The IUA and the Researcher Mobility Office Ireland are seeking to gain a deeper understanding of the key issues that researchers face when relocating or returning to Ireland. A survey was developed as a pilot study for a subsequent full-scale project to monitor and assess trends in the population of mobile researchers entering and leaving Ireland. Prior to 2004, statistics and trends on mobility for Ireland did not exist and it was therefore difficult to provide targeted information for particular sub-groups of researchers, relocating to or from Ireland.
This pilot study represents the first step in the development of a high-level database of sub-groups of mobile researchers for the dissemination of targeted information relating to mobility between Ireland and the identified countries of choice of mobile researchers, both incoming and outgoing. It is also the first phase of development for a centralised system to record mobility experiences of the network's client base with a view to identifying the main obstacles to mobility and tailoring the information and resources available through the helpdesk and portal to address any difficulties and thus optimise services for mobile researchers. The survey can be accessed on the mobility portal researchcareersireland.com homepage under the Topics Section titled "Trends of Researchers in Ireland".
