The NERC Postgraduate Training Allocation and Delivery Mechanisms Review recommended the introduction of success criteria for postgraduate training, to help judge NERC training activity. 18 success criteria were recommended, and six of these were deemed to be priority success criteria.
Priority success criteria
Research excellence
The training and training environment must include scientifically excellent and original research within NERC’s remit.
Training excellence
Students are managed as a cohesive group and acquire both research and transferable skills. There is a strong and active community of students that are able – and encouraged – to integrate, work and learn together.
Multidisciplinary training environments
Training is embedded in multidisciplinary training environments to enrich the student experience and to encourage the knowledge-sharing and interconnectivity, which benefits research within the environmental sciences. This does not mean that individual PhD topics are required to be multidisciplinary.
Excellent students
Attracting the right student: NERC funding goes to the right or ‘best-fit’ student – the individual whose previous training, experience and skills best suit the type of training being undertaken.
Quality assurance
NERC is assured, ahead of allocation and delivery of training, that providers will deliver excellent training in line with the agreed success criteria, and that it will be possible to evaluate the outcomes of the training.
Produces success stories (demonstrates impact of investment)
Training produces tangible outcomes; impacts in the broadest sense.
See the overview of all 18 success criteria.
Last updated: 31 March 2022