The ‘How to be an effective researcher' workshop is designed to prepare postgraduate researchers for their research.
The workshop was highly acclaimed during its pilot phase, and reached the final of the 2007 Times Higher Education Awards.
Overview
‘How to be an effective researcher' is a two day, non-residential workshop aimed at postgraduate researchers who are three to twelve months into their doctoral studies.
The programme is currently being rolled out in the Midlands, Scotland and Northern Ireland, South East, and South West and Wales Hub regions and will be available nationally from the end of September 2008.
Programme aims
The programme aims to enhance the effectiveness of postgraduate researchers by building their understanding, skills and confidence in:
- communication
- planning and time management
- problem solving
- leadership
- assertiveness.
The programme also helps individuals to understand their own learning and working styles, through the following core areas:
- PhD project planning and time management
- working effectively with others (including supervisors)
- collaboration
- culture within research groups, institutions and countries
- self awareness and preferences for learning and working.
Typical programme
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 9.30 |
Registration -An opportunity for participants to meet the course tutors and other participants |
| 9.45 |
Introduction to the course -Setting the scene for the course |
| 10.00 |
Getting to know each other - An introduction exercise to allow the participants to get to know each other |
| 10.20 |
Establishing common ground - Setting the agenda for the course and beginning the process of disclosure between participants |
| 10.45 | First team project (problem solving) - A team based activity exploring problem solving and project management |
| 11.45 | Project management 1: Tuning into your PhD - A session that establishes the basics of project management using participants' experience of managing their PhD, the previous exercise, and their observations or work experience |
| 12.15 |
Lunch |
| 13.00 | Second team project (resource management) - A team based activity where participants consider issues related to resource availability, communication, and the need to plan and re-plan as more information becomes available |
| 13.45 |
Project management 2: Planning your PhD - An introduction to some project management tools and techniques that can be applied to an academic research project |
| 14.15 |
Third team project task (applying planning tools) - An exercise where the participants can apply the project management tools that they have learnt from the day |
| 15.45 | Refreshment |
| 16.00 |
Working effectively with others: project approaches - A session that introduces aspects of being able to work effectively with others despite having differences of approach |
| 16.45 |
Review and close of day 1 |
Contact us to discuss opportunities for your institution to run ‘How to be an effective researcher'
Comments
Comment on this page.