Education, Wider Participation and Transitions to Creative Economies Employment

The School of Humanities at the University of Dundee is offering an exciting opportunity to study for a PhD investigating educational routes to careers in the Creative Economies. The successful candidate will conduct a three-year study which will involve working in schools with pupils, teachers and parents. Issues of educational transition, life transitions, and wider participation are key. Workshops, interviews, and analysis of data will form the basis of the methodology. The aim is to understand perceptions of higher education and the creative economies, and to inform policy and provision at University level to enhance recruitment, improve wider participation, and ease transitions from school to Higher Education, and from Higher Education to employment in the creative economies. The project will also explore the wider benefits that come from education with an emphasis on creativity, and from aggregating networks that link schools, HEIs, third sector partners, and the creative economies.

The research questions are:

• What is the perception of Dundee pupils about the link between their school education, transition to HEIs and employment opportunities in the creative economies and creative industries? What can we learn from this about the relationship between education and the creative economies more generally?
• What is the perception of the teachers and parents in relation to such career trajectories and what is the link between that and the perception of pupils?
• What can local HEIs and their non-HEI partners do to enhance employment opportunities for students and improve communication with pupils, parents and teachers?

One of the outcomes will be a set of recommendations and guidelines on the creation of portfolios and other resources that would aid schools in advising pupils on how to pursue employment in the creative industries.

The successful candidate is likely to have a background in Education, or Humanities, and/or the Creative Economies, though other experience will be considered. A good first degree and excellent communication skills are required.The award is offered for full time registration for the PhD. For UK nationals and EU nationals with three or more years’ residency in UK, the funding will include the annual stipend of £15,009 and tuition fees. For EU nationals with less than three years’ residency in UK, the studentship covers tuition fees only. International students are not eligible to apply.

To be considered for this studentship please complete the application form and submit it with your transcripts via UCAS. The deadline for applications is Friday 1^st November 2019. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview by telephone or skype. Interviews will take place on Friday 22^nd November 2019.

For more information about this project please contact:
Professor Christopher Murray
Associate Dean for Knowledge Exchange and Partnerships
E-mail: c.murray@dundee.ac.uk

To apply please send the completed application form and transcripts to:
Jenny Gorrod
Research & Knowledge Exchange Administrative Lead
E-mail: j.m.gorrod@dundee.ac.uk