22 March 2012
Exceptional PhD students sought for pioneering knowledge exchange project
A groundbreaking project led by the University of Dundee is offering a number of graduates the opportunity to launch their academic career while helping to transform Scotland's economy.
Ten postgraduate places have been created as part of the £16million 'Knowledge Exchange (KE) Hubs in the Creative Economy' programme, which seeks to bring creativity and commerce together in the name of fulfilling the nation's business potential.
The Dundee-led project is supported by creative businesses, including SMEs, arts and culture organisations and other agencies, and has received almost £5million funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and other bodies.
Two of the position will be based at the University, which was last year named as one of four Hubs across the UK, leading a consortium of Scottish institutions, which will also host two PhD posts each. At a time of real difficulty in the job market, the posts offer an outstanding opportunity for graduates.
Working at the cutting edge of commerce, the Hubs have been charged with the task of building new partnerships and entrepreneurial capacity in the creative economy. They are also seeking to increase the number of arts and humanities researchers actively engaged in research-based knowledge exchange.
The 10 PhD posts represent a significant part of the research portfolio and will form a peer group with the collective task of understanding design at a strategic level. Candidates should hold a first degree at undergraduate level or have a proven track record of working continuously within industry for at minimum of three years.
"We are delighted that the first round of recruitment is under way for this project, and the PhD candidates will work at the very heart of a project that will have a major impact on the creative industries and academia across Scotland," said Professor Georgina Follett, Deputy Principal of the University of Dundee, who is heading the project.
"It will push design into areas it has not traditionally been associated with, such as sport, wellbeing, rural economics, and food and diet. It will reinforce the idea that design is not just about a beautiful product, it is something that can effect change in wider society."
As the major focus of AHRC's new knowledge exchange and impact strategy for 2011-2015, the Hubs will encourage significant interactions between research and the Creative Economy which will generate wider social, economic and cultural benefits.
Speaking as funding for the project was announced last year, Scottish Education Minister Michael Russell MSP said, "Scotland is a creative nation with a rich heritage, contributing to the world as a modern dynamic country.
"Culture and creativity deliver significant benefits for the people of Scotland. Our world leading creative industries support 60,000 jobs and generate £5.2 billion each year for the Scottish economy."
Two PhD posts will be based at each of the consortium partners - Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design (part of the University of Dundee), Edinburgh College of Art, Glasgow School of Art, Gray's School of Art (Robert Gordon University), and the University of Abertay Dundee.
The first round of recruitment has begun as the project scales up in advance of its official launch later this year. At a challenging time for the economy, and for young people in particular, this provides a unique and valuable opportunity for graduates to pursue an academic career that will ultimately benefit the wider economy as they use their talent to bring business and design together.
More information about these posts, and how to apply for them, is available at www.dundee.ac.uk/djcad/news/2012/03/ahrcstudentships
Notes for editors
The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). Each year the AHRC provides approximately £100 million from the Government to support research and postgraduate study in the arts and humanities, from languages and law, archaeology and English literature to design and creative and performing arts. In any one year, the AHRC makes hundreds of research awards ranging from individual fellowships to major collaborative projects as well as over 1,100 studentship awards. Awards are made after a rigorous peer review process, to ensure that only applications of the highest quality are funded. The quality and range of research supported by this investment of public funds not only provides social and cultural benefits but also contributes to the economic success of the UK.
AHRC Knowledge Exchange (KE) Hubs in the Creative Economy: AHRC KE Hubs present a unique opportunity for Research Organisations already working in strategic partnerships with creative businesses and cultural organisations to strengthen and diversify their collaborative research activities, build new partnerships in the creative economy and increase the number of arts and humanities researchers actively engaged in research-based knowledge exchange.
This represents an investment by the AHRC of some £16million over four years.
The four lead institutions are:
- University of Dundee.
- University of Lancaster.
- Queen Mary, University of London.
- University of the West of England
For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277 |
