Certificate in Generic and Transferable Skills for PhD candidates (2)

Certificate in Generic and Transferable Research Skills for PhD Candidates at University of Limerick

BACKGROUND:

The University of Limerick (UL) Doctoral College Certificate in Generic and Transferable Research Skills is an interfaculty, blended-learning postgraduate programme (18 ECTS, NFQ Level 9) delivered over a complete academic semester. The programme comprises six 3-credit modules drawn from Education & Health Sciences (EHS), Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (AHSS), the Kemmy Business School (KBS), Science & Engineering (SEN), and two modules from Library and Information Services.

Candidates complete preparatory online work ahead of a one-week intensive summer school, followed by online interaction, task completion and portfolio development. Assessment of each modules is Pass/Fail, based on completion of assignments and e-activities within agreed timelines, with grades returned in early September.

PURPOSE:

This digital badge for Certificate in Generic and Transferable Research Skills is designed to give PhD candidates a portable, verifiable, machine-readable credential that evidences 18 ECTS of structured doctoral training and can be attached to their respective CVs, LinkedIn profiles, and institutional repositories such as researcher portfolios or the ERA Talent Platform.

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Criteria for Awarding the Badge

The digital badge is to be issued only once all of the following criteria are met:

1. Academic completion criteria

Successful (Pass) completion of all six 3-ECTS modules, totalling 18 ECTS at NFQ Level 9 — no partial or single-module badges, since the credential certifies the full interfaculty skill set. Confirmation of the Pass grade for each module via the official University grade return (early September), issued only after Doctoral College ratification.

2. Engagement and assessment criteria

Completion of all pre-course preparatory work and online e-activities for each of the six modules within the published timelines, as required for a Pass under the programme’s assessment regulations. Attendance at the one-week intensive summer school sessions for each module. Submission and Pass-standard grading of all module assignments, tasks and portfolio elements, including the self-directed academic writing and self-evaluation activities specified in the programme design.

3.Verification and issuance criteria

Formal sign-off by the Associate Vice-President Doctoral College following grade returns, confirming that all above criteria have been satisfied for the named candidate.

Badge criteria, evidence and mapping of PhD candidate's competences are made visible to the badge holder and to third parties (employers, other institutions) who verify the badge, in line with Open Badges interoperability standards.

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Mapping the Certificate in Generic and Transferable Skills to the European Competence Framework for Researchers (ResearchComp)

European Competence Framework for Researchers (ResearchComp)

ResearchComp is the first EU-level competence framework for researchers, developed by the European Commission (DG Research and Innovation) in consultation with Member States and stakeholders, and aligned with the European Skills, Competences, Qualifications and Occupations (ESCO) classification (European Commission — Research and Innovation). It is designed to create a shared language for researchers' transversal competences that is usable by researchers, higher-education institutions, training providers and employers alike (European Commission).

The framework is structured around three dimensions:

• 7 competence areas

• 39 competences

• 389 learning outcomes, organised across 4 proficiency levels: Foundational, Intermediate, Advanced, Expert

The 7 competence areas and their constituent competences are:

1. Doing Research Have disciplinary expertise · Perform research · Conduct interdisciplinary research · Write research documents · Apply the principles of research ethics and integrity

2. Managing Research Mobilise resources · Manage research · Negotiate · Evaluate research · Manage research outputs

3. Making an Impact Participate in the publication process · Disseminate results to the research community · Teach in academic or vocational contexts · Engage with the public about research · Increase the impact of research on policy and society · Promote open innovation · Undertake knowledge exchange

4. Self-Management Manage personal professional development · Show entrepreneurial spirit · Plan self-organisation · Cope with challenges

5. Cognitive Abilities Creativity · Problem-solving · Abstract thinking · Critical thinking · Analytical thinking · Strategic thinking · Systematic thinking

6. Working with Others Interact professionally · Develop networks · Work in teams · Ensure wellbeing at work · Build mentor–mentee relationships · Promote inclusion and diversity

7. Managing Research Tools Manage research data and materials · Undertake participatory research activities · Understand and manage intellectual property rights · Develop digital proficiency and capabilities

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How ResearchComp provides evidence of competences acquired by PhD candidates, module-by-module

1.Research Networking: Developing an Academic Profile (3 ECTS)

Primary ResearchComp competences:

1. Working with others: Develop networks, Interact professionally.

2. Self-management: Manage personal professional development.

3. Making an impact: Disseminate results to the research community.

How module is aligned to Research Comp:

Module content involves creating an academic profile and building professional networks. This provides evidence of the "Develop networks" and "Interact professionally" competences.

The profile-building activity in the module demonstrates professional self-management and awareness of the importance of building a strong researcher identity.

2. Developing Ideas & Arguments: Writing into Academic Communities (3 ECTS)

Primary ResearchComp competences:

1. Doing research: Draft research documents.

2. Cognitive abilities: Critical thinking, Analytical thinking.

3. Abstract thinking. Making an impact: Participate in the publication process.

How module is aligned to Research Comp

The module requires candidates to construct and articulate academic arguments for a scholarly audience, which aligns with the "Write research documents" competence.

Framing and defending an argument provides evidence of critical and analytical thinking.

Orienting writing towards "academic communities" demonstrates early engagement with the publication process.

3. Digital Research Management (3 ECTS)

Primary ResearchComp competences:

1. Managing research tools: Manage research data and materials, Develop digital proficiency and capabilities.

2. Self-management: Manage personal professional development.

How module is aligned to Research Comp:

This module is dedicated to digital tools and data management for research, providing evidence of both the "Manage research data and materials" and "Develop digital proficiency and capabilities" competences.

4. Research Integrity (3 ECTS)

Primary ResearchComp competences:

1. Doing research: Apply research ethics and integrity principles.
2. Self-management: Cope with challenges.

How module is aligned to Research Comp:

This module on research integrity provides evidence of the "Apply research ethics and integrity principles" competence.

Examining research integrity dilemmas demonstrates the researcher’s capacity to deal with ethical and professional challenges in this area.

5. Research Ethics (3 ECTS)

Primary ResearchComp competences:

1. Doing research: Apply research ethics and integrity principles.

2. Managing research tools: Understand and manage intellectual property rights(IP).

How module is aligned to Research Comp:

This module deals with the ethical dimension of research conduct (consent, data protection, ethical review etc.) that ResearchComp groups under the "Apply research ethics and integrity principles" competence.

Participants also deal with the IP and data-ownership considerations captured under the "Managing research tools" competence.

6. Planning Research & Publication (3 ECTS)

Primary ResearchComp competences:

1. Managing research: Manage research, Evaluate research, Mobilise resources.

2. Making an impact: Participate in the publication process.

3. Self-management: Plan self-organisation.

4. Cognitive abilities: Strategic thinking, Systematic thinking.

How module is aligned to Research Comp:

This module requires candidates to plan a research and publication strategy, which is direct evidence for "Manage research" and "Participate in the publication process".

Creating a plan maps onto the "Mobilise resources" and "Plan self-organisation" competences, while developing a publication plan provides evidence of good strategic thinking.