PGR StudentSurvey.ie (Irish Survey of Student Engagement for Postgraduate Research Students; Suirbhé na hÉireann ar Rannpháirtíocht na Mac Léinn do Mhic Léinn Taighde Iarchéime) invites responses from postgraduate research (PGR) students (including Masters by research and doctoral degree students) in 17 higher education institutions in Ireland on a biennial survey cycle.

There is a second survey, StudentSurvey.ie, which runs annually and is designed for first year undergraduate, final year undergraduate and taught postgraduate students.

The world is experiencing rapid global change, driven by a range of environmental, political, social, and economic phenomena, all of which are accelerated by the ongoing technological revolution. As a result, we are facing a number of major environmental and societal challenges in the broad areas of demographics and health, climate and the environment, energy, transport, and security, all of which require responses from the areas of fundamental and strategic research.

The experience of the global COVID-19 pandemic has clearly demonstrated the valuable role that research plays in addressing large-scale challenges (e.g., IUA, 2021[6]), and points to a future strong demand by political and economic leaders and the wider public for research-led solutions to society’s most difficult problems. 

Likewise, the future of work will also be different. The importance of building resilience in the Irish economy is highlighted in Future Jobs Ireland (2019)[7] as key to maintaining our national competitiveness and ability to adapt in this changing global context.

Central to growing our productivity and building resilience is “cultivating a collaborative and dynamic national innovation system facilitated by world-class research institutions and public investment in research, development and innovation”.[8] Innovation 2020, Ireland’s strategy for research and development, science and technology, positions Ireland towards becoming a Global Innovation Leader, driving a strong sustainable economy and a better society.

A consultation paper for the National Research and Innovation Strategy, published in 2021, aims to be transformative in meeting the challenges globally today[9]. 2021 also saw the launch of Horizon Europe’s mission-based approach to research, which also points to research in all disciplines being directed towards greater integration into the very fabric of society regarding large-scale challenges and the meeting of Sustainable Development Goals as identified by the United Nations.

The higher education research system is core to our national strategy and to Ireland’s continued participation in international research strategies, both through fundamental research as well as through dynamic partnerships and interactions with enterprise, state agencies and civil society, in order to facilitate knowledge transfer, the development of new business products and services, and solutions to societal challenges. Research-intensive industries in turn are recognised as being more resilient and more productive, as well as generating greater employment, than non-innovative enterprises.[10]

As research plays such a crucial role in developing a knowledge society[11], it is vital that we have a vibrant research community.

Investing in our people and the facilities necessary to a healthy research system is essential to delivering the solutions to the many challenges that we face as a society and to ensuring the continued development of new knowledge crucial for long-term growth.

Ireland observed a substantial increase in its research and development workforce to 32,961 individuals from 27,755 in 2019[12]. Project Ireland 2040 also highlights the development of skills, talent and innovation capacity as a key strategic pillar under National Strategic Outcome 6: A Strong Economy Supported by Enterprise, Innovation and Skills, stating that delivering this will require increased alignment between research activity and human capital development in both the enterprise and education sectors[13].

Ensuring the quality of Irish postgraduate research education is paramount in addressing these needs. 

The importance of nurturing transferable skills among postgraduate research students is likewise emphasised, to enable graduates to advance their careers across a broad range of employment sectors.[14] This is reinforced by a recent EU publication, which notes the limited number of academic positions and recognises that researchers will need the skillset to work both beyond and within academia[15].

Researcher competences are continually evolving; research integrity and open research/scholarship, for example, are currently to the fore. It is thus essential for Ireland’s national research system that those who carry out research here, from the very beginnings of their career, receive an educational experience that equips them with the capability and confidence to conduct their research to the highest possible standards.

This Framework has been endorsed by all of the higher education institutions and main research funders in Ireland. An international expert report on the implementation of the Framework, carried out in 2021, commended Irish higher education institutions for ensuring both the standard of awards and the quality of student experience by ‘professionalising’ the delivery of postgraduate research education and training in Ireland[17].

A revision of the National Framework for Doctoral Education was published this year and recommits the key stakeholders to the highest standards through the endorsement of original contribution to knowledge, institutional responsibility, access to research and expertise, learning experience, discipline diversity, delivery of supervision and examination, quality of learning environment, assurance and final outcome[18].

A complementary Framework of Good Practice for Research Degree Programmes was launched by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) and is organised around the key principles in the National Framework for Doctoral Education. Its purpose is to “provide benchmark statements, against which those involved in delivering Research Degree Programmes can consider their own practice and identify areas where enhancement effort and/ or resources might be focused”[19].

Within this Framework of Good Practice, point 4.14 expects that “the higher education institution formally considers the outcomes of the Irish Survey of Student Engagement for Postgraduate Research Students” as part of their ongoing practice[20].

The National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030 also acknowledges the importance and value of feedback on the student experience:

“Higher education institutions should put in place systems to capture feedback from students and use this feedback to inform institutional and programme management, as well as national policy.”[21]

The continued implementation of PGR StudentSurvey.ie will continue to contribute to advancing these objectives, in providing key evidence not only for higher education institutions themselves, but also for the broader higher education research and innovation system to enhance the quality of postgraduate research degree provision in Ireland.

PGR StudentSurvey.ie recognises the need for and importance of capturing the experiences that students undertaking research degree programmes may have, which will be different from those completing predominantly taught programmes.

The 2021 PGR StudentSurvey.ie was completed by 3,541 postgraduate research students and yielded rich insights into various aspects of the student experience. The 2023 PGR StudentSurvey.ie, completed by 4,350 postgraduate research students, will build on this learning and will broaden our awareness and understanding of student well-being.

As well as enabling the continued improvement of our postgraduate research degree provision in Ireland, this will also help to inform efforts to attract talented researchers to our shores and build Ireland’s reputation internationally for excellent research and postgraduate education.