Earlier this month (September 16th to be precise) my twitter feed was abuzz with the news that Newcastle University has been ranked in the world’s top 1% for research impact. I must confess that I had no idea the university was ranked so highly – even when applying for my BA I paid very little attention to league tables – but having spent the last year within an extremely productive research department I’m certainly not surprised.
When writing this blog over the last year or so I’ve touched on all sorts of reasons as to why Newcastle (and Geography in particular) stands as such a vibrant center for research. The MA course that I have undertaken, alongside similar courses in other social science disciplines, entails a substantial aspect of inter-disciplinary research training. This leaves young researchers trained at the university with a cross-disciplinary appreciation of research practice or, to put it another way, able to work effectively outside of their comfort zone. This teaching structure is complemented by all of the things I’ve discussed in recent months, from postgraduate social life to management of workload (via dubious Christmas dinner metaphors).
In particular young researchers are urged to consider the impact or contribution of what they are doing. Will it push the boundaries of the discipline? Does it seek to understand current and developing events or processes? Is there potential to better inform policy decisions as a result? If you are struggling to answer ‘yes’ to any of these you will be advised and supported in developing your work to achieve these lofty but (within the aforementioned teaching structures) extremely achievable goals.
Naturally a ranking in the world’s top 1% for research impact is down to far more than effective training of young researchers or structuring of postgraduate programs within social science. That said, these things emerge from an excellent research culture pervading Newcastle University.
As for myself, I am regrettably hanging up my researcher’s boots this month – temporarily I hope! If the university will have me I may be back in the not too distant future, an option I was not so open to a year ago. This in itself I think says an awful lot for the prospect of postgraduate study in geography here. Anyway, that’s me for now – who knows, perhaps I’ll be allowed to return to this little corner of questionable metaphors and tangential ramblings if I’m here in 12 months’ time!