Welsh Universities seek future research leaders

“Game-changing” Welsh Crucible programme opens latest round of recruitment for exceptional researchers across Wales

Welsh Crucible is urging exceptional researchers from across Wales to apply for this year’s award-winning programme.

Now in its sixth year, Welsh Crucible will offer early- and mid-career researchers the chance to build their personal, professional and leadership skills with a view to becoming the future research leaders in the country.

A total of 30 places are available for the programme, which involves three intensive workshops, or ‘skill labs’, each over two days, providing inspiring guest speakers, seminars, skills sessions and informal discussions.

The workshops will focus on how the participants can benefit from working with researchers in other disciplines, how their research can have greater impact, and how they can build international research careers in Wales.

The Welsh Crucible programme, which is funded by a consortium of Welsh universities, the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales and Welsh Government, won the Times Higher Education Award for Outstanding Contribution to Leadership Development in 2013, with judges commenting that it delivers “game-changing impacts on attitudes and behaviours”.

“There are many benefits for those who participate in the programme,” said Sara Williams, Programme Manager. “Welsh Crucible helps develop a close network of like-minded peers, but also challenges people to think beyond their current work commitments so that they emerge with new insights and excellent career development potential.”

This year the Welsh Crucible team are encouraging more researchers to apply from outside of universities, whether it’s from the business, industry, charity or public sector.

Fiona Robinson, a Development Specialist at Cogent Power Ltd, participated in Welsh Crucible in 2012 and commended the programme for opening up opportunities that may not have existed in her day-to-day working life.

“Welsh Crucible has given me the opportunity to meet researchers from other disciplines whom I would not otherwise have met, particularly social scientists,” she said.

“The biggest change as a result of Welsh Crucible has been at a personal level, specifically increasing my confidence that my research has relevance and is of value. Since participating in Welsh Crucible I have had several articles published in professional journals, and I have also set up a technical network for industrially-based postgraduate students in South Wales, which has developed links outside my organisation with new contacts.”

Cardiff University will be hosting two events to allow researchers to find out more about the programme. The first will be Wednesday 8^th February, 12:00-2:00pm, in the University’s Main Building, and the second on Monday 13^th February, 12:00-2:00pm at the University’s Heath Park Campus.  Similar events will be held at other Universities across Wales.

Applicants can find out more information via http://www.welshcrucible.org.uk/