The future for PhDs in Ireland report
01 June 2016The 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.