MPhil/PhD studentship in the development and evaluation of the impact of a digital innovation to foster enhanced student resilience, self-efficacy and belonging in higher education

Investing in excellence: studentship opportunities

The University of Derby is seeking to recruit Studentships in Learning, Teaching and Academic Practice. Seven projects have been identified to support the pedagogic core of the University’s learning and teaching. The projects aim to ensure that we are research led in our practice and have a strategic approach to the evaluation of the impact of our approaches to student support, developing skills and employability, education for sustainable development, inclusivity, and generative AI. Of the seven projects, we will recruit to three.

The following full-time postgraduate research studentship is one of the seven possible projects available. This full-time postgraduate research studentship is in the public services area of research in the College of Arts, Humanities and Education.

The successful applicant will receive a maintenance stipend (based on the minimum stipend defined by UKRI, currently £18,622 for the academic year 2023/24) and home MPhil/PhD tuition fees (£4,712 - subject to amendment) only up to the target submission date.

The intended intake period is March 2024.

The successful applicant will be expected to complete their MPhil/PhD within 3 years on the MPhil/PhD route, contribute to the College REF submission and get involved in the wider research activities of the College.

Applicants will become part of a friendly and welcoming team and will be supported and managed by their supervisors.

The vacancy details are as follows:

Purpose/objectives

The development and evaluation of the impact of a digital innovation to foster enhanced student resilience, self-efficacy and belonging in higher education.

Project objectives

1. To undertake research into the requirements of a mobile digital application that can be used by individual students in higher education to support and encourage positive behaviour changes, mindsets and learning habits that will generate student resilience, self-efficacy and belonging
2. To develop and evaluate the use of such an application on student experience and outcomes

Project description

This project has two key elements:

1. Research: research into effective mobile application design for the target user in context, to support the development of a digital application in phase 2.
2. Design and development: this phase of the project will focus on the design, development, testing and evaluation of a digital app to support positive behaviour changes, mindsets and learning habits for higher education students, and the impact of this on their experience, outcomes and aspirations.

Potential project impact

This project has the potential to impact on all students at the University of Derby who may benefit from support to develop effective study habits, mindsets and a sense of belonging in higher education. There is potential for impact across the sector, both nationally and internationally.

Principal accountabilities and responsibilities

In this project, successful applicants will be required to:

• conduct a scoping exercise
• undertake literature review/s
• obtain ethical approval
• collect and analyse primary and/or secondary data
• synthesise project findings and identify recommendations
• write the final PhD report and disseminate key findings

The successful applicant will become adept at managing research projects and adhering to timeframes for key milestone deliverables.

The project will require ongoing engagement with multiple stakeholders. This provides successful candidates with unparalleled opportunities to develop in-demand skills and experience and develop a strong institutional network that will enhance their future employment prospects.

Applicants will need to evidence the following essential attributes, skills, and abilities:

• Competent in qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Understanding of the design and delivery of pedagogical approaches to academic skills development.
• Experience of building positive relationships and working productively in collaboration with a wide range of colleagues.
• Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion with the ability to role model, adhere to and advocate the University’s Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Policy.
• Good written and oral communication skills.
• Strong motivation, with evidence of independent research skills as relevant to the project.
• Ability to plan, prioritise and organise work and people to achieve objectives on time.
• An undergraduate degree in: Computer Science or a closely-related discipline. Applicants from a computer science background must show awareness of and interest in understanding student approaches to learning in higher education
  OR
  an undergraduate degree in a subject such as Psychology (or related), or Education Studies AND relevant experience from employment/entrepreneurship/research in computer programming and/or application development roles which enable the applicant to develop and build a digital app.

To apply 

Please review our entry requirements before submitting your application and check out the 'Getting Started' section below.

Completed applications should be submitted via our online application system quoting funding reference: AHE_Digital Innovation 01_ 1123

Closing dates for applications: Friday 5 January 2024.*

*(Please note, we encourage applicants to apply as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close before 5 January 2024 if a high volume of applications is received.)  

Interviews: 24 January to 31 January 2024. 

If you have not been invited for an interview by the interview date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful.  

For other enquiries which are subject-specific please contact:

• Dr Melanie Pope (m.pope@derby.ac.uk)  
• Professor Ian Whitehead (i.whitehead@derby.ac.uk)  

Find out more about our Public Services.

Apply for this SE studentship post

Getting started

Before you begin your application, make sure you have:

Studentship funding reference code

This is provided on the individual studentship advert and must be specified in your application.

Personal statement

A 500-word personal statement outlining your suitability for the studentship project. This is a mandatory requirement and you must upload it into your application. You should include your reasons for applying for the studentship, your experience in the field, how you feel you would benefit from studying and relevant information about your previous studies.

Your CV

A CV outlining your academic and professional experience.

Qualifications

Your qualification details including grades and dates taken. You will have the opportunity to upload scanned copies of your qualification certificates and transcripts in the application. If you have no formal qualifications, you can also state this in your application.

Passport/birth certificate

A scanned copy of your passport or full birth certificate. This will help us verify your application to study with us.

Academic references

Two signed academic references. This is optional at application stage but highly encouraged. If successful in your application, two academic references will be a mandatory requirement of admission. The references should be in written format, signed and dated from either a supervisor or tutor from your most recent studies.