New funding to help train the next generation of social scientists

Teesside University is part of a prestigious partnership which has secured a multimillion-pound investment to support the training of social scientists.

Over £28m in funding has been awarded to the Northern Ireland and North East Doctoral Training Partnership (NINE DTP), led by Durham University and bringing together Teesside, Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland, Queen’s Belfast and Ulster universities.

The new investment, including £20m from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and £8.5m from the partner universities, will enable the NINE DTP to build on training opportunities within social science.

Around 55 PhD studentships will be offered across the partner institutions every year for the next five years, spanning the full range of social science subjects.

Additional study opportunities in three new areas will also be available thanks to the new funding, including criminology, policing and prisons; environment, climate and sustainability; and sport and society.

Research carried out through the partnership explores challenging and societally important questions, with a focus on issues of regional importance to the North East and Northern Ireland, including educational inequalities, sexual violence within prisons, and the role of physical activity in the wellbeing of youth with disabilities.

NINE DTP lead for Teesside University, Professor Anthony Lloyd, from the School of Social Sciences, Humanities & Law, said: "Teesside University is proud to be a part of this partnership, working collaboratively to broaden the horizons of the social scientists of tomorrow. "This investment will have a significant impact on the future of social science research and deliver new and exciting opportunities for those who will be at the helm."

From 2024, participants from the partner universities will complete a 12-week placement.

The length of a standard studentship is also being increased from three years to three and a half years, giving longer for students to complete their research while putting it into practice beyond academia. Durham University Professor Philip Steinberg, who directs NINE DTP, added: “NINE DTP is a collaborative and energetic partnership drawing on the collective skills and resources of seven universities to deliver outstanding training, supervision, and support to the next generation of social scientists.

“This new funding will allow us to not only continue this work, but expand it into new areas of study, broadening our reach, bringing new expertise and research questions to the partnership, helping us prepare students for the challenges of the 21st century research environment.”

Stian Westlake, ESRC Executive Chair, said: “Our vision for postgraduate training is that it will develop globally competitive social science researchers who can operate in interdisciplinary, collaborative, and challenge-led environments across a range of sectors and who have a diversity of backgrounds and experiences.

“This redesigned and expanded doctoral training opportunity will enhance the experience for PhD students and boost the UK’s capability.”

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