Undertaking a Research in Practice (RinP) placement is a mandatory component of a PhD if the studentship was funded by the ESRC from Autumn 2024. Postgraduate researchers will spend the equivalent of 3 months away from their PhD research, working with an external host partner on a discrete project, challenge or research question. This gives researchers the opportunity to put their PhD research into context, and to develop valuable skills that they can bring back to their project.
“The placement which our postgraduate researcher completed with a civil-society organisation was very beneficial in terms of boosting confidence, building relationships and networks, and situating the PhD thesis in the wider context beyond only an academic lens.”
Sara De Jong & Judith Krauss, PhD Supervisors
The placement scheme has been designed to be flexible to cater for all researchers’ needs and requirements, so there is something for everyone. Researchers are responsible for choosing what they do, where they do it, and when they do it to suit their needs and career aspirations. It is expected that all placement activity should be agreed in consultation with you as their research supervisor. Your role is important in ensuring your researcher gets the most out of their experience.
Before the placement
Before your researcher starts their placement, there are certain actions you should take as their supervisor:
The WRDTP Placements Manager will deliver an online briefing session in early 2025, and all research supervisors will be invited to attend by email.
Come along to hear all about the scheme, and to have your questions answered.
You should chat with your researcher as soon as possible, and encourage them to record their plans for their time on placement in their Development Needs Analysis (DNA) document.
When planning their placement, you should encourage your researcher to think about the skills that they want to gain or develop, and the type of career that they may want after they have completed their PhD.
Researchers should plan to take their placement at a timethat causes the minimal amount of disruption to their research. This will most likely be between months 12 and 24 of their PhD funding period (or part-time equivalent); after they have completed their progression review.
It is the researcher’s responsibility to let the WRDTP know that they have secured a placement. As part of the approval process, you will need to provide them with a statement of support to confirm that they have discussed and agreed the placement with you.
We have provided you with a template document, should you wish to use it.
During the placement
You should continue to have your regular supervisory meetings with your researcher whilst they are on placement. You should discuss how their placement is going, check on their welfare, and keep them updated with any news relevant to their research project. You should continue to record your meetings on the relevant tutorial system in your university.
Whilst we hope that all researchers have a wonderful experience whilst they are on placement, there is always the possibility that issues may arise. In these situations, reach out to the WRDTP Placements Manager for support and guidance.
Researchers have to complete an assessment as part of their placement activity, and it is your responsibility as their research supervisor to mark the assessment and let the relevant teams know that this has been passed successfully.
A detailed document explaining all about the format of the assessment, and how to mark it, will be shared with all research supervisors.
