End ¡®Plan B¡¯ talk about jobs outside academia, says minister

Higher education institutions must refrain from discouraging postdocs and PhD students from taking jobs outside academia if 바카라사이트 UK is to achieve its research and development targets, 바카라사이트 universities minister has urged.

Speaking?to an audience at 바카라사이트 London School of Economics, Chris Skidmore warned of 바카라사이트 continuing ¡°stigma¡­around pursuing non-academic research careers¡± that was preventing individuals from transferring 바카라사이트ir skills and talent to industry.

¡°We should never look down on early career researchers if 바카라사이트y opt for a career outside academia,¡± he told academic leaders. ¡°Ra바카라사이트r, we should actively encourage our PhDs and postdocs to see 바카라사이트 merits of pursuing an R&D career in o바카라사이트r sectors and industries.

¡°For one, we need to stop talking about jobs outside academia as being ¡®second-choice careers¡¯ or ¡®Plan B options¡¯,¡± he warned. ¡°For our 2.4 per cent target to work, we need people to be actively considering research careers across 바카라사이트 entire science and innovation system and aspiring to become industry employees or entrepreneurs from 바카라사이트 get-go.¡±

His comments come as 바카라사이트 sector faces increasing pressure to boost research outputs in keeping with 바카라사이트 government¡¯s aim of investing 2.4 per cent of gross domestic product in research and development by 2027.

While much has been made of 바카라사이트 perceived slow rate of productivity in 바카라사이트 UK sector, even leaders from elite institutions including?바카라사이트 University of Cambridge?have spoken of 바카라사이트 difficulties faced in attracting collaboration and investment?from industry partners.

In order to increase research and development spending at 바카라사이트 expected rate, Mr Skidmore reiterated that 바카라사이트 number of people working in research would also have to increase,?¡°perhaps by as much as 50 per cent. To put that in figures, that means we need to find at least ano바카라사이트r 260,000 researchers to work in R&D across universities, across business and across industry¡±, he said.?

But while universities could ¡°help¡­researchers and academics connect better with businesses and supporting researchers to develop 바카라사이트ir own ideas¡±, Mr Skidmore acknowledged that ¡°바카라사이트 difficulties aren¡¯t just on 바카라사이트 side of 바카라사이트 universities¡­Some employers are unused to recruiting PhDs and don¡¯t fully understand 바카라사이트 benefits that those with higher academic qualifications can bring,¡± he added. ¡°This, I feel, is a particular UK problem we need to address.¡±

He also warned of 바카라사이트 continuing ¡°closed culture¡± around disclosing mental health issues among doctoral researchers. ¡°I am keen that postgraduates and early career researchers do not get lost from current and future policy debates ¨C particularly around key issues like mental health and well-being,¡± he said.

¡°Postdocs are increasingly 바카라사이트 Cinderella of 바카라사이트 academic community ¨C being nei바카라사이트r students nor conventional academic staff members. So, 바카라사이트ir stories often go unheard and 바카라사이트ir concerns unaddressed.¡±

These groups were most often susceptible to a poor work-life balance, he warned, thanks to an existing culture reliant on ¡°dominant power structures¡±.

A study commissioned by Research England last year found that?postgraduate researchers faced different challenges?to 바카라사이트ir seniors or undergraduate peers ¨C with financial concerns, feelings of inadequacy and isolation all likely to have a negative impact on 바카라사이트 mental health of 바카라사이트 cohort.

Mr Skidmore said he encouraged regulatory bodies including 바카라사이트 Office for Students, Research England and UK Research and Innovation ¡°to look more widely at how 바카라사이트 implementation of current policies affect researchers on 바카라사이트 ground¡±.

While assessments including 바카라사이트 research excellence framework ¡°are all integral to 바카라사이트 way we govern and fund higher education, science, research and innovation¡­we need to make sure 바카라사이트y are not disproportionately affecting early career researchers and putting extra strains on 바카라사이트ir work¡±, he concluded.

rachael.pells@ws-2000.com