The Education, Training and Careers Committee (ETCC) met on 28 November 2023. The main items on the agenda were: an update on Collective Talent Working; an update from STFC Science Board; ED&I Statements for Fellowships; Short Courses and Summer Schools 2023 and 2024.

ETCC welcomed Professor James McLaughlin as the interim chair, and new member Dr Cosimo Inserra.

Collective Talent Working
ETCC noted the recent UKRI update on Collective Talent Funding. The Collective Talent initiative aims to build on the collaborative working across the Councils previously and ensure that the talent landscape is less complex for the UKRI community. The initiative covers studentships and fellowships and is a long-term programme of change. From January 2024 there will be two award types rather than the numerous ones currently across Councils. These will be Doctoral Landscape Awards, which will cover the current STFC Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs) and Doctoral Focal Awards, which will cover the current STFC Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs). Discussions on collective awards to cover the STFC Industrial CASE awards are continuing.

Update from STFC Science Board
ETCC gave an update to Science Board at the September meeting. The update included an overview of ETCC and the main current challenges.

ED&I Statements for Fellowships
The 2022 Fellowship Review panel recommended the collection of ED&I statements from departments submitting Ernest Rutherford Fellowship applications. This was to assess the inclusivity of the selection processes and to develop best practice. ETCC noted the received statements and discussed recommendations for future best practice.

Short Courses and Summer Schools 2023 and 2024
Bids had been received for 14 Short Courses and Summer Schools 2024. The Committee recommended the following for funding:

• Advanced Cosmology and Extragalactic School (ACES)
• Artificial Intelligence and Astronomy with Public Engagement
• British Universities Summer School in Theoretical Elementary Particle Physics (BUSSTEPP)
• Data Analysis Workshop
• HEP Instrumentation School
• High Energy Physics
• Introductory Astronomy
• Introductory Course in Solar and Solar-Terrestrial Physics
• NExT PhD Workshop
• Nuclear Physics Summer School
• Planetary Surfaces Summer School

The pdf version of the report can be found here.

Further publicity ahead of the next call will be issued shortly.