Fully funded ESRC Collaborative PhD opportunity at the University of Sheffield in conjunction with Sheffield City Council and the University of Leeds 

'Understanding 16-17 year old student progression and retention across Sheffield'

Applications are invited for a fully funded ESRC Collaborative PhD studentship at the University of Sheffield in conjunction with Sheffield City Council (SCC). The PhD will focus on current policy challenges in relation to young people dropping out of education and training at ages 16 and 17 in Sheffield. The PhD offers the successful applicant the opportunity to develop expertise in mixed methods educational research whilst also building professional skills and informing policy interventions in the city and beyond.

Background

Young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) at age 16-18 are known to be at greater risk than their peers of worse outcomes in later life (HM Cabinet Office, 2011). In Sheffield, while participation in learning at age 16 is close to the national average the figures for 17 year olds locally are much poorer (80%). Sheffield therefore sees relatively large numbers of 17 year olds who are NEET, with potentially damaging consequences for themselves and the city, but the incidence and reasons for this are not well understood. Understanding these issues is particularly important at the present time given recent policy changes which present a greater emphasis on engagement in learning post-16 as well as risks to the nature, quality and effective engagement of post-16 education. The research design is open to development but it is envisaged that the project may take a mixed methods approach including multivariate statistical analyses, qualitative fieldwork and GIS.

Policy training and research supervision

A central aim of this proposal is to develop a research professional who has both research and communication skills to work effectively across the research–policy boundary. The PhD student will be based within SCC and will be jointly supervised by a manager within the Council (Deborah Parker, Team Lead, Lifelong Learning, Skills and Communities) and academic supervisors in Sheffield (Dr Adam Whitworth, Department of Geography) and Leeds (Professor Jeremy Higham, School of Education).

Skills and interests needed

Applicants should:

• have knowledge of, and a passion for, research around educational attainment and post-16 progression;
• have an interest in policy and be aware of the current policy landscape around post-16 education;
• be enthusiastic about working closely with Sheffield City Council researchers and policy makers to help improve educational provision and performance in the city;
• be able to work independently as well as with colleagues within the Council and key external stakeholders;
• have knowledge of, or at least be open to learning, multivariate quantitative/statistical methods;
• have knowledge of, or at least be open to learning, qualitative methods;
• have knowledge of, or at least be open to learning, GIS analysis;
• knowledge of ArcMap, STATA, and Nvivo software is desirable but not essential.

Funding and application details

In addition to fees, this three year ESRC funding includes a stipend rate of £13,726 plus a research training support grant of £750 per year. To apply candidates should send CV and covering letter to Dr Adam Whitworth (adam.whitworth@sheffield.ac.uk) by 5pm on Wednesday 27th March 2013. Informal enquiries are welcome and further details about this collaborative project are available on request from Dr Whitworth.