The ESRs are encouraged to interact with the local research group at their host. This includes research forums, national workshops and meetings. The ESR brings this local perspective when seconded to work at the site of his/her collaborating participant. Similarly, perspectives acquired during this secondment are brought back to the host institution and shared with fellow researchers.
Modules appropriate to the ESRs are also offered locally. By combining local research expertise with appropriate modules in specialist topics, the ESRs acquire all of the requisite skills necessary to conduct the high-level research necessary to achieve their PhD. Four beneficiaries are located at Universities with strong post-graduate programs that cover on-going specialist modules, which are listed below (equivalent ECTS-credits appears in brackets).
- Bridge engineering (5)
- Structural dynamics (5)
- Building construction (5)
- Materials and design (5)
- Structural analysis, design and specification (5)
- Advanced structural analysis and design (5)
- Construction management (5)
- Innovation leadership (5)
- Professional engineering (management) (5)
- Soil-structure interaction (5)
- System reliability modelling (5)
- Structural mechanics and vibration (5)
- Construction project management (5)
- System reliability engineering (5)
- Introduction to risk and reliability (5)
- Steel structures (5)
- Pavement engineering (5)
- Industry and profession (5)
- Sustainable transport planning (5)
- Bridge engineering (5)
- Building structures (5)
- Advanced design of concrete structures (5)
- Advanced design of steel structures (5)
- Management of existing structures (5)
- Construction management (5)
- Management skills (5)
- Experimental techniques (5)
- Civil engineering management (5)
- Research methods (5)
- Advanced structural analysis (5)
- Wind and earthquake engineering (5)
- Bridge engineering (5)
- Renewable energy I (5)
- Renewable energy II (5)
- Modelling of civil engineering systems (5)
- Construction innovation and research (5)
In addition to on-going specialist modules listed above, a range of advanced research methods, project management, language courses, transferable skills and communication modules is also available for the ESR at each academic beneficiary if the Personal Career Development Plan deemed beneficial to extend the programme contained in the training weeks.
Only in their 1st year, ESRs have attended 8 language courses (more than 300 hours), additional 23 courses on other complementary skills such as social entrepreneurship or communication skills (more than 150 hours), and provided demonstrating/supervision/tutorials to undergrads (more than 100 hours). In the specialist side, ESRs have participated in 37 conferences, carried out 19 laboratory and field tests (more than 500 hours) and attended 71 courses on technical skills such as the use of specialized software, advanced statistics, fatigue and reliability analysis, monitoring techniques, etc. (almost 1000 hours) during the 1st year.
A sample of news related to TRUSS local training is given below.
