Research Futures
Research Futures Academy
Heriot-Watt’s Research Futures Academy enhances the development of researchers, enables collaboration as a key part of the research culture and enriches the experience of research staff and research degree students.
We support doctoral students and early career researchers to develop skills and competencies to enhance their personal and professional capabilities and future employability.
We create opportunities for valuable collaborations and networking between researchers from diverse disciplines and institutions.
We provide a focal point for researcher development activities, resources, opportunities and achievements at Heriot-Watt University.
We ensure that national agendas and policies related to researcher development are interpreted and embedded to enhance the research culture at Heriot-Watt University.
Research Futures Academy programmes foster development of key academic attributes of collaboration, interdisciplinarity, innovation and leadership.
All our courses can be booked via our online booking system, PDMS.
More information can be found on our Sharepoint.
Embarking on an academic career requires a diverse set of skills to succeed in research, teaching, and professional development. There is a wide range of skills development opportunities offered by Research Engagement and Research Futures Academy.
Academics and Researchers
We offer skills and career development workshops to help you succeed in your career in research and beyond. All our workshops are run on a University-wide basis, so you will meet other staff from across the Schools here at Heriot-Watt.
Early Career Researcher programme
Research Futures Academy provides a workshop programme designed specifically to build the capacity and career development of early career researchers (ECRs). This includes development and networking opportunities to build skills which are essential for research leadership and future career development, whether inside or outside of academia, including grant writing skills, career planning, EDI and wellbeing.
PGR Supervision
As a PGR supervisor, you play a crucial role in shaping the academic and professional development of your research students. It is essential to provide guidance, mentorship, and support throughout the research journey, helping your students navigate complex academic challenges and refine their ideas. As a PGR supervisor, you have to ensure the quality and rigor of the research process, offering expertise and critical feedback that contributes to the successful completion of the student's thesis in time. Your involvement is vital not only for the individual success of your students but also for advancing knowledge within your respective fields.
Engagement and Impact Skills
Communication, engagement, exchange and enterprise skills underpin many research endeavours, whether this be public engagement, negotiating with businesses, engaging local communities, or working with policymakers and charities.
Impact and engagement work involves planning, measuring, gathering evidence and potentially seeking funding.
There are a wide range of toolkits, online training courses and in-person opportunities to build your skills in engagement and impact.
Other programmes
We also support academic leadership through the delivery of bespoke events focusing on inspiring and enhancing collaborations and networks that aim to inspire research ideas generation, build interdisciplinary research collaborations, and share best practice amongst peers.
Postgraduate Researcher
The Research Futures Academy (RFA) supports the personal and professional development of post-graduate researchers (PGRs) at all stages of your research degree, from the commencement of your research project through to writing and defending your thesis, and preparation for the next stage of your career. Our PGR Development Programme of workshops, events, networking sessions, online courses and other resources is free to attend for all HWU postgraduate researchers, providing you with opportunities to enhance your transferable skills and help you succeed in your research and career objectives. Furthermore, the RFA supports PGRs to build and update your Personal Development Plan, a tool to strategize, record and evaluate your development activities over the course of your research degree.
For current postgraduate researchers at Heriot-Watt University, please visit our booking system PDMS for further details about specific training opportunities and to book your places on RFA workshops throughout the year. Visit our SharePoint site for further information about our PGR Development Programme, how to plan your development and to access resources. You can also contact us directly via email.
Inaugural Impact Programme
The Inaugural Impact Programme - IIP builds on the success of Heriot-Watt’s previous ‘Inaugural Lecture Series’ for newly promoted and recruited Professors. The IIP offers a wider range of interactive opportunities to enable new and established Professors from all career paths to participate (Research & Teaching, Teaching & Scholarship, and Knowledge Exchange Professors). It aims to raise the visibility of Heriot-Watt’s Professors and help promote the University’s academic expertise and impact.
IIP further seeks to support enhancement of Professors’ academic leadership roles at Heriot-Watt University by providing access to additional development opportunities and encouraging more networking and peer support across the Professoriate.
IIP will also contribute to enhancement of Research Culture at Heriot-Watt University through the activities it enables aimed at fostering more collegiality and collaboration between all members of the research community.