Its objectives are:
- to identify research opportunities which bridge the gap between academia and other sectors with a strong focus on industry and business
- to develop and support collaborations between PhD Researchers and non-academic organisations from the private, public, and third sector
- to provide support, resources, and advice on collaborative research
- to organise activities for PhD researchers to enhance their knowledge of and their engagement with the world outside academia.
- to support the development of innovative and creative PhD researchers, able to contribute to research-production, knowledge exchange and impact by expanding the range of training opportunities available at the LSE
- to equip PhD students with the competences necessary to pursue a range of different careers based on their research training, and with the confidence to understand the diverse professional environments in which their research skills can usefully be applied.
- to provide a skills- and development orientated environment in which PhD Students can focus on their transition to post-PhD life
- to contribute to cross-departmental and interdisciplinary interaction amongst the LSE’s research student community, and thereby to enrich their doctoral experience.
SPRING is funded by the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HIFE) grant. It is the continuation of the Accelerating Business Collaborations (ABC) programme which run between 2019-2021 and was funded by the ESRC.
It is hosted by the PhD Academy and is supported by LSE Careers, LSE Generate, and the Research and Innovation Division.
Meet Maria-Christina Vogkli
After completing a PhD in Sociology at LSE, Maria-Christina joined the PhD Academy to manage and oversee the SPRING initiative. She is passionate about working across research and other sectors and supporting students to have a more fulfilling and enriched doctoral experience. As part of her work at SPRING, she develops research collaborations between PhD Students and non-academic organisations through which students apply their research skills, share their expertise, and contribute to knowledge exchange and impact. In addition, she organises developmental and work-based learning activities that help students explore various professional and research opportunities.
During her PhD, she worked in various teaching and research positions in different Departments and Divisions of the School, such as the Sociology and the Management Departments, Executive Education, LSE Life and the Eden Centre. Outside academia, she has worked as a freelance Research and Policy Consultant. She also an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Her personal interests include art and politics, and she always enjoys a good conversation with friends, cooking and long walks irrespective of the weather.