Odyssey Programme Roll out to Irish Higher Education Institutes

The Higher Education Authority has introduced a new national researcher career development programme for PhD students called the Odyssey Programme. First implemented in University College Cork on an institutional basis, the roll out of the national programme being supported by the HEA was officially launched at the HEA Research Futures event on the 6^th of July. Higher education institutions (HEIs)are now being invited to participate in phase one, the pilot phase of the national programme.

The aim of the programme is to enable doctoral students to plan for the development of successful careers outside of academia, careers that will allow them to tap into the transversal skills acquired during the course of their studies. It is widely acknowledged that pursuing a career in academia post PhD continues to be difficult due to the ratio of academic positions available worldwide and the number of students joining the jobs market on an annual basis. It is hoped that the Odyssey programme will provide PhD students with the knowledge and skills to investigate and to pursue an alternative path to employment in fulfilling roles outside of the traditional academic route.

Furthermore, the programme will help progress a key national aim of IMPACT 2030 “to improve career pathways into wider sectors, so that researchers can maximise their impact on all forms of organisations throughout Ireland (and beyond), while also realising their own potential”. By supporting PhD graduates to plan for potential roles outside of academia the sector is raising awareness of the value of a PhD graduate within and beyond traditional employment destinations and is demonstrating the valuable contribution our research graduates can make across our society and economy.

Each iteration of the Odyssey programme rolled out in an HEI will consist of a 2-day online programme with a maximum of 20 third year or final-year PhD students from any discipline participating. Two staff members from the HEI will ‘shadow’ the programme to acquire the necessary knowledge to implement it at their institution.  This shadowing aspect of the national roll out will be key to the future sustainability of the programme in a participating HEI and all institutions that choose to participate must do so with the intention of continuing with the programme.

Please follow this link for more information on The Odyssey Programme  The Odyssey Programme UCC | University College Cork

For further informaion on this programme please contact marykate.oregan@ucc.ie