THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY IS IRELAND'S LEADING BODY OF EXPERTS IN THE SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

The Royal Irish Academy/Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann champions research. We identify and recognise Ireland’s world class researchers. We support scholarship and promote awareness of how science and the humanities enrich our lives and benefit society. We believe that good research needs to be promoted, sustained and communicated. The Academy is run by a Council of its members. Membership is by election and considered the highest academic honour in Ireland.

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The future for PhDs in Ireland report

01 June 2016

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PDF icon The future for PhDs in Ireland: objectives, implications and recommendations for engineering and computer science in the context

The future for PhDs in Ireland: objectives, implications and recommendations for engineering and computer science in the context of 'Innovation 2020'

The Royal Irish Academy’s Engineering and Computer Science Committee convened a day-long event, on 14 March 2016, to examine the government's science strategy 'Innovation 2020' and how the objectives set out therein would affect PhD students, specifically within engineering and computer science disciplines.

The event had four presentation sessions and discussion, structured as follows:

An introduction to Innovation 2020

Dr Roger O’Connor—Director of Business and Technology, Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

The funding agencies’ perspective

Professor Jane Ohlmeyer—Chair of the Irish Research Council
Dr Mairead O’Driscoll—Director of Research Strategy and Funding, Health Research Board

PhD education in Ireland: facts and figures

Ms Denise Frawley—Data and Policy Analyst, Higher Education Authority
Dr Jennifer Brennan—European Advisor (NCP) and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and National Delegate, Irish Universities Association

The PhD student and early-career researcher’s perspective

Dr Gordon Dalton—Senior Research Fellow, University College Cork and Chair of the International Consortium of Research Staff Associations (ICoRSA)

These sessions were followed by a wide-ranging discussion, moderated by Dr Eleni Pratsini, Director of IBM Research, Ireland.

A report was published by the committee summarising the key discussions and suggestions put forward during the event. 

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