Ms Claire Jackson

Claire joined the University of South Australia as the Associate Head & Manager Graduate Research Development in February 2017. This role provides leadership in the development, planning and implementation of initiatives to achieve the University’s strategic research objectives, in the specific area of research education and training. The team's focus is centred on providing strategic support to the Transformed PhD through the management of policy, reporting and major projects. Most recently, this has included partnering with the university community to design, develop and launch of the university's first institutional, enterprise-led model of skills development for PhD candidates, EDGE. 

Before arriving in Australia, Claire had established an international reputation in the field of PhD skills development with a particular focus on building collaborations within and beyond universities. This recognition stemmed from work embedding employability within the PhD structure at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK, where she spent over 10 years supporting the development of researchers through training, experiential learning and employer engagement.

In her previous role, Claire led a university-wide project to create one of the world’s first parallel academic qualifications designed to empower research students in their employability - the PG Certificate in Researcher Professional Development. Strathclyde's innovative approach received national recognition at the Times Higher Education Awards in 2015, and Claire has presented this to universities globally, including in the UK, Belgium, Cyprus, Ireland, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand, who have since adopted or adapted the model locally. 

Claire has co-authored papers for organisations including the UK Council for Graduate Research, the Higher Education Academy and Enterprise Educators UK, and has researched in the areas of employer perceptions of doctoral skills and the impact of PhD mentoring.

Claire completed a part-time MBA in 2016, is a qualified consultant and project manager and recently completed South Australia's Governor's Leadership Foundation program. 

Qualifications

• Master of Business Administration University of Strathclyde