University of Reading joins a new consortium to promote Social Sciences

Thursday, 30 April 2015

The University of Reading is participating in a new consortium to promote the Social Sciences. This important and exciting new research collaboration extends across eight universities in the South and East of England. Other institutions taking part are: the University of East Anglia, the University of Essex, Goldsmiths University of London, University of Kent, Royal Holloway University of London, the University of Surrey and the University of Sussex.

The Economic and Social Research Council announced in February that it will be delivering its postgraduate training strategy and studentship funding through a network of approximately 15 Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs) and five Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) from 2017 onwards.  

One of the Consortium's first commitments will be bidding for an ESRC Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP), the call for which will be announced in September 2015.  If successful in its bid, the consortium gives Reading the opportunity to attract high quality research students in the Social Sciences.  

At its first meeting in London on 20 March 2015, the consortium agreed its vision for strong and collegial partnership at the forefront of disciplinary and interdisciplinary development and recognised internationally for the strength of its social science research and training.

Professor Dianne Berry, our representative on the consortium steering group said, "We look forward to working in partnership with academic staff and postgraduate researchers from across the consortium to develop this shared vision and to enhance the future research and training environment for the next generation of social scientists."

A further update on the consortium will be provided to relevant staff in June 2015 and this will include additional advice on how preparations for responding to the ESRC DTP call will be taken forward. 

Further information about the ESRC DTP and CDT commissioning process