ITs launch skills programme for postgrads

The Minister for Science, Technology, Innovation and Natural Resources, Conor Lenihan TD has launched the Institutes of Technology Research Alliance Graduate Education Programme, which aims to significantly enhance the scope and depth of the sector’s strategic and professional approach to research and fourth level provision.

Beginning work in 2007, the Alliance has developed a range of programmes which support the growth and development of research in the Institutes of Technology. It develops flexible, accessible, accredited skills training programmes for staff and postgraduate students. In particular, the Generic and Transferable Graduate Skills Programme being launched is a major step forward in Ireland’s ability to demonstrate to a global economy that our workforce is among the best in the world.

The Alliance is the outcome of a sector wide Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) study led by IT Sligo which has developed a range of programmes that support the growth and development of research in the Institutes. The initial success of the project is as a result of the strong collaboration between the 14 Institutes of Technology, NUI Galway, NUI Maynooth, University of Ulster, University of Melbourne, the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC), the Irish Universities Association (IUA) and the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC).

Launching the Alliance, Minister Lenihan said: 'the Government has set ambitious targets to increase the number of post-graduates in the workforce and the Research Alliance will play a major role in delivering masters and PhD graduates who are both expert in their field and flexible in the workplace. Institutes of Technology now educate half our undergraduate population and the Alliance will also help to apply the significant expertise resources of staff in the sector to increase our outputs at postgraduate level and continue our economy’s move into high value-added sectors.'

The Alliance encourages extensive collaboration between all partner representatives and expert leaders in the areas of research methods, research management, personal development for researchers, data handling, creativity, entrepreneurship and communications.

The Alliance has several key drivers:

•The national move to provide structured research skills training in postgraduate research programmes
•Government policies and targets to double research students in Ireland
•The need to fill gaps in student research skill sets
•The sector wide target of 20% of academic staff involved in research in each Institute
•The SIF 1 emphasis on achieving change through rewarding innovation and a strong emphasis on collaboration

The Alliance is also a response to Europe-wide drivers including the Lisbon Agenda, the Bologna process and international models of best practice.

An expert panel of reviewers has been established to maintain standards, ensure subject areas are up to speed with current developments and to identify and develop additional subject areas.

Three level 9 programme streams in research practice have been developed at single module, certificate and diploma levels. These offer credits at each level and will be delivered by blended learning with varied teaching and assessment methods.

The expected benefits of the programmes are:

•Early achievement of key learning outcomes
•Enhancement of apprenticeship model of supervision
•Quality assurance of substantive research
•Engagement in inter-institutional interdisciplinary communities
•Diploma supplement additions

In the first phase, the programmes will be managed by the existing SIF Research Alliance office based at IT Sligo with subsequent phases managed by a programme-funded professional secretariat.

IT Sligo will facilitate academic quality of the first phase with Special Purpose Award registration for postgraduate students linked to home-Institute registration. Other higher education institutes will look at joining accreditation by validating the programme in their institute.