Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and the SGSSS are looking to fund up to three new PhD studentships, starting in October 2024. This research will provide new knowledge and insights to help advance the understanding of key skills issues from a Scottish perspective.

The purpose of this PhD scheme is to engage with the academic community to support the production of new, high-quality research focused on the Scottish labour market. The scheme is led by supervisors, and designed to:

• Contribute to the development of a cadre of high-quality academic researchers with a deep knowledge of the Scottish skills landscape.
• Provide SDS with access to high-quality academic research around topics of longer-term interest.
• Increase the range and scope of SDS with academic experts in support of skills policy.

To be eligible to be first supervisor in any SGSSS competition, supervisors will  

1. Have undergone supervisor training within their institution within the last 5 years and
2. Have been submitted to one of the UoA in which the HEI is eligible to hold studentships (ECR supervisors who were not returned to REF 2021 but who are research active, whose work is aligned to a relevant UoA and who are demonstrably social scientists – as indicated by primary discipline, nature of research funding and publications – may be added to the register).

For supervisors who have joined an SGSSS DTP university since the last REF and were returned to REF in another UK HEI, they will be eligible if

1. They were returned to a panel C UoA or are demonstrably a social scientist (see full list here) returned within panels A, B or D  and
2. The home institution has eligibility for the UoA to which they were returned.

For supervisors joining from an international institution they will be eligible if they fit the criteria for ECRs. All other academic staff may be second or third supervisors. SGSSS will monitor its eligibility criteria in year one of DTP2.

Second supervisors may work within any of the SGSSS 16 partner HEIs. We encourage applicants to consider co-supervision with different universities across our network. You can find full information about the SGSSS partner universities online here.

SDS invite proposals based on the below research topics:

1. Role of careers information, advice and guidance in addressing and socio-economic disadvantage
2. Careers information advice and guidance for adults through the lifecycle
3. Diversification of the Careers Information Advice and Guidance (CIAG) workforce in Scotland

Please read the competition guidance carefully, paying particular attention to the role of SDS in the recruitment process and project support.

Please submit an application via our application system, SGSSS Apply, by the application deadline of 16 November at 4pm