominees not directly selected to the sub-committee will be placed on an email network of postgraduate researchers at MURG institutions and this will be managed by the postgraduate committee. They will use this to keep researchers informed of key issues relating to research training and careers in modern universities.
The new chair of the postgraduate committee will be formally welcomed to MURG on day two of the conference by Professor Peter Strike, MURG Chair and Vice Chancellor of Cumbria University as well as the members of the panel debate on research – David Sweeney (Director, Research, Innovation & Skills, HEFCE), Paul Hagan (Director Research & innovation, SFC) and David Blaney (Director of Strategic Development, HEFCW).
Postgraduate Online Resources
Academic 360 – jobs
Academic and research jobs in Europe
Association of Commonwealth Universities – jobs
EURAXESS – European Portal for Postgraduate Researchers
ICT Knowledge Transfer Network
Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust
Marie Curie Fellowship Association
