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News in brief (Summer 09)

News in brief

Women in Europe lack influence on the research agenda

The Gender Challenge in Research Funding

Women are heavily underrepresented in research decision-making in Europe, and thus have fewer opportunities to influence the research agenda. The report found that the European countries could be divided into two groups: countries, which promote and monitor gender equality in research and research funding with active policies and measures, and countries relatively inactive in this area, with few, if any, initiatives. The highest proportion of women in scientific boards when using a rough estimate aggregating disciplines were found in Norway, Finland and Sweden with 47-48 % women, figures are from 2004.

Report at http://tinyurl.com/ecgender

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Women in Science and Technology — Creating Sustainable Careers

Representatives from companies, experts from universities, and the EU Directorate General for Research joined forces in the working group Women in Science and Technology (WiST), in order to promote gender diversity in the field of science and technology. The recent report highlights the ways in which Europe's employers provide support. These include initiatives to ensure important meetings are timed to allow parents to leave the office as necessary, and not overlooking those who work part-time when it comes to assigning senior responsibilities.

Report at http://tinyurl.com/womensci

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The experiences of part-time students in higher education

Overall picture of provision painted by the respondents is quite strongly positive.

Eleven post-1992 universities in the UK participated in a web-based survey of their part-time students on taught programmes which ranged from master’s degrees to short courses. The strongly predominant reason given for opting for part-time study over full-time study was that it allowed study to be undertaken alongside other commitments. The flexibility that part-time study allowed, and its relative affordability, were by some distance the second and third most acknowledged reasons. The most frequently-stated reason given for studying was the students’ desire to improve their capability in their current job. The possibility of gaining promotion and preparation for a career switch were significant for smaller proportions of respondents. Around one in five respondents gave personal satisfaction as a rationale: this was most marked in those studying at bachelor’s level. Around two thirds of respondents overall said that they had made the choice of programme. Relatively infrequently was the decision solely the choice of an employer: when employers were involved, the decision was more likely to involve both employer and potential student. Where employment-related study was the focus, tuition fees were met by more than two thirds of students’ employers: however, the level of employer support for ancillary expenses was considerably lower. A more detailed analysis showed some variation between subject discipline areas as regards the balance between self-funding and employer sponsorship.

http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/assets/York/documents/ourwork/research/surveys/Part-time_student_experience_of_HE.pdf

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Growth in doctorates mainly due to overseas students

A new report from the Higher Education Funding Council for England, PhD Study: Trends and Profiles 1996-97 to 2004-05, reveals that the number of starters to full-time programmes from a UK domicile increased marginally between 1996-97 and 2004-05. However there were much larger increases in starters from outside the UK: for both the EU (excluding UK) and non-EU groups there were 50 per cent more starters in 2004-05 than in 1996-97. The largest and most significant changes in the number of starters to full-time PhD programmes between 1996-97 and 2004-05 were seen for the following types of students:

  • The number of female students (grew by 42 per cent). In 2004-05 there were 7,400 female starters compared to 9,519 male starters
  • students aged 21 or under on commencement (declined by 45 per cent)
  • those from a Chinese ethnicity (more than doubled)
  • those with a masters qualification in the year prior to commencement (grew by 70 per cent)

http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/hefce/2009/09_04/

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The war on talent?

Talent management under threat in uncertain times

This report presents survey findings about the impact of the downturn on talent management. Findings reveal that while spending and reward budgets have been cut for almost a quarter of organisations, positive practices have also been adopted. The research suggests that managers need more support in managing talent and argues that talent management becomes more important in an economic downturn. Included are recommendations for good people performance, such as focusing on the engagement and retention of current employees and reviewing the cost-effectiveness and impact of talent management activities.

http://www.cipd.co.uk/NR/rdonlyres/DFC760F8-F37C-4548-9470-5154073FE4EC/0/warontalent.pdf

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Funding and financial support key to choosing higher education

Findings from the Student Income and Expenditure Survey (SIES) 2007/08

Around one in three students (32 per cent full-timers and 31 per cent of part-timers) said that the availability of funding and financial support affected their decisions about HE, and 25 percent of full-time and 31 per cent of part-time students said that concerns over debt nearly stopped them coming. Most said that they would not have studied at all without financial support.

Most students felt that their HE experience was equipping them for the demands of working life, would lead to higher salaries and was worthwhile despite its high cost. Nevertheless, 59 per cent of full-time students had concerns about increasing competition in the graduate job market - slightly more than in 2004/05 (56 per cent).

Levels of borrowing among full-time students were over three times higher (at £8,889) than among part-time students. In addition, full-time students were considerably more likely to borrow money (93 per cent had some form of borrowing compared to 62 per cent of part-time students). Anticipated debt levels for 2007/08 graduates averaged £7,798 for full-time graduates and £441 for part-time ones.

http://www.employment-studies.co.uk/pdflibrary/rr0905.pdf

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Supporting young people into the professions

The Panel on Fair Access to the Professions

The Panel is looking at the processes and structures that govern recruitment into key professions. It will identify actions that the professions, supported by government where relevant, could undertake to improve access into professions. In the research report from phase 1, some key points are:

  • With around 70% of graduate recruiters targeting less than 20 University campuses, a person’s choice of University has a large impact on the opportunities that may be presented for the future.
  • Most professions undertake initial screening based on prior educational attainment. This can be a barrier for applicants who have come through non-traditional educational routes.
  • The most common route into the Professions, evident in all but one profession in a recent study, is a degree, plus postgraduate qualification or professional qualification.
  • Internships have become a key route into some professions and can help raise aspirations as well as provide practical entry routes.

http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/strategy/work_areas/accessprofessions.aspx