keele university code of practice on postgraduate research degrees

SECTION 2
RESOURCES AND SUPPORT
• Academic facilities and resources
• Research training
• Graduate School
• Student support services
• Bursaries and studentships.
2.1 Academic facilities and resources
As a minimum, Research Institutes shall provide to research students (or ensure that
research students have access to) appropriate and necessary facilities and
resources. The level <strong>of</strong> access depends on the student’s registration status (full-time,
part-time, continuation, or leave <strong>of</strong> absence). Normal expectations are set out in
Annex D2. Research Institutes may enhance these levels as appropriate and as
resources allow.
These facilities relate to the status <strong>of</strong> being a research student, and do not relate to
the requirements for carrying out any particular project. Project resources and
facilities need to be separately identified, and availability and access agreed with
students.
2.1.3 University academic resources are available to research students primarily through
the Library, and relate to computing and library facilities, including direct and remote
access.
2.2 Research training (See Regulation 2D (4), (6) and (10))
2.2.1 Formal research training for research students is a compulsory part <strong>of</strong> a research
degree programme, as set out in Regulation 2D. More detailed information and
guidelines on Research Training are provided in the Research Training Handbook
(http://www.<strong>keele</strong>.ac.uk/gradschool/training/index.htm)
2.2.2 Formal research training is required by the universities’ funding council (HEFCE) and
the research councils as well as the <strong>university</strong>. The expectation is that you will
evaluate your needs against the Joint statement <strong>of</strong> the Research Councils’ skills
training requirements for research students – to be found as Annex D5.
2.2.3 The objectives <strong>of</strong> the research training programme are to develop skills and
understanding in a number <strong>of</strong> key areas, some related specifically to research, some
relating to personal development and employability, also referred to as generic skills.
The key areas as set out in the RCUK Joint Skills Statement are:
• Research skills and techniques
• Research environment
• Research management
• Personal effectiveness
• Communication skills
• Networking and team working
• Career management.
2.2.4 In addition to the appropriate research skills and techniques, all students need to
have acquired, by the end <strong>of</strong> their programme, the range <strong>of</strong> skills associated with
personal development and employability set out in the RCUK Joint Skills Statement.
COP on PGR Degrees, November 2011 13