Multi-million-pound programme to inspire students into research

Wednesday, 14 August 2024 09:00

By Chris Collman

The University of Exeter is involved in a new multi-million-pound programme to encourage more students and health and social care professionals into research careers.

The INSIGHT: Inspiring Students into Research programme is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and aims to build research capacity across England.

Making sure competitive research training opportunities are available to all regardless of geography, the £33.2m funding is split between 12 regions.

The South West Peninsula bid was led by the University of Plymouth working with Exeter, and the two institutions have received a total of £3.1m over three years. The funding will support 30 student places each year, as well as the implementation of a series of engagement events for the wider Peninsula’s health and care communities.

The first students will start in September 2024 on fully-funded research masters courses designed to attract recent graduates and early career professionals into research careers.

The organisations are implementing a regional programme of work to ensure more of these professionals have the skills to conduct and embed research into their practice – and they held a regional event marking their progress earlier this year (see full details).

Dr Lisa Bunn, Associate Head of Postgraduate Studies in the University of Plymouth’s School of Health Professions, led the University’s bid for the NIHR INSIGHT funding. She said: “Nationally, there is a big move to get more health and social care professionals into research, as it’s essential for improving the outcomes for patients, families, professionals and organisations. To be able to continue the University’s work to support that at local level is fantastic, and we’re delighted to be delivering the INSIGHT programme.

“The fully funded research masters opportunities include both course fees and a stipend, and will enable students and recent graduates to gain valuable research training and experience.

“Part-time routes are also available and there’s certainly a lot of opportunity to be had, so we’re looking forward to meeting our first cohort in September.”

Professor Karen Knapp, at the University of Exeter, was involved in the bid, and said: ““This is an incredible opportunity and I’d encourage final year health and care students and early career health and care professionals with an interest in research to apply. It’s fully-funded and will boost careers while making a significant impact on expanding capacity for high quality research in health and care.”

Professor Waljit Dhillo, Dean of NIHR Academy, said: “We know how important early exposure to research is for helping students and early career professionals develop the knowledge and skills needed to join the research workforce and build successful research careers in the future. The INSIGHT programme will offer over 300 funded research masters places per year and provide engagement activities that have the potential to excite and capture the imagination of students at an early stage in their career.

“I’m delighted that we can invest in our next generation of researchers in the South West Peninsula, and show students all of the benefits that research roles and careers have to offer.”

The regional programmes are open to students and recent graduates from professions without much exposure to research during their professional training. This will broaden access to research training and help create a more diverse research workforce. It is open to students and recent graduates from the following registered professions: