Introduction

1. Northeastern University London (‘the University’) is responsible for ensuring that students are provided with appropriate opportunities for personal and professional development. Students need support in order to develop the research and the subject specific and transferable skills required to become effective researchers, to enhance their employability and to assist their career progress after completion of their degree. 
2. Through partnership with the University of Kent, the University provides a programme of skills training consistent with the areas outlined in the Careers Research and Advisory Centre (CRAC) Vitae Researcher Development Framework, which is divided into four main areas:
   1. Knowledge and intellectual abilities;
   2. Personal effectiveness;
   3. Research governance and organisation;
   4. Engagement, influence and impact.

Subject-specific Research Skills

3. Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that students are provided with the subject-specific research skills they need to complete their research projects. Supervisory teams must ensure that their students receive the necessary research skills training and this will be monitored at reviews (see AQF17: Research Programmes of Study, Part J: Progression and Examination) and by the University of Kent and Northeastern University London PhD Programme Management Board (‘the PhD PMB’).

Researcher Development Programme

4. University of Kent’s Graduate and Researcher College is responsible for providing a Researcher Development Programme for postgraduate researchers at the University. All new PhD students are required to undertake a Researcher Development Assessment, which they are introduced to at a Researcher Development Assessment Workshop. The completion of a Researcher Development Assessment is a requirement for successful completion of the probation review for PhD students (see Part J: Progression and Examination).
5. The Researcher Development Assessment (see Annex O, University of Kent, Codes of Practice for Research Courses) has a dual purpose and is for the benefit of both students and supervisors. The Researcher Development Assessment uses the Vitae Researcher Development Framework as its basis. In completing the Researcher Development Assessment, all new PhD students are encouraged to consider their existing portfolio of skills, as well as the skills that they hope to acquire while doing their doctoral research. Students are also actively encouraged to consider a range of career options and the particular skills that they might need for their chosen career. The identification of training and development needs at an early stage will help students to complete their research and writing using the most effective means, to avoid situations in which they fail to progress because they lack a particular skill. Opportunities for developing some of these skills are available through participation in training courses, but students will also acquire some of these skills independently during the course of their doctorate.
6. The Doctoral School is responsible for ensuring that students and supervisors are made aware of the Researcher Development Programme offered by the University of Kent’s Graduate and Researcher College and the requirement for all new students to undertake a Researcher Development Assessment prior to their probation review.

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