A range of organisations in the public, private and third sector are working in partnership with the WGSSS.

Collaborative Studentships

Organisations offer in-kind or financial support (and sometimes both) to research training, in an arrangement that is designed to be mutually beneficial.

On 6 September 2022, the WGSSS held an information session on collaborative studentships, looking at the benefits of collaborating on a research project.  In the following recording, we hear from Professor Rob Honey, Cardiff University, on the academic perspective, and Dr Phil Butler, Cardiff University on his own experience of collaboration as a PhD student.

We also hear from Jim Davies, Deputy Assistant Commissioner, London Fire Brigade, on how a collaborative award can help partner organisations to achieve their goals.

Internships

Our internships give PhD students an opportunity to gain vital experience and develop skills whilst the host organisation can benefit from the findings of the research project and the ‘critical friendship’ of a researcher.

Organisations Working With the WGSSS

We are delighted to be collaborating with organisations including:

The Welsh Government; Welsh Joint Education Committee (WJEC); Carmarthenshire County Council and City & County of Swansea; Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board; Cerebra; Llamau; Natural Resources Wales; Health and Care Research Wales; Ordnance Survey;  Welsh Water; National Botanical Garden of Wales; Shell Global Solutions (UK); South Wales Fire & Rescue Service; the South Wales Workers’ Educational Association (WEA); The Wiley Journal of Law and Society; Irwin Mitchell Solicitors; International Commission for Missing Persons; Food Dudes Health; The Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens; the Scottish Forestry Commission; SADS UK, and The Wales Probation Trust.

Putting PhD Power into your Business

In this 1-hour video, Professor John Harrington is joined by Dr Michael Evans (Transport for Wales), Dr Charlotte Beale (Dwr Cymru), and Professor David Egan (Welsh Government), who talk about how their organisations have worked closely with social science researchers.  They explain how supporting a collaborative studentship or hosting a work placement can add value, whilst giving a PhD student the opportunity to gain critical knowledge and skills.  This video is a recording of a WGSSS/Cardiff Business School breakfast briefing entitled ‘Putting PhD Power into your Business’ held on 20 October 2021.

Your Organisation and the Next Generation of Social Scientists

Our partnerships contribute to meeting our objective to develop ‘robust mechanisms for knowledge exchange and knowledge transfer’. Non-academic organisations can have a genuine stake in a social science research project and a role in producing the next generation of leading social scientists.

We are keen to do more to build and maintain such relationships. Please contact the WGSSS Director if you are based in a non-academic organisation in the private, public or third sector and would like an informal and exploratory discussion about the possibilities.