Challenges in Mobilising Researchers into the Commercial Workforce

1. Challenges in Mobilising Researchers into the Commercial Workforce John Nowakowski CAPA President president@capa.edu.au

2. Overview • What is CAPA? • Hurdles in mobilising researchers • Understanding the cohort • Methods for overcoming hurdles

3. The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) is the national representative body for Australia’s 300,000+ postgraduate students, including 50,000+ research students. Founded in 1979, CAPA is a membership-based non-profit organisation. CAPA's main role is in protecting and promoting the interests and needs of Australia's postgraduate students.

4. Why do we employ researchers? • They innovate, which generates new products • They are highly skilled in their chosen area • They are able to think laterally and solve problems • They understand their work because they thoroughly review it and other published results • In essence, they help to bring in more money

5. Hurdles (c) Jorge Cham, 2011

6. Hurdles in moving from University to Commercial Workforce • Balancing the love of research for results and profit • Dramatic change of pace: • Entirely different working environments • Supervisor/Candidate vs Workplace • Different skills required to “survive”

7. Generic Skills

8. What are “generic skills”? • Typing • Reading • Writing • Cooking • Reading a bus timetable • Ability to tie your shoelaces

9. According to NCVER... • In 2002 the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Business Council of Australia developed a list • They are defined as: “skills required not only to gain employment, but also to progress within an enterprise so as to achieve one’s potential and contribute successfully to enterprise strategic directions” (page 3)

10. Generic Skills Employability Skills Personal Skills • Communication • Teamwork • Problem solving • Initiative and Enterprise • Planning and Organising • Self Management • Learning • Technology • Loyalty • Presentation • Honesty and Integrity • Enthusiasm • Common Sense • Positive Self-esteem • Commitment • Sense of humour • Reliability • Ability to deal with pressure • Adaptability • Motivation • Work/Life balance ACCI and BCA, Employability Skills for the Future, 2002

11. How do we teach Generic Skills • Options available: • Compulsory coursework • Pedagogy through the supervisor • Constant review and remedial sessions • Will this add value? • How do we form the list of generic skills? Surely there are things missing! • How do we teach some of these?!

12. Doctoral Training Centres • Under development for 2012 at ATN Universities • Philosophy: • Research project stems from industry • May be an employee of the company undergoing further training • Company owns the IP • Coursework and Seminar programs involved • A substantial portion of time to be spent at the company

13. Doctoral Training Centres • They work! If they’re set up well. • Coursework needs to be considered carefully: • Flat compulsory enrolment • Assessing what skills are needed • Students tend to either associate well with one group or feel isolated by two • Does not suit all areas of research

14. Ensuring Research Independence

15. Closing Thoughts

16. Challenges in Mobilising Researchers into the Commercial Workforce John Nowakowski CAPA President president@capa.edu.au