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Schmidt Science Fellows Next generation leaders project

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 14:24:54 GMT

The Rhodes Trust, on behalf of the Schmidt Science Fellows, has commissioned The Careers Research and Advisory Centre (CRAC) / Vitae to conduct research into innovative practices in science leadership training. As part of this project, CRAC will review science leadership programs and engage stakeholders to identify the capabilities that underpin impactful and inclusive leadership, and how these can best be developed.

We are conducting interviews with individuals involved in science or other relevant leadership programs, as well as Schmidt Science Fellow alumni. For details on how we handle data privacy, please consult our Data Privacy Notice: Download

Evaluation of BBSRC Professional Internships for PhD Students

Fri, 31 May 2019 11:40:50 GMT

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) commissioned CRAC to conduct an evaluation of the outcomes and impacts arising from the its Professional Internships for PhD students scheme (PIPS). Launched in 2012, PIPS aims to develop transferable skills, improve doctoral students’ understanding of different employment cultures and increase awareness of the wide spectrum of career opportunities.

In collaboration with the International Centre for Guidance Studies (iCeGS) based at University of Derby, CRAC conducted research to capture the outcomes from PIPS placements and perceptions about them from a wide range of stakeholders. Building a theory of change, the evaluation aimed to distil insights about the impact of the scheme, the extent to which PIPS are delivering its objectives, and its operational effectiveness.

Evaluation of the ‘Support for local graduates’ Challenge Competition

Fri, 31 May 2019 11:40:50 GMT

The Office for Students has appointed CRAC and the Institute of Student Employers (ISE) to undertake an evaluation of its Industrial strategy and skills – ‘support for local graduates’ Challenge Competition. This is a fund through which HE institutions have bid for support to develop innovative responses in order to increase the employment outcomes and employability of their graduates who remain in the region of the institution. CRAC and ISE are developing an over-arching evaluation framework for the scheme in order to provide summative measures. We are also supporting the 16 successful institutional partnerships to implement measures of outcomes and impact within their projects, which will together be synthesised as part of the evaluation of the Competition.

We are currently running a survey of all students and alumni participating in these 16 projects. To find out how we will use your information shared in this survey, please consult our data privacy and processing notice here.

Prize draw terms and conditions

We are currently running a survey of all employers participating in these 16 projects. To find out how we will use your information shared in this survey, please consult our data privacy and processing notice here.

Employability literature review

Mon, 11 Jun 2018 21:24:51 GMT

The Higher Education Academy commissioned the University of Derby's International Centre for Guidance Studies (iCeGS) and CRAC to undertake a structured review of 187 pieces of academic and professional literature identified which relate to employability development in higher education, published in the period 2012-2016 (in order to update the Academy's expertise in this area). It describes how the subject of employability has been addressed during this period and draws out some of the key implications for higher education providers, academics and employability practitioners.

Transnational education and employability development (2015)

Mon, 11 Jun 2018 21:26:14 GMT

Internationalisation and employability development are important current themes for UK higher education. A prominent internationalisation strategy has been to increase the number and range of UK programmes delivered ‘offshore' as transnational education (TNE), through overseas partner institutions, international branch campuses or distance learning. This research by CRAC and consultants for the Higher Education Academy sought to understand the extent to which curricula and planned study-related experiences for students on TNE programmes of UK universities are supporting the development of employability.

Participation in graduate internships (2013)

Mon, 11 Jun 2018 21:28:35 GMT

CRAC undertook a study for the Royal Academy of Engineering into participation of recent HE graduates in graduate internships. This covered their motivations, application experiences and also outcomes for those who secured the internships, investigating differences in outcomes for different groups of graduates.

A career development perspective of UK researcher-business interactions (2012)

Mon, 11 Jun 2018 21:38:39 GMT

CRAC has reviewed the models, extent and impact of HE-business interactions at research level, for Vitae and Research Councils UK. This revealed new insights into the extent of opportunities, significant differences across sectors and some mismatch between motivations of participants in knowledge exchange activity.

Hosting industrial placements in chemistry: Guidance and best practice (for RSC, 2012)

Mon, 11 Jun 2018 21:37:49 GMT

As part of ‘enhancing employer engagement' work under the national HE STEM programme, the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) asked CRAC to develop new guidance for chemical sector employers considering industrial placements. The new guide is based on our research with universities and employers we identified which were not participating in placements. This enabled a genuine understanding of the barriers employers face and the support they most need in engaging with the education sector.

Evaluation of the Graduate Talent Pool internships scheme (for BIS, 2011)

Mon, 11 Jun 2018 21:31:39 GMT

The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) commissioned CRAC to evaluate its flagship internships scheme. Using survey and depth interviews with graduates who had obtained internships and non-participants, the study assessed the unique value of the scheme beyond pre-existing provision, in delivering improved employment outcomes and increases in employability, supported by information from employer participation.

Increasing opportunities for high-quality HE work experience (for HEFCE, 2011)

Mon, 11 Jun 2018 21:30:53 GMT

With Oakleigh, CRAC evaluated HEFCE's programmes supporting work experience and recommended how it might help to increase opportunities. This comprised summative evaluation of the internship schemes with employers that HEFCE had funded (>8500 internships), interacting with over 500 participating employers, over 60 universities offering schemes and graduate and undergraduate participants. It focused on long-term impacts for employers and graduates, and understanding barriers and ‘enablers' in any expansion of opportunities and their take-up. Having reviewed other approaches and models, strategic options for HEFCE were identified in a variety of funding scenarios.

Work experience for STEM students and graduates (Science Council/BIS, 2011)

Mon, 11 Jun 2018 21:36:45 GMT

The BIS ‘Science for Careers Expert Group' invited CRAC to investigate the provision and take-up of opportunities for work experience and internships in STEM higher education and in STEM industries. This included assessment of differential opportunity provision across employment sectors and occupational roles, and differences in take-up by students and recent graduates across degree disciplines.