Because there is life beyond a PhD

Research students are undoubtedly clever, but employers often see them as just boffins. Now, however, those on studentships will be trained in crucial workplace skills, writes Caroline Haydon

Research students will be polishing up their "soft skills" – including teamworking, communication and personal effectiveness – in a new push to develop both their own potential and their value to employers. So-called "transferable skills" are now a key issue for those undertaking PhDs on studentships, which provide money for research over a period of years. This was a recommendation in last year's Roberts Report on the supply of scientists and engineers, "Set for Success".

It argued that, although higher education institutions had begun improvements, they were not adapting quickly enough to meet the needs of industry or the expectations of potential students. Sir Gareth Roberts focused on the training elements of a PhD – particularly, training in transferable skills – which he said would need to be "strengthened considerably".

Extra cash from the government spending review will be targeted on improving research-council students' stipends, and on training in these vital skills. The hope is that, where the research councils lead, other PhD-funders will follow. In fact, Roberts recommends that all funding relating to PhD students should be made conditional on training meeting minimum standards, including providing dedicated training in transferable skills.

The emphasis will make a difference to students and universities, according to Dr Janet Metcalfe, director of the Centre of Excellence UK Grad programme, a partnership of organisations committed to supporting the universities in developing these skills. The attributes that a research student can bring to an employer are often underestimated, she says.

"PhD students can be seen as boffin-ish. But they will have developed excellent skills – flexibility, problem analysis, project-management – during their studies, and this is not always appreciated. We aim to make them aware of the skills they possess and how to present them to employers."

The research councils are keen to follow through. At the Natural Environment Research Council, Dr Anne McFarlane, the business process manager for studentships, says that the stipends for PhD students this autumn will rise to a minimum of £9,000 and by 2005/6 to £12,000.

"We will also be able to provide higher stipends in areas in which we currently have problems recruiting, such as the physical- and mathematical-related sciences," she says. "There will be extra money to support training in transferable skills for PhDs – report-writing, public speaking, teamworking, and so on."

At the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Dr Iain Cameron, head of postgraduate training, says that the accumulation of these skills is so important that the council makes it a condition of funding. Students must attend a UK Grad course in their second or third year – or the university concerned must ensure that the student receives equivalent training.

The EPSRC, currently funding 6,200 students, is keen, he says, because they know what the future holds for many PhDs. "About half of them will end up outside the university sector, and they need to understand what skills they have acquired and be able to apply them in a different research environment, such as industry."

Phil Sooben, chair of the Joint Research Councils Postgraduate Training Group, agrees. All of the research councils recognise that it is important for the doctoral students they support to be prepared for a range of possible careers both within and outside the university sector. As such, there is a need to develop the broader skills of research students, and to increase their awareness of the range of skills they possess and their confidence in using them."

"The Grad programme is one excellent vehicle for providing this. In addition, we expect universities to build it into their doctoral programmes – there are now many examples of good practice across the UK."

For information on the UK Grad programme and national courses for students, consult www.grad.ac.uk

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