Episode 7: Claire Jackson UniSA

ResourcefulHDR

Claire joined the University of South Australia as the Associate Head Graduate Research & Manager Research Training Support in February 2017. This role provides leadership in the development, planning and implementation of initiatives to achieve the University’s strategic research objectives, in the specific area of research education and training.

Before arriving in Australia, Claire had established an international reputation in the field of PhD skills development with a particular focus on building collaborations within and beyond universities. This recognition stemmed from work embedding employability within the PhD structure at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK, where she spent over 10 years supporting the development of researchers through training, experiential learning and employer engagement.

In 2011, Claire led a university-wide project to create one of the world’s first parallel academic qualifications designed to empower research students in their employability - the PG Certificate in Researcher Professional Development. Strathclyde's innovative approach received national recognition at the Times Higher Education Awards in 2015, and Claire has presented this to universities globally, including in the UK, Belgium, Cyprus, Ireland, the Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand, who have since adopted or adapted the model locally.

Claire has co-authored papers for organisations including the UK Council for Graduate Research, the Higher Education Academy and Enterprise Educators UK, and led a research project exploring employer perceptions of doctoral skills. Claire completed a part-time MBA in 2016, and is a qualified consultant and project manager

I first made contact with Claire via Skype in 2015 when I started at Macquarie and she was the Researcher Development Manager at Strathclyde University in Glasgow.