2010-2011 - University of...

Faculty of HumanitiesPostgraduate Researcher Development Guide

2010-2011

Contents1 Introduction

2 Finding out what’s on

2 Booking a Course – professional etiquette

2 Any Questions

3 How to Use This Brochure

3 Research Domains

4 Domain A: Professional and Intellectual Attributes

4 Domain B: Personal Effectiveness

5 Domain C: Research Organisation and Governance

5 Domain D: Communication, Impact and Influence

7 Courses and Workshops

7 Professional and Intellectual Attributes

10 Personal Effectiveness

11 Research Organisation and Governance

12 Impact and Influence

14 Further Development Opportunities

14 The Careers Service

14 Counselling Service

14 Support for International Researchers

14 Library Training

14 Manchester Enterprise Centre (MEC)

14 methods@manchester

15 National Postgraduate Committee

15 Proofreading a Thesis

15 Public Engagement Initiatives

15 Quantitative Research Methods

15 Realities

15 Vitae

16 Annual Events

Postgraduate Researchers Training & Development Guide

IntroductionWe’re delighted to introduce the Researcher Development Programme for the academicyear 2010-11, organised by the Faculty of Humanities Researcher Development Team.

In designing the programme, our aim has beento offer opportunities which:

• Enable researchers, as individuals, toenhance their personal and professionalcompetencies;

• Build the confidence of researchers throughthe development of a range of discipline-specific, research, academic and transferablecompetencies;

• Help researchers to fulfil their potential andsucceed in a highly competitive job marketand

• Enhance the ‘Manchester Experience’ byensuring that researchers enjoy and benefitfrom their time at the University.

The programme has been created to reflect thechanging needs of postgraduate study acrossthe duration of a research programme andaims to meet the demands of full-time, part-time and distance learners through flexibledelivery. In addition, it has been designed tocomplement the discipline specific researchtraining offered by each School. Courses arestructured so that researchers can plan apersonal research development programmewhich will enable them to develop the skillsidentified in the Vitae ‘Researcher DevelopmentFramework’ (www.vitae.ac.uk/rdf).

Full details of the workshops offered by the Faculty can be found on the CourseCalendar at: www.humanities.manchester.ac.uk/researcherdevelopment/

The Faculty Researcher Development Team alsooffers on-line resources. These can be accessedfrom the webpage ‘Resources for Post-Graduate Researchers’ on the HumanitiesResearcher Development Team website.

As a Faculty Researcher Development Team wewill endeavour to:

• Identify generic development needs throughconsultation with students and supervisors

• Manage and deliver a range of developmentopportunities and best-practice workshopswithin the Faculty

• Manage booking systems for faculty-basedworkshops

• Ensure all researchers have access to theSkills Audit

• Publicise national and university-widedevelopment opportunities

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We are always happy toreceive suggestions fromresearchers forimprovements or newdevelopments to ourprogramme.

Ann Barlow Head of Humanities Researcher Development Team

Emily Bannister/Louise Hill Postgraduate Research DevelopmentOfficers

Claire Morris e-Resources Development Officer

Claire Stocks Research Staff Development Officer

Nicola Sheehan/Emma Fyles Researcher Development TeamAdministrators

Finding out what’s onThe Researcher Development Team providesregular announcements and informationupdates. We endeavour to pass on anyinformation of relevance to you as soon as ispracticable and we would advise researchers tocheck updates regularly. As well as providinginformation on our website we issue monthlybulletins via the School PGR offices, featuringupcoming workshops, events and othernews/relevant information, and post items ofinterest on our blog and Twitter feed.

The Doc Blog

This blog is designed for PostgraduateResearchers in the Faculty of Humanities at TheUniversity of Manchester. The blog featuresnews, information, events and regular updateswithin the field of researcher development.Development opportunities around theUniversity, the North West Region, and beyondare always advertised on the blog and there isan RSS feed which enables researchers tosubscribe to updates. The blog also features asearch facility and access to other blogs andwebsites of relevance.

http://pgrdocblog.wordpress.com/

Twitter

Find regular updates by following our Twitterfeed: http://twitter.com/HumsResearchers

Booking a course –professional etiquetteDetails of all our workshopsare found on the trainingcalendar and bookings madethrough the university’s eProgsystem

It should be noted that in planning theirresearch development programme, researchstudents are expected to identify courses whichwill be most appropriate for their personalneeds and to manage their own diary in anefficient and professional manner. In making abooking participants are:

• Committing themselves to attend the courseor workshop for its full duration

• Agreeing to arrive on time for the course

• Indicating that they will participate inactivities taking place as part of the course

• Agreeing to undertake any pre-requisiteactivities as requested

Please note that latecomers will not bepermitted. The on-line booking systemautomatically closes a course for bookings 4days before the course is due to run. It shouldbe noted that it is not possible to cancel aplace on a course after that time.

Cancelling a place on a course at the lastminute (i.e. with less than a week’s notice), orfailing to turn up without notification, deprivesother researchers of the opportunity toparticipate – please ensure that this does nothappen by following the code of conductoutlined above.

In exceptional cases researchers can email:[email protected] torequest a cancellation.

Should there be evidence that participants are

abusing the system, the Faculty will notify theirsupervisor and this may be raised withindividuals on a case-by-case basis or at thepanel review. We hope that the benefits of thedevelopment programme will discourageunprofessional conduct.

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Any Questions?If, at any point, you havequestions about theResearcher DevelopmentProgramme, pleaseconsult the website:www.humanities.manchester.ac.uk/researcherdevelopment/

If your question remains unansweredthen please feel free to email us at:[email protected]

The ‘face-to-face’ courses (pages 7 – 13) aredivided into various domains which reflect theknowledge, skills, behaviours and personalqualities which distinguish the different stagesof development during a typical researchdegree. Researchers may assess their level ofcompetency in these domains by discussingthem with their supervisor. Regular completionof the Skills Audit will also allow Researchers tokeep abreast of their development.

Dates for the workshops are not included inthe booklet but can be found on the coursecalendar at:

www.humanities.manchester.ac.uk/researcherdevelopment/

Research DomainsThe Researcher Development Programme isdesigned to enable researchers to achieveexcellence in a variety of research domains,while gaining recognition for overallperformance in their research degree. In linewith other UK Higher Education Institutions,we use the Researcher DevelopmentFramework to identify the knowledge, skillsand professional behaviours expected ofresearchers at various stages of their careers.Doctoral students are expected to reflect uponand measure their own progress in the areasidentified in the framework and will beexpected to qualify this at various stages in thePhD process (e.g. at supervision meetings,progress panels, conferences and also duringthe viva).

The courses in this brochure are thereforecategorised under four domain headings of theResearcher Development Framework and thereis further detail in our training calendaridentifying how our workshops map onto thesub-domains of the framework. The domainsand sub-domains are described more fully inthis section.

How to use this brochureThis booklet contains details of all the workshops, events and resources that arecurrently provided by the Faculty, across the institution and regionally. We recommendthat researchers have a look at all the opportunities available, especially beforestarting to book places on ‘face-to-face’ courses and workshops.

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Domain A Professional andintellectual attributesProfessional and intellectual attributes arethose professional criteria which dictate aresearcher’s ability to undertake research of ahigh quality in their area. Components makingup this domain include:

1. Knowledge base

Researchers must develop a sound knowledgebase which is made up of: subject knowledge,knowledge of appropriate research methods(both theoretical and practical), literacy,numeracy, the ability to grasp the languagesnecessary for their research as well as theability to identify and access appropriatebibliographical information and resources andto manage the information appropriately.

Categories in this sub-domain:

(i) Subject knowledge

(ii) Research methods (theoretical knowledge)

(iii) Research methods (practical applications)

(iv) Literacy

(v) Numeracy

(vi) Languages

(vii) Information Seeking

(viii) Information Management

2. Cognitive awareness

Cognitive awareness includes the ability tocritically analyse and evaluate findings and/ordata, the ability to think critically and tosynthesize large amounts of material.Researchers are also required to evaluateevidence and solve complex research problems.


(i) Analysis

(ii) Critical thinking

(iii) Synthesis

(iv) Evaluation

(v) Problem solving

3. Creativity

Researchers are required to be creative – tohave an inquiring mind, to absorb ideasintellectually, to constructively defend researchoutcomes, to take intellectual risks andunderstand the role of innovation and creativityin research.


(i) Inquiring mind

(ii) Intellectual effort (scholarship)

(iii) Argument power

(iv) Intellectual risk

(v) Innovation

Domain B Personal effectivenessThis domain refers to the personal qualities,attributes and abilities required to undertake aperiod of sustained research. Componentsmaking up this domain include:

1. Personal qualities

The personal qualities required for a career as aresearcher include enthusiasm, ambition,perseverance, self-confidence, self-reflection,responsibility, professionalism and integrity.


(i) Enthusiasm

(ii) Commitment to research

(iii) Perseverance

(iv) Self-confidence

(v) Self-reflection

(vi) Responsibility and self-reliance

(vii) Integrity

2. Self-organisation

Researchers are required to be extremely well-organised. Qualities under this sub-domaininclude the ability to manage one’s own time,to have a strategic approach to one’s research,to focus on the project, respond to change andbe largely self-motivated and self-reliant.


(i) Strategic approach

(ii) Focus

(iii) Time Management

(iv) Response to change

(v) Work-life balance

(vi) Self-reliance

3. Career development

A large part of managing a research degree isbeing able to develop one’s career. Researchersmust demonstrate a commitment to continualprofessional development, an insight into thetransferable nature of their abilities to otherwork environments and regularly update aportfolio/record of achievement andexperience.


(i) Career management

(ii) Continual Professional development

(iii) Portfolio

(iv) Networking

(v) Reputation and esteem development

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Domain C Research organisation and governanceThis domain focuses on professional conduct,knowledge of the organisation and sector, aswell as detailed knowledge and use of theresources available to you and the policies andprocedures that affect Researchers.Components making up this domain include:

1. Professional conduct

Researchers are required to have knowledge ofHealth & Safety regulations, knowledge andunderstanding of the ethical requirements andcode of conduct appropriate to their discipline,a basic understanding of the legalrequirements governing research, respect forconfidentiality, attribution and co-authorshipand a basic understanding of copyright anddata ownership.


(i) Health and safety

(ii) Ethics

(iii) Legal requirements

(iv) Respect and confidentiality

(v) Attribution and co-authorship

(vi) Copyright and IPR

(vii) Appropriate practice

2. Project management

Researchers are expected to apply effectiveproject management through the setting ofresearch goals, intermediate milestones, andprioritisation of activities as well as basic riskassessment.


(i) Project management and delivery

(ii) Risk management

3. Finance, funding and resources

Researchers are required to understand theprocess for funding and evaluation of researchas well as the rules governing good financialmanagement and make the best use ofavailable resources.


(i) Research Funding

(ii) Financial management

(iii) Infrastructure and resources

Domain D Communication, impactand influenceThis domain concentrates on the ability ofresearchers to communicate effectively, toengage others with their research and tomaximise the impact of their research.

1. Communication and Engagement

Researchers are expected to construct coherentarguments and articulate ideas clearly to arange of audiences, formally and informally,through a variety of techniques. Researchersinvolved in teaching and mentoring areexpected to actively support the learning ofothers. It is also expected that researchers useinteractive technologies, have a web presenceand use visual aids effectively in presentations.


(i) Modes of communication

(ii) Communication media

(iii) Publication

(iv) Teaching

(v) Public Engagement

(vi) Enterprise and Entrepreneurship

(vii) Public Sector Policy

2. Working with others

Researchers are required to interactconstructively with colleagues, developeffective working relationships and buildteams. Researchers are also expected todevelop and maintain co-operative networksand working relationships with supervisors,colleagues and peers, within the institution andwider research community. Researchers are alsorequired to join the debate, invite challengeand gain support openly.


(i) Interacting constructively with colleagues

(ii) Developing relationships and buildingteams

(iii) Developing the potential of others

(iv) Networking

(v) Influencing others

3. Relating to the broader context

Researchers are required to have inter-, intra-and trans-disciplinary awareness as well asorganisational understanding and responsibility.Researchers are also expected to developawareness of diversity and difference in theirresearch area, be mindful of the environmentand work in a sustainable manner. Researchersmust also show a broad understanding of thecontext at the national and international levelin which their own research takes place.


(i) Inter-, Intra- and Trans-disciplinaryawareness

(ii) Organisational understanding andresponsibility

(iii) Socio-cultural and political awareness

(iv) Environmental – physical awareness

(v) Global citizenship and internationalisation

Detailed descriptors of each category areavailable on www.vitae.ac.uk/rdf

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Professional andIntellectual AttributesAcademic Writing 1 – Insights into theWriting Process

This is a “hands-on” workshop which exploressome important aspects of the writing process.This writing workshop is part of a suite of 4courses in Academic Writing Skills forpostgraduate researchers. Researchers may justbook for this course, but may also beinterested in Workshops 2, 3 and 4 – see thecourse calendar for more details.

Academic Writing 2 – Academic Style,Clarity and Flow

This is a “hands-on” workshop which exploreskey features of academic written style andconventions. This writing workshop is part of asuite of 4 courses in Academic Writing Skills forpostgraduate researchers. Researchers may justbook for this course, but may also beinterested in Workshops 1, 3 and 4 – see thecourse calendar for more details.

Academic Writing 3 – Literature Reviews,Paraphrasing and Referencing

This is a “hands-on” workshop which will assistresearchers to achieve greater clarity and flowin their writing. This writing workshop is partof a suite of 4 courses in Academic WritingSkills for postgraduate researchers. Researchersmay just book for this course, but may also beinterested in Workshops 1, 2 and 4 – see thecourse calendar for more details.

Academic Writing 4 – Introductions andDiscussing Results

This is a “hands-on” workshop which exploressome of the more common phraseological andrhetorical patterns in academic texts, andwhich also examines a number of commonerrors in researchers’ writing. This writingworkshop is part of a suite of 4 courses inAcademic Writing Skills for postgraduateresearchers. Researchers may just book for thiscourse, but may also be interested inWorkshops 1, 2 and 3 - see the coursecalendar for more details.

Academic Writing Workshops

This is a series of small workshops (max 12participants) which will offer participants theopportunity to discuss a short piece ofacademic writing and to have this 'peerreviewed' by other researchers. Areas workedon will include: clarity and style, style andaudience, textual flow and cohesion. Thesessions will be led by an academic writingspecialist with many years of experience.

Pre-requisites: 500 words of a piece of youracademic writing to be emailed at least oneweek before the date of the course to:[email protected];introductions are preferred.

Editing and Proofreading Your Thesis

Once a research project has been written up, itneeds to be edited and proofread. This canoften be the most daunting and time-consuming part of the writing process, whereguidance is needed on how to re-writeparagraphs and chapters, re-structure thethesis (where appropriate) and proofread alarge piece of writing with which the writer isperhaps all too familiar. This lecture looks atways in which the editing and proofreadingprocess can be deconstructed, and includesstrategies for tackling chunks of the thesiswhich might need re-structuring. It alsoprovides guidance on how to use supervisors’comments on the draft chapters / thesisconstructively.

Advanced PGR Writing Groups

The final stage of the writing process is oftenthe time where researchers refine and perfecttheir writing style. Writing groups allowstudents to work with peers in a group,generating and discussing their researchwriting on a regular basis where dramaticimprovements in clarity, flow and style can beachieved. This can often be helpful for thoseresearchers in the final stages of their thesis,where participants can address difficulties thatthey may have and receive constructivefeedback on their writing style. This workshopis also useful for those researchers looking atwriting for publishing. Please note thatparticipation in these writing groups requiresthe commitment to attend a number ofsessions over the semester.

Courses and Workshops

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Designing Research Questionnaires /Interviews

Questionnaire and interview design is a crucialaspect of gathering data for a thesis. Thissession guides participants through the variouseffective methods for collecting data usingquestionnaires and interviews. It covers severaltopics, including how to make effective use ofdifferent types of questions and how to designa questionnaire which encourages participantsto respond appropriately.

Speed Reading

Speed reading is an incredibly useful skill forresearchers to have. This is an interactiveworkshop which teaches the basic principles ofspeed reading and how they can be appliedsuccessfully to academic texts to helpparticipants to save time and work moreefficiently. Please note that this course isdesigned for researchers to gradually developspeed reading skills and the techniques learnedmust be practised and applied over a period oftime.

Pre-requisite: You must bring a text book withyou to this session – not an article or a novel.

Completing Your Literature Review

For most researchers, the literature review isthe first major part of any new researchproject. Literature reviews enable researchers tosurvey their field, identify gaps in knowledgeand research activity and also argue why theirthesis is an original and respected contributionto the discipline. This workshop enablesparticipants to explore the requirements for asuccessful literature review, how to research it,how to structure a literature review and alsohow to manage the information which can beincluded.

Applied Critical Thinking For WritingAcademic Arguments

Academic arguments are carefully constructedin such a way that they make reference toevidence. Yet at the same time they often haveto respond to other competing arguments. Inthis workshop you have a chance to examinethe bare bones of academic arguments byreducing a text to its core statements.Participants will develop the ability to recogniseand critique a written argument. Exercises indeveloping stronger arguments form the bulkof this workshop.

Recommended reading: Fisher, A. (1988).The Logic of Real Arguments. Cambridge, NYand Sydney, Cambridge Univ. Press. (reprinted2005). Please try to read one chapter inadvance.

Pre-requisites: Participants will be required tobring a sample of writing to analyse.

EndNote Level 1

Endnote is a bibliographic database managerand an extremely useful tool for allResearchers. This workshop introduces theonline course and guides participants throughthe key components. Participants will have theopportunity to ask questions and get face-to-face help, and is ideal for those in the earlystages of their research.

The course covers the following:

• Adding references

• Importing references

• Searching an external database

• Setting up your own Endnote database

Pre-requisites: You should be able to createbasic documents in Word and enter, edit andformat text. You should be comfortablecreating folders and saving files.

EndNote Level 2

A course which aims to build on our EndnoteLevel 1 training. This course will focus on twoareas; firstly, how to customise output styles toensure citations and bibliographies are in theformat you require; and secondly, strategies toimport references from different applicationsi.e. Word and Excel.


• Input of data (manual and from onlinedatabases)

• Editing and searching for data in theEndNote library

• Output, interfacing with Word, andbibliography production

• Modifying Output Styles

• The advantages and disadvantages of thevariety of ways of importing references fromWord and Excel

Managing Long Documents in Word Level 1

This course covers skills and techniques neededto manage long documents such as a thesisusing Microsoft Word. The workshopintroduces the online course and guidesparticipants through the key componentsresearchers need when managing largevolumes of text. The session providesResearchers with the opportunity to askquestions and receive face-to-face help.


• Creating a professional and consistentlyformatted document using styles

• Generating automatic content usingupdatable fields e.g. table of contents (usingstyles), table of figures (using captions) andindexes

• Managing the formatting of a longdocument

• Importing the Thesis Template to your P Drive

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Pre-requisites: Basic knowledge of MicrosoftWindows and Word to the standard outlined inFoundation Word, What are Foundation WordSkills? in the PGR website. If you have any gapsplease use the resources in this area to developa good foundation in Word skills.

Managing Long Documents in Word Level 2

This course focuses on using a real life exampleof a thesis to apply and develop the skillsgained in the ‘Managing Long Documents inWord - Level 1’ course


• identifying good practice in file and processmanagement when producing aPostgraduate thesis

• using a real life example of a thesis to applyand develop the skills gained in the‘Managing Long Documents in Word - Level1’ course

• compiling your individual thesis chapters intoone larger document

• using section breaks to manage footnotenumbering

• inserting cross-referencing

• formatting a table of contents

Creativity and Problem-Solving

This practical workshop on meta-cognition willintroduce a variety of strategies for improvingthinking skills in relation to participants’ ownneeds and experiences. The workshop includesthe following topics:

• Generating ideas

• Defining “the problem”

• Finding inspiration

• Thinking “outside the box”

• Applying problem-solving techniques

• Evaluating solutions

Expressing your Research Visually

Tools such as mind maps, concept maps andrich pictures can help us to organise ourthoughts by presenting them in graphical orpictorial ways. This practical workshop willintroduce some techniques for taking notes,planning writing and thinking creatively, givingparticipants a chance to practise some graphicmethods for expressing their research.

Mind Maps, Concept Maps and otherGraphical Organisers

This short session will provide an introductionto the techniques of organising informationusing tools such as mind maps, concept mapsand flow diagrams. There will be anopportunity to try out some graphical methodsfor yourself and to discuss their application inthe development of your research.

Viva Survivor

The Viva is a very different and dauntingexperience for every doctoral researcher. Whilstno two Vivas are ever the same, this ‘survivor’workshop introduces participants to the waysin which they can defend their researchcredibly and professionally. The workshopguides participants through strategies forpreparing for the Viva, coping with an oralexamination under pressure, dos and don’ts ofthe Viva process and addressing the differentoutcomes of doctoral examination.

The Good Viva Video – On-line resource

This video is available for viewing on ourwebsite “Resources for researchers”. As thevideo is on-line, researchers can view it at theirleisure. Please note that there is AudioCommentary on some of the materials, soheadphones/speakers are required.

Preparing for your Review Panel

This is suitable for PGRs who are in the processof preparing for upgrade.

Most schools in the Faculty of Humanitiesrequire PGR students to undertake acontinuation or upgrade panel at the end oftheir first year of research. The purpose ofupgrade panels is to determine whether thestudent has made satisfactory progress withtheir research programme and makesrecommendations as to whether that student isallowed to progress or upgrade to the secondyear.

This workshop aims to equip PGRs with thenecessary skills and knowledge to help themprepare for and successfully complete theirupgrade panel. This session will cover thepurpose of the upgrade panel, what to expectfrom the process, the preparation involved,information about the documents required,coaching in how to identify and answerimportant questions about your research, aswell as how to respond to the feedback andoutcomes of the panel review.

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Personal EffectivenessPsychometric Questionnaires: How toknow yourself, understand others and getyour ideas heard

This workshop explores how to use yourpsychological profile to influence others (e.g.your supervisor) and work more effectively in ateam. This course requires a full day’scommitment. Please do not book a place if youcannot attend for the whole day (from10.00am until 3.30 pm).

Time Management

When doing a PhD, time management andproject management often go hand-in-hand.This course aims to give a basic introduction tokey time management techniques such asplanning and prioritising tasks, as well asproviding hints and tips on dealing with themost common time wasters andprocrastination.

Strategic Academic Career Planning

This session is intended to help researchers tobetter understand the values and demands ofan academic career so that they are equippedto succeed. This workshop will consider:

• Potential academic career paths and theirpros and cons;

• What factors are valued in academia andhow researchers can evidence their suitabilityfor an academic career;

• How to gain the necessary experience andexpertise to gain and retain an academicpost;

• Strategies for easing the transition from aresearch post into an academic post.

Presenting your research experience on a CV

This session will help you to consider thedifferent approaches to presenting yourresearch experience on a CV. We will considerthe differences between academic and non-academic CVs, how you can communicate yourexperience, skills and knowledge to potentialemployers and what academic and non-academic recruiters look for in CVs. We willalso discuss the different ways that informationcan be organised on the CV to maximisestrengths and downplay weaknesses, and youwill have the opportunity to review real CVs forhints and tips.

Managing Your Professional Development

Managing your professional development iscrucial for any research professional. Thisworkshop introduces participants to theconcepts of personal development planningand allows researchers to maximise theirpotential through identifying areas fordevelopment and managing opportunitieswhich boost long-term career prospects. Thissession will enable participants to be selectiveabout the opportunities available to themthroughout their research career and will offersuggestions on how to capitalise on them.

Publishing in Journals Workshop

‘Publish or perish?’ As competition foracademic careers is increasingly fierce, it isnecessary for researchers to develop a strongpublication profile, not only through writingjournal articles in rigorously peer-reviewedjournals but also in choosing those journalswhich most appropriately reflect their research.This workshop will attempt to deconstruct thedifferent stages of the publication process andwill cover how to research journals in yourfield, journal rankings, the peer review process,the whys of writing book reviews, the pros andcons of publishing with colleagues/supervisors,as well as exploring guidelines for submittingjournal articles. This workshop will alsoconsider the different roles of interdisciplinarityand collaboration when preparing journalarticles.

Developing a Researcher Profile

This session is designed to encourageresearchers to start thinking about long-termcareer planning and creating a record ofpublications and activities which all contributetowards becoming recognized in the academicworld. Developing a research profile isbecoming increasingly necessary for researchersboth within and outside of academia. Thissession explores how to use a research profileto network more efficiently and engage withfellow researchers, as well as how to honethose skills required for strategic careerplanning.

Applying for Post-Doctoral Funding

This is an information session led by anestablished academic whose wide rangingexperience will provide invaluable insights andadvice on the postdoctoral funding process.This session aims to give a general overview ofhow to successfully apply for funding andinformation about the major types of fundingavailable. This is an ideal workshop for thoseresearchers who are thinking about remainingin academia and/or are looking to apply forpostdoctoral funding.

ESRC Funding Workshop

The Economic and Social Research Council(ESRC) invite applications from doctoralstudents for their one-year postdoctoralfellowship. The aim of this fellowship is toprovide researchers with the opportunity for anextra year’s funding in which they are expectedto turn their thesis into a publication or a seriesof journal articles. Please note that thisfellowship is not awarded for researchers toundertake a new project but intended to boostthe research profile of promising early-careeracademics. This workshop is an idealopportunity for participants to talk to currentaward holders and a Research DevelopmentOfficer in order to gain an insight into theapplication process and to pick up importanthints and tips.

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Research Organisation andGovernanceEthical Issues Workshop

The Ethical Issues Workshop is delivered byeach school, in conjunction with theResearcher Development Team. This workshopbriefs participants on the University-wideregulations produced by the Ethics Committeeand encourages researchers to discuss theethical implications of their research, includingdeconstructing discipline-specific case studiesand how to deal with certain ethicalconundrums, as and when they arise. This is anexcellent opportunity to debate ethical issues inresearch, and researchers of any discipline arestrongly encouraged to attend.

Planning Your PhD

Managing a large project such as a doctoralthesis requires skill and efficiency. Thisworkshop provides an introduction to projectmanagement tools and how they can be usedin order to plan and execute the first stages ofa PhD thesis. The session focuses on definingand planning the PhD project, identifyingdifferent learning and work styles, and also riskassessment. Participants will be encouraged toset goals and objectives, learn how to structurea PhD and how to plan the first year of theproject.

Keeping Your PhD on Track

The middle of a research project can bedaunting for any researcher. This workshopexplores strategies for keeping a PhD projecton track and how to overcome obstacles whichthreaten to affect motivation and confidence.Participants will be encouraged to reflect ontheir progress so far, to maximise theirstrengths, address weaknesses and identifyopportunities for improvement. This workshopis especially useful for those Researchers whohave experienced feelings of isolation and whowant to gain a fresh perspective for theirresearch.

Planning Your Final Year

The end of a doctoral thesis requires theapplication of crucial project managementskills. This workshop aims to help participantsto build effectively on their progress thus far,plan the final year of the thesis, manage thewriting process and start thinking about lifeafter the PhD. Through a combination ofreflection and strategic planning, participantswill be encouraged to build solid strategies formaking the transition from student toprofessional.

Writing Proposals for Grants and Funding

Writing proposals for grants and funding is anessential part of communicating research to anacademic audience, and also crucial in makingthe transition from doctoral to early-careerresearcher. This interactive course looks at theprinciples of proposal writing and how to writean effective proposal for a grant or fellowship,it also looks at securing travel grants forconferences.

Making Meetings Work

A well organised project will inevitably requireattendance at a number of meetings, rangingfrom one-to-one conversations to more formalcommittees. This workshop aims to helpparticipants to get the most out of meetings byconsidering approaches to agenda setting,minute taking and chairing as tools fordeveloping effective participation. Thisworkshop is particularly suitable for studentrepresentatives as well as for those who wishto make a more effective contribution toresearch based meetings.

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Impact and InfluenceWriting Proposals for Conferences

A key part of organising one’s time as adoctoral researcher is to apply to present apaper or a poster at a conference. Thisinteractive course looks at the principles ofproposal writing and how to write an effectiveconference abstract. Participants will have theopportunity to look at examples of bestpractice (case studies) and to practise writingtheir own conference abstracts.

Introduction to Presentation Skills

This is an introductory workshop which aims toequip researchers with the skills needed tomake an effective presentation. Please notethat this workshop is a short briefing on whatmakes a good presentation, planning andstructuring a presentation, delivery and usingvisual aids and is therefore only suitable forthose researchers who are new to presentingan academic paper.

Presentations, Practice and Feedback 1

This session provides participants with theopportunity to practise an academicpresentation in a supportive and friendlyenvironment provided by their peers. Thisworkshop is ideal for researchers who wouldlike to discuss the requirements of academicpresentations, practise for a presentation, buildself-confidence or simply get some feedbackon technique.

Pre-requisites: You need to bring a 5-minutepresentation with you. The use of PowerPointis optional.

Improve Your Presentation Skills

The key for any competent presenter is tocontinue to practise their presentation skills.The aim of this course is to help improvedelivery and style through a combination ofgroup work and research, practice andfeedback. This workshop focuses in moredepth on some of the crucial aspects of asuccessful presentation: use of voice andbreathing, body language and gesture, dealingwith nerves, managing difficult questions,using language and making your presentationmemorable. The workshop is interactive andinvolves working in small groups to make apresentation to the whole class. The sessionmay be videoed. Please note that thisworkshop cannot help improve presentationcontent – it is designed to equip participantswith the skills necessary to enhance thedelivery of a presentation only.

Presentations, Practice and Feedback 2

Even the most competent of presenters arerequired to practice their skills regularly, toensure that they perfect their technique. Thissession is suitable for researchers who havereached the intermediate or advanced stage ofpresenting. The session provides participantswith the opportunity to practise theirpresentation skills in a supportive and friendlyenvironment, and to be videoed individually.This course is ideal for those researchers whowould like to practise for a presentation, buildself-confidence or simply get some feedbackon technique and delivery.

Pre-requisites: You will need to bring a 5-10minute presentation with you, which includesPowerPoint slides.

An Introduction to Social Media/Web 2.0for Researchers

It is becoming increasingly necessary forresearchers to have a web presence and to usevarious social media or Web 2.0 tools tonetwork and collaborate with colleagues. Thisworkshop explores the various Web 2.0technologies available to Researchers, such asTwitter, blogging, De.li.ci.ous, LinkedIn,Mendeley and Digg and encouragesparticipants to evaluate how thesetechnologies can assist in helping to raise one’sresearch profile both within and outside of theUniversity.

PowerPoint Level 1

PowerPoint Level 1 is a basic butcomprehensive introduction to PowerPoint,providing training in how to create, set up andshow presentations. This is an opportunity toundertake PowerPoint training in a supportedenvironment.


• Create a presentation employing text,graphics, and basic animation

• Set up equipment required to make apresentation, i.e. laptop/PC and dataprojector

• Set up a show and navigate through apresentation

• Print your presentation in a variety offormats

Pre-requisites: Basic knowledge of MicrosoftWindows and Word.

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PowerPoint Level 2

This is a face-to-face workshop which aims tobuild on PowerPoint Level 1 training. Thiscourse focuses on supporting participants tocreate a professional PowerPoint presentation,employing animation and interactivity topresent concepts using text and diagrams. Thecourse helps participants to apply theirPowerPoint Level 1 skills in a more complexway.

The course covers:

• Review master slides and animation

• Create your own template

• Use the drawing toolbar to create adiagram/model

• Apply animation to support the presentationof the model

• Set up a presentation and package to CD

Pre-requisites: You must have completed thePowerPoint Level 1 training or have the samelevel of skill to take this course. Please makesure you meet the pre-requisites for this courseand that the content is appropriate to yourneeds.

Managing the Supervisory Relationship

The supervisory relationship is a complicatedone, which involves managing expectationsand progress with the thesis. This workshopprovides an introduction to the dynamics ofresearch supervision and equips participantswith the tools necessary to manage thesupervisory relationship. The session exploreshow to communicate with your supervisor,handle conflict, resolve differences of opinionand also how to work with your supervisortowards common goals. It also explores whatresearchers can expect from their supervisor interms of support and advice, and also whatsupervisors can realistically expect fromResearchers in relation to progress andcommunication.

Networking

Networking is an increasingly important skillboth inside and outside academia. Goodnetworking skills will make it easier toapproach senior academics at conferences,identify and make useful contacts and mayeven help in securing a job. This interactivesession will provide an introduction tonetworking, how to use business cards,increase confidence to approach people and‘work the room’ and also the chance topractice networking skills in a safe and friendlyenvironment.

GTA Training

Teaching, demonstrating and facilitating arekey skills for any researcher. This workshopprovides an ideal grounding in teaching theoryand technique for those researchers who havecurrent or future teaching responsibilities. Thissession guides participants through thedifferent styles of teaching and learning byexamining policies and procedures as well aslooking at case studies and how to cope withdifferent types of students.

Engaging others with your research

It is increasingly necessary for researchers tocontribute to promoting the publicunderstanding of one’s own research field. Thisworkshop is designed to encourage researchersto showcase their research to the wider public.It is designed to encourage researchers to thinkcritically about the process of communicatingresearch outcomes to a wider audience andvarious stakeholders.

Showcasing Your Research

This second public engagement workshop is asession on how to design a research poster.Poster events are becoming increasinglypopular at international conferences, allowingresearchers to promote their work, bothvisually and in person, to other academics andmembers of the public. Participants at thisevent are encouraged to present a poster at apublic forum later in the year.

Thesis Submission Briefing

The University has strict procedures forprinting, typesetting and binding a doctoralthesis. This short briefing session will guideparticipants through the procedures requiredbefore thesis submission, including the ‘Noticeof Submission’ requirement. Researchers willhave the opportunity to ask questions aboutthis final stage of the thesis.

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The Careers Service

The Careers Service supports the careers andemployability of all postgraduate students atThe University of Manchester. This includes:

• Organising recruitment and information fairsand events

• Delivering a large number of talks,workshops and training sessions, eitherusing employers or our own careersconsultants

• Providing bespoke events for individualSchools and Faculties

• Seeing students (and alumni for up to 3years after graduation) for one-to-onecareers advice, either during drop-in sessionsrun every day or for half an hour pre-bookedappointments. These can cover how todecide on a career path, how to find jobs inpublic and private sector industries, adviceand feedback on CVs, applications andcovering letters – and practice interviews.

• The Careers Service is now using socialmedia forums and a blog to advertise jobopportunities and offer careers guidance,tailored towards postgraduates.

For more information please visit:

Website:www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduates/

Blog:http://manchesterpgcareers.wordpress.com/

Twitter feed:http://twitter.com/ManPGCareers

Counselling Service

The Counselling Service offers workshops whichmay help Researchers to combat the effects ofstress and anxiety during their researchprogramme. The workshops on offer are:

• Managing Procrastination

• Managing Your Relationship with yourSupervisor

• Managing Anxiety

• Speaking Out in Groups

For more information please visit:www.studentnet.manchester.ac.uk/counselling/

www.studentnet.manchester.ac.uk/counselling/stressmanagement/

Support for International Researchers

There are various levels of support offered toInternational researchers at the University ofManchester. The University Language Centreoffers continued language support toInternational Postgraduate Students. TheInternational Society offers various socialactivities and guidance for InternationalStudents in Manchester. To learn more aboutsupport available to International Studentsplease visit:www.langcent.manchester.ac.uk/

www.manchester.ac.uk/international/supportservices/societiesforinternationalstudents/

Library Training

The John Rylands University Library organisesvarious workshops on information and datamanagement for researchers as well asdiscipline-specific research skills workshops andother more bespoke sessions. For theopportunities on offer please contact yourliaison librarian or visit:www.manchester.ac.uk/library

Twitter feed:http://twitter.com/jrulResearchers

Manchester Enterprise Centre (MEC)

The Manchester Enterprise Centre (MEC) is partof the Manchester Business School. MEC offersworkshops for researchers who wish toenhance their knowledge of business andenterprise. They also organise the annual“Research to Enterprise” Summit. For moredetails of the opportunities on offer please visit:www.mbs.ac.uk/aboutus/enterprise/index.htm

methods@manchester

methods@manchester runs regular methods-related events.

What is? talks provide short, accessibleintroductory guides to key research methods.They are ideal for research students, or theirsupervisors, who want to find out what themethod does and whether it might be useful intheir research.

Resources talks focus on research and teachingand learning resources which are available atthe University of Manchester for both graduatestudents and staff.

Informal discussion groups are an informalseries of meetings which run monthly on amethods-related topic.

Special events are organised on a one-off basis,often jointly with others. They provide anopportunity to make inter-disciplinary links, orto hear an important speaker from outsideManchester.

On-line videos and audio-recordings bringexpertise to your desktop.

Information on all events can be found atwww.methods.manchester.ac.uk/

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Further Development Opportunities

National Postgraduate Committee

The National Postgraduate Committee (NPC)aims to promote the interests of postgraduatesstudying in the UK, while remaining politicallynon-aligned. The Committee holds an annualconference, and publishes various guidelinesand codes of practice. For more informationplease visit:www.npc.org.uk/

Proofreading a Thesis

Fore more detailed guidance on proofreading athesis, please visit:www.studentnet.manchester.ac.uk/proofreading/

Public Engagement Initiatives

The University of Manchester works inpartnership with various organisations andsocial enterprises in order to bring about PublicEngagement opportunities for Researchers.

Widening ParticipationWidening Participation aims to deliver equityof access to Higher Education. Researchers arestrongly encouraged to volunteer their time inpursuit of widening participation activities withschools and colleges who frequently visit theUniversity campus. For more informationplease visit:www.humanities.manchester.ac.uk/humnet/acaserv/wideningparticipation/

Researchers in ResidenceResearchers in Residence is a scheme whichencourages Researchers to volunteer some oftheir time to go into a school on placementand to help engage the students and to helpthem find out about what it is like to be aresearcher, and to go to University. For moreinformation about this scheme please visit:www.researchersinresidence.ac.uk

The Manchester BeaconThe Manchester Beacon is one of six beaconsacross the UK which seek to engage staff,students, community groups and localbusinesses in the design and delivery ofactivities that use engagement to break down

the barriers between universities and localpeople. Researchers are strongly encouragedto get involved in the Beacon activities whichcan help to raise the profile of bothresearchers and the University. For moreinformation please visit:www.manchesterbeacon.org/

Quantitative Research Methods

The Cathie Marsh Centre for Census andSurvey Research offers courses on quantitativeresearch methods for researchers. For moredetails please visit:www.ccsr.ac.uk/courses/

Realities

Realities forms part of the ESRC NationalCentre for Research Methods and is based inthe School of Social Sciences. Realities hasdeveloped several researcher toolkits (availableonline) which offer advice and guidance onexploring qualitative and quantitative researchdata. For more information please visit:www.socialsciences.manchester.ac.uk/realities/

Vitae

Vitae is organised into several Hubs, one of whichis based here in Manchester – the Vitae NorthWest (NW) Hub. These Hubs act like beaconswhich organise and host regional events,amongst many other things. Hubs representinstitutions at a regional level and feedback atnational level to inform policy, knowledge andfacilitate the sharing of best practice. Each Hubhas a manager (NW – Emma Gillaspy) and a co-ordinator (NW – Judy Williams).

EventsRegular readers of the Vitae blog will be up-to-speed with some of the events hosted by Vitae.The main players at the moment are theNational GRAD Schools and the EffectiveResearcher sessions which are hosted by Hubs,up and down the country. Events are open toresearchers from up and down the country andcover issues such as Part-Time Research and anAnnual Postgraduate Conference.

PublicationsAs well as organising and hosting events, Vitaehave produced some excellent publicationswhich will be of interest to anyone doingpostgraduate research. The “What DoResearchers Do?” booklet documents thedestinations of recent PhD graduates up anddown the country. If you want to know moreabout the potential career paths open to thosewith a doctoral degree, then please downloadthis from the website in PDF. Vitae has alsopublished some smaller documents. Forexample, there’s the booklet entitled “TheBalanced Researcher” which explores how tomanage your PhD in real-life terms and “TheCreative Researcher” which examines creativityand how to harness it for your research. Vitaealso has regular “PGR Tips” which you can signup for and get delivered straight to your inbox.There’s also GRAD Britain magazine available todownload – if you write an article and it getspublished you could win £50.

Policy and PracticeAs well as providing useful information forresearchers, Vitae works on behalf of earlycareer researchers to influence policy andpractice at local and national level. It alsoprovides guidance for supervisors and PIs and iscurrently building an evidence base for theimpact of researcher development on theoutcome of doctoral research degrees.

Research ManagementThe Vitae web pages for postgraduates includesome helpful advice on managing a researchproject – everything from project and timemanagement, rights and responsibilities, tonetworking and troubleshooting problems. Forthose of you nearing completion, there’s alsosome advice on completing the PhD. Fromthere you can also keep up-to-date with newsand events for researchers.

More InformationFor more information about Vitae please visit:

Website:www.vitae.ac.uk

Twitter:http://twitter.com/vitaenwhub

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Annual EventsIn addition to regular workshops theResearcher Development Team also organiseand facilitate annual events, often inconjunction with the other faculties of theUniversity. Details of these will be found in themonthly bulletin as well as on our website.Events planned for the coming year are listedbelow.

International Student Forums

Part-time Researcher Forum

Manchester GRADSchool

Helping Researchers to realise their potentialwww.graduateeducation.eps.manchester.ac.uk/graddev/devworkshop/rs/devpgm/

Pathways

A two-day careers event for Researchers heldevery Junewww.manchester.ac.uk/pathways

The Researcher Showcase

A poster event offering a public engagementopportunity

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Researcher Development TeamFaculty of HumanitiesDevonshire HouseThe University of ManchesterOxford RoadManchesterM13 9PL

tel +44 (0)161 306 1113email [email protected]

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