Ecology of Dual Careers Work Package 1 Report

Abstract

First paragraph: This report provides a summary of work package 1 which covers aim 1 of the Ecology of Dual Career ERASMUS+ project - to identify and classify difference types of Dual Career Development Environments (DCDEs) across Europe and define criteria of their effectiveness and efficiency. To identify and classify different types of DCDEs, the project team used interviews with national level stakeholders and explored documentation available (e.g., websites) on the existing DCDEs in participating countries. Data were then analysed to allow identification of the different types of DCDEs which exist across Europe and highlight some of the key features of each environment. After identifying categories and sub-categories of DCDEs, we asked dual career service providers to fill in a short questionnaire asking them whether or not they evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of their environment and, if they do, what criteria they use to do this. We also asked dual career service providers to identify whether or not they could recommend criteria, more generally, for evaluating DCDE effectiveness and efficiency. A draft list of the criteria of DCDE effectiveness and efficiency, based upon these questionnaires, was then developed by the project team and was then subject to review and revision via focus groups with key stakeholders and academic and expert panel discussions before a final list was produced.