Crafting an Employment Strategy: Case Study of PGR interns in launching a PGR friendly version of the Post-graduate Researcher Opportunities and Futures Strategy.

In an era of evolving career landscapes, universities have crucial roles in preparing postgraduate researchers (PGRs) for more than just academic paths (Times Higher Education, 2016; League of European Research Universities, 2018). This paper focuses on how the University of Leeds crafts a tailored strategy for PGRs, considering their unique needs. The University of Leeds Postgraduate Researcher Futures and Opportunities strategy 2022-2025 is an internal staff document and is rooted in a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities PGRs face in today’s global economy. The existing strategy was designed by a panel of University of Leeds staff members to guide other staff members and services with how best they can support PGRs with their professional development and employability. The strategy builds upon the Leeds Doctorate which is a framework consisting of five elements that contribute to the experience that PGRs have at the University of Leeds, inclusive of but also beyond the research that PGRs are conducting (University of Leeds, 2024). Our primary task was to produce a PGR facing version of the Futures and Opportunities strategy. The strategy considers the PGRs’ varied goals, skills, and preferences, outlining the different services available to support PGRs’ professional development and employability, emphasising the need for flexible systems that support individual paths. We will navigate through the stages of developing the PGR facing strategy. We aspire for our paper to add to the ongoing discussion about the importance of working together to shape career development opportunities through our own experience.