The ESRC Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) at the University of Sussex has announced a three-year institutional membership with the Regional Studies Association that will be of benefit to both research students and faculty in the social sciences.

The Sussex DTC will also jointly host the Regional Studies Association Early Career Researcher conference, which will take place in autumn 2018.

The Regional Studies Association (RSA), which is based at the Sussex Innovation Centre, is an international learned society focussing on regional development and policy at the sub-national level. The Association funds a number of grant schemes including a £10,000 Early Career Grant, research networks and Policy Expos. Other benefits include early career and student awards, participation in the governance of the Association, and early career editorial positions on its journals.

“I’m delighted that the RSA’s move to the University of Sussex campus has led so swiftly to this collaboration,” said Sally Hardy, Chief Executive of the RSA. “The Association has a strong history of support to its student and early career members to the extent that one-third of our membership fall in these categories.

“We hope that DTC students and other faculty at Sussex will become active within the Association and benefit from its international networks and links into global policy and practice.”

Director of the DTC, Professor Alan Garnham, welcomed the move: “I strongly support this development, which complements our existing links with other external organisations. The interests of the Regional Studies Association mirror those of many of our social scientists, both faculty and doctoral researchers. I look forward to the collaborations that will ensue.”

The Regional Studies Association (RSA) is the global forum for city and regional research, development and policy.