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Research Associate Programme details

Research associateships normally take place over three to four terms. There is an induction period which is a maximum of six days over two terms with three residential training sessions. These informal sessions are delivered in-house by the National College and include input from the Research Associates programme manager, research consultants and former research associates.

Session	Details
Session 1	Introduction to the programme Research essentials Literature reviews Introduction to the Leadership Library and online communities Reflections of former research associates After the first session research associates begin to plan and design their research project. They undertake a literature review of their subject area and start to think about how to undertake their research project.
Session 2	Research methods Principles of interviewing Focus groups Reflections of former research associates This session also involves tutorial time and one-to-one support from the programme manager. After training in research methods, research associates can implement an action-focused inquiry and begin their research, for example undertaking interviews, case studies and surveys.
Session 3	Presenting and analysing the research Writing up research Publishing the research Reflections of former research associates This session also involves tutorial time and one-to-one support from the programme manager. At the end of the final training session, research associates are ready to write up their research findings.

Session

Details

Session 1

Introduction to the programme
Research essentials
Literature reviews
Introduction to the Leadership Library and online communities
Reflections of former research associates

After the first session research associates begin to plan and design their research project. They undertake a literature review of their subject area and start to think about how to undertake their research project.

Session 2

Research methods
Principles of interviewing
Focus groups
Reflections of former research associates
This session also involves tutorial time and one-to-one support from the programme manager.

After training in research methods, research associates can implement an action-focused inquiry and begin their research, for example undertaking interviews, case studies and surveys.

Session 3

Presenting and analysing the research
Writing up research
Publishing the research
Reflections of former research associates
This session also involves tutorial time and one-to-one support from the programme manager.

At the end of the final training session, research associates are ready to write up their research findings.

Throughout the programme research associates have supervision and support from the programme manager. At the final writing stage there will be additional editorial and writing support from the programme manager or an editorial consultant.

As each cohort is a small group of 10-15 research associates, it is easy to network and support one another. Cohorts comprise a mix of leaders from different phases and types of schools and children’s centres, undertaking a diverse mix of projects.

The National College provides research associates with:

an induction programme and supervision of the enquiry
an opportunity for study and research that will impact upon practice
a significant contribution towards the expenses of the secondment
a period of creative reflection as part of an associate's network
the opportunity to contribute to College activities, including the annual Research Associates' conference, other seminar presentations and other projects
publication of a research summary report and dissemination of this to all schools in England
dissemination of a full and summary report on the National College website
access to the University of Nottingham library