Training and Researcher Development

2019 Cohort Day session on research in the heritage sector

As an Open-Oxford-Cambridge DTP student you will be able to participate in training and skills development that draws on the distinctive and complementary specialisms of each institution’s research and training environments. The DTP's resources include the expertise of more than 1,800 scholars in the arts and humanities, the Oxford and Cambridge libraries and museums, and The Open University’s unrivalled experience in online training. Our training provision also builds on our network of overseas collaborations and our outstanding support for language learning.

To ensure that our training evolves dynamically and responsively, students and staff are invited to shape new provision and to define, develop and deliver innovative research-led training. We believe that students are often best informed about new ideas and advances, and that collaborative research practice is often the best mode of training.

Our training is developed and delivered in close collaboration with our three strategic partners. They offer experience and resources in specific areas (communication, heritage and technology), and are able to organise visits, sponsor placements, and run projects and workshops with our students and faculty in areas of mutual interest. As an OOC DTP student, you will learn how to work collaboratively within and beyond academia.

You are expected to participate in certain Open-Oxford-Cambridge AHRC DTP training and researcher development activities. For example, in the first year of your award you are expected to complete a Training Needs Analysis via Inkpath, a skills and career development app, and to participate in five days of OOC DTP foundations training.

During your time as an OOC DTP student, you are expected to undertake at least ten days of training and researcher development activity each year. You should report participation and give feedback on events through Inkpath.

The Open-Oxford-Cambridge AHRC DTP aims to:

  • provide innovative research-led training of the highest quality;
  • enable student engagement outside the academy;
  • incorporate a strong international component into its researcher development.

The OOC DTP training programme has been developed around four interlinked and themed strands:

  • Core: enhancing existing personal and professional development schemes and generic and employability skills training;
  • Future Humanities: equipping students with the skills of new and developing arts and humanities research and enabling engagement with innovative ideas in research and practice;
  • Expanding Horizons: engaging students with emerging technologies and interdisciplinary research, looking beyond the traditional approaches and boundaries of arts and humanities;
  • Engaged Communication: enhancing students’ abilities to communicate and share their research with diverse audiences both within and outside the academy.