Researcher Education and Development Scholarship Conference 2019
Details and information of the inaugural Research Education and Development Conference, held on the 18th October 2019.
Overview
The Researcher Education and Development Scholarship (REDS) Conference 2019 was held at Kings College London on the 18th October. The theme of the conference was 'Identity, agency, and choice – personal approaches to researcher development'.
National guidance suggests that early career researchers can expect to use 15-20% of their research time for professional development. This is a generous offer, and so it is important that every researcher can find value and relevance in the professional development activities that institutions offer.
Yet, what ‘valuable professional development' means for each researcher is different. Identities at work, and at home, previous learning and work experiences, different national contexts, systemic inequalities, and future intended career trajectories, will all create different support and development needs for each individual.
If we start from the position of helping researchers to appreciate that learning is everywhere, not just in the training room, we can raise their awareness of the development that takes place through, for example, their peer groups, committees, relationships and disciplinary networks.
In tandem, we must also help researchers to navigate the huge amount of internet-based advice and guidance available to them in the form of blogs, webinars, podcasts, video series, online courses and social networks.
Creating in-house development provision that resonates with each researchers’ needs and preferences, aligns with the expectations of the funders, and satisfies strategic drivers, layers complexity on complexity for best practice in researcher development.
With so much on offer, how can we ensure personalised learning for each researcher? This conference sought to present and discuss themes that are related to the policies and practices of researcher development including but not limited to: identity, agency, choice, the hidden curriculum, adult learning, coaching, mentoring and self-reflection.
The fifth annual REDS conference provided an opportunity to explore pedagogical, theoretical and conceptual approaches. The conference leaders also particularly explored the wider role of researcher developers in influencing policy and strategy development in institutions.
See more details about the 2015 conference, 2016 conference, 2017 conference and 2018 conference.
Keynote speakers
Dr Sally Hancock, University of York, drew on her ongoing research into the employment outcomes of doctoral graduates in the UK, and her published work using the principles of game theory to examine the career strategies of doctoral scientists.
Dr Julia Yates, City, University of London, spoke about Career Identities and Future Possible Selves.
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Download slides from the 2019 talks (PDF, 6.78MB)
View the speaker's abstracts (PDF, 173kB)
Download the full 2019 programme (PDF, 84.9kB)
Details
Who attended?
Researcher development colleagues, career consultants, staff developers, academic researchers in higher education disciplines and Higher Education policymakers.
Venue
The Great Hall
King’s College London
Strand Campus
London
WC2R 2LS
Organisers
Conference hosts: Dr Kathy Barrett, kathy.barrett@kcl.ac.uk and Dr Amy Birch, amy.birch@kcl.ac.uk
Conference administrator: Kay Dorelli, kathleen.dorelli@kcl.ac.uk