Welcome to the University of Sheffield Professor Richard Jones Pro-Vice-Chancellor.

Welcome to the University of Sheffield

Professor Richard JonesPro-Vice-Chancellor

18/04/23 © The University of Sheffield / Department of Marketing and Communications

This morning …• About the university, and your role within it

• Doctoral Development Programme (DDP)

• Getting the best from your supervisor

• Support for research students from Research and Innovation Services

• Sheffield Teaching Certificate

• PROGRESS (Research Student Society)

• PG Café Forum

• Introduction to the Students' Union

• New Ventures in Doctoral Provision

Differences• We recognise that some of you have studied here

before, but on taught programmes. Being a research student is different!

• Many of you are studying at Sheffield for the first time. It’s a: new university to you, and a new city

• You may bring pre-conceptions from your previous experiences in higher education. Keep an open mind!

Stakeholders• You (obviously!)

• Your supervisor(s)

• (Your research group)

• Your department

• Your funders or sponsors

• But also, wider society

But the focus should be on YOU and your future.



About the University

• Sheffield School of Medicine founded in 1828• The University received its Royal Charter in 1905• 24,000 students

• including over 4,000 international students from 130 countries

• 5,500 staff • including over 1500 academic staff, including over 400

professors

• 5 Faculties • Arts and Humanities; Engineering; Medicine, Dentistry

and Health; Science; Social Sciences

• Research income £99 million/pa (120 million Euros)

Your role in the UniversityNew students this month (almost 8500 in total):

4500 Home / EU undergraduates

550 Overseas undergraduates

900 Home / EU postgraduates on taught courses

1100 Overseas postgraduates on taught courses

300 Home / EU research students

250 Overseas research students

800 visiting students

The University’s functions• Research

The university’s motto is ‘to know the causes of things’. We are a research-led university.

• TeachingWe educate students to ask questions and to seek to answer them – just like researchers.

• Knowledge ExchangeMaking a difference with what we know – influencing others and the world around us.

We see these activities as complementary


World rankingsAccording to the Shanghai Jiao Tong index we are:

In the top 10 in the UK (10th)

In the top 100 in the world (97th)

That puts us in the top 2% of the 8547 universities in the world



Research Assessment Exercise 2008 - I• Over 90% of academic staff were submitted as

active researchers

• 93% of research submitted was judged to be of international standard

• Within the top 10 in the UK in ‘research power’ (volume times quality)

• Top in the UK in Information Studies, Politics, Town and Regional Planning (all in Social Sciences Faculty)


Research Assessment Exercise 2008 - IIIn the top 5 in the UK in :

French; Music; Philosophy; Russian and Slavonic Studies (Faculty of Arts and Humanities)

Automatic Control and Systems Engineering; Mechanical Engineering (Faculty of Engineering)

Clinical Dentistry; Human Communications Sciences (Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health)

Biological Sciences (Faculty of Science)

Architecture; Landscape (Faculty of Social Sciences)

My message to you?

Think big.


Doctoral Development Programme (DDP)

Professor Catherine BiggsFaculty of Engineering27th September 2011

http://www.shef.ac.uk/ris/pgr/ddpportal

Outline• Overview of DDP

• Training Needs Analysis

•Examples

•Gaining the “training”

• e-Portfolio

• Assessment

• Further information

Principles of the DDP• Programme of personal and professional

development • Flexible and complements your research training

• Student specific - based on a Training Needs Analysis

• Takes into account prior learning and experience

• Takes into account training gained outside the University

• Applicable to all research students

Principles of the DDP

• Based on 4 skill sets:-

• Generic skills to become a high-level professional

• Subject specific advanced training

• “Craft” skills (may be subject specific)

• Broad scholarship and wider engagement within the full community of scholars

Training Needs Analysis (TNA)Skills and experiences that a PGR student should obtain by the end of their higher degree studies

For each applicable skill, indicate your extent of experience and ability

1 = I have no knowledge or experience

2 = I have some knowledge, but no experience

3 = I have done this only occasionally

4 = I do this regularly, but require more experience to become proficient

5 = I have extensive knowledge and experience

6 = I could train others in the area It is OK to be a 1

Development plan• Discuss the evidence you already have for each

skill• Identify training needs• Person appointed to oversee development

• Agree a development plan• Content of development plan is specific; may contain

compulsory units, skills training seminars, workshops, conferences, life experience etc.

• May be changed as your training needs change

• Will be assessed by PGR Tutor after ~3 months• Annual process of TNA and development plans

Acquiring the training• You are automatically registered for Shell

modules e.g. (year 1)• FCE611: Generic research skills I• FCE612: Broad scholarship and engagement skills I• FCE613: Subject specific skills I• FCE614: Research craft skills I

• You are also automatically registered for any compulsory modules

• You can select and register online for other training opportunities (in discussion with your supervisors)

Research Integrity and Ethics training

• New module for 2011/12

• So important and integral to good research that all PGR students expected to undertake it

• You will be automatically registered

• Run separately by each Faculty so it is tailored to your needs

Subject-specific craft skillsExamples might include:-• Computer courses

• e.g. Excel; statistics packages, Endnote

• Use of common equipment

• Lab techniques course and experience…

• Experimental design

• e.g. Epidemiological research design

• Others

Broad scholarship and wider community

Examples could include:

• Conference attendance and presentation

• Wider dissemination, public understanding

• Continuing professional development• Might involve requirements of professional

bodies

Library DDP• Online tutorials

eg Web of Science, Scopus, Google tips, referencingAvailable 24/7 via MUSE. Email & telephone support

• Research information skills sessionsSingle sessions booked via online booking formseg EndNote, RSS feeds, copyright for eTheses

• Individual adviceEmail, telephone or appointment

More information about Library support for research students

• Faculty Library TeamMeet them at Departmental induction events

• Library website

http://www.shef.ac.uk/library/

• Library staff here today

Careers Service support for PGRs• Available to PGRs in all years

• Careers and Employability Skills Sessions. DDP accredited. http://www.shef.ac.uk/ris/pgr/ddpportal/home.html

• One-to-one careers support sessions. Thirty minute appointments, booked via NCGRC reception at 22(2 7612)

• Dedicated web pages and publications. www.shef.ac.uk/careers/postgraduates/research/

• Sheffield University GRADschool (SUGS). www.shef.ac.uk/ris/pgr/rtp/sugs3.html/

• One –off events at University/faculty/departmental level. Look out for email alerts.

• For information about general Careers Service events and facilities (all open to PGRs) see: www.shef.ac.uk/careers/

Module Registration Directory

26http://www.shef.ac.uk/ris/pgr/ddpportal

Recording your activities and training

• Use an e-portfolio to gather, reflect upon, and produce evidence for your DDP

• PebblePAD• Private, Secure

• Personal Learning System to help you• reflect on the way you learn

• keep a record and commentaries on what you've learnt

• prepare you for future employment.

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With PebblePAD you can• Build your own electronic portfolio of achievements (ie

create, store, and review materials which you can then present as e-portfolios, called WebFolios)

• Share documents, images, videos, and sound files, with tutors, other students, employers, others…

• Present a CV or a set of documents and media files to employers in a webfolio (an online portfolio).

• You will be able to use PebblePAD throughout the duration of your studies at the University of Sheffield, and to take it with you (for a small sum of money) when you leave the university after graduation.

Sample Webfolio

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Assessment of DDP

• Level of achievement required• Aim for competent in all, proficient in 2/3

• What and by when dependent on individual student

• Assessment and progress • Annual Progress Reports• As part of existing upgrade process - student

must present evidence of development (e.g portfolio)

• Periodically at supervisory meetings

DDP in the PhD Process


Further informationDoctoral Development Team

•[email protected]

•[email protected]


Getting the best from your supervisor

Professor Jerry Wellington


Discuss the ‘ground rules’• What are my training needs?

• How often will we meet? For how long?

• When will we both be away from Sheffield?

• Who will set the agenda for each meeting?

• Who will keep records of your meetings?

• How will targets and deadlines be decide - and who by?

• What will be expected from both sides………

Discuss expectations from both sides

What CAN you expect from your supervisor:Support, guidance, discussion, dialogue, encouragement, links to

others, suggestions for reading, feedback on your research plans, feedback on your writing, in a reasonable timescale, suggestions for your research activity and methodology , guidance on ethics

WHAT YOU CANNOT EXPECT from your supervisor:For them to do your work for you, instant responses 24/7, correction to

your Basic English, for them to write your thesis for you.

WHAT CAN YOUR SUPERVISOR EXPECT FROM YOU????Meet deadlines if you can, listen to advice, be punctual, work hard …

but Always remember: it is YOUR THESIS, nobody else’s !

Do seek feedback and guidance

the only way you can improve ‘your game’ is by using feedback

ask for feedback on your writing – be specific e.g. style, structurelisten to feedback and act upon it


You and your supervisor are not alone!


New Ventures in Doctoral Provision

Dr. Susan Molyneux-HodgsonDirector of Doctoral ProgrammesFaculty of Social Sciences

• Changing landscape in doctoral programmes• A shift toward ‘doctoral training centres’• A broadening of the PhD experience• Changes in preparation for ‘life beyond the PhD’

• Currently 6 centres at UoS (5 investments by EPSRC)

• White Rose Social Sciences DTC• Awarded spring 2011; starting now!; 5years

>£3M• Over 20 research pathways available• A community for all social science doctoral

students

Suite of core social science modules

• Foundation of Social Science Research• Qualitative Methods for Social Science

Research• Quantitative Methods for Social Science

Research• Advanced methods and subject modules

• Next steps ...• Discuss training programme with supervisor

and complete your TNA• Attend the Faculty DTC Induction, 18th

October, ICoSS• Visit our website for more info:

www.shef.ac.uk/social-sciences-dtc

http://www.shef.ac.uk/social-sciences-dtc

Research & Innovation Services

Joanne Rowlands, Research Degree Support Manager

Support for PGR students• Research Degree Support Team

(available Mon-Fri , 9.00-5.00)

• Advice and guidance for enquiries about student status, changes to candidature, thesis submission, examination & award of your degree

• Help & advice on general student matters

• www.shef.ac.uk/ris/pgr/code


The Sheffield Teaching Assistant.

Dr Esther C. JubbLearning & Teaching Services.

18/04/23 © The University of Sheffield

What is the STA?• Professional development in learning and

teaching specifically designed for PG & ECR

• Orientated towards practical teaching techniques

• Stand alone sessions allowing flexibility for participants

• Integrated into the DDP

What it looks like


Engaging your audience

Engaging your audience

Team workTeam work Project scoping and management

Project scoping and management

Providing feedbackProviding feedback

Career Progression Elements

What are the benefits?

• Develop skills and confidence

• Transfer your passion for the discipline

• Career Development

• Meet other postgrads and post docs

• Forum for discussing teaching and asking questions


WANT TO KNOW MORE?

www.shef.ac.uk/lets/sta

[email protected]


Who are we?

• University-wide postgraduate society: all-inclusive

• Run by PG students for PG students

• We cater to Taught and Research PG students

• We hold regular monthly socials and events

• We represent PG issues with the Student’s Union

Regular EventsWe cater to diverse tastes and interests with our regular and diverse events.

The regular monthly events include:

•Pub Quiz •After-work drinks @ Interval•Restaurant visit•And a Special Event...

An on-line poll decides the monthly special event. In the past, these have included:

•Comedy night @ the Lescar

•Chocolate tasting

•Manchester Christmas Market

•Summer solstice night hike

Special Events

Café Forum• A student-led, collaborative initiative

• Monthly gathering where PGs share their research in an informal environment

Email: [email protected]

• Monday 19 Sept @ 6:30pm: Welcome Drinks @ The Interval

• Wednesday 21 Sept @ 10:30am: Coffee @ Coffee Revolution

• Wednesday 21 Sept @ 6:30pm: Dinner @ Ask / Pizza Express

• Friday 23 Sept @ 7pm: Welcome to Sheffield – PUB CRAWL

• Tuesday 27 Sept @ 7pm: Fun & Games @ The Common Room

• Thursday 29 Sept @ 6:45pm: Bowling @ Valley Centertainment

• Sunday 2 Oct @ Day Out @ Bakewell (with Give it a go)

• Tuesday 4 Oct @ 3-4pm: Pub quiz @ Red Deer

• Thursday 6 Oct @ 7pm: Laser Quest @ Quasar.

• Friday 7 Oct @ 7pm: Welcome to Sheffield # 2 - PUB CRAWL

Welcome Events

Sign up and joinhttp://progress.union.shef.ac.uk/

• Membership has its benefits

• Join the e-mail list (via website)

• Sign up for tomorrow’s Italian meal!

Where to find us

Web: www.progress.union.shef.ac.uk(or Google “progress sheffield”)

Email & Mailing List: [email protected]

Facebook: Search “progress sheffield”

Twitter: follow “progress_sheff”

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Café forum


PG Café Forum is

...a student-led initiative where postgraduates can:

• share their work;

• improve presentation skills;

• cross-pollinate ideas;

• socialise & network;

all in an informal and relaxed atmosphere.


Monthly gatherings

• Last Tuesday every month

• From 18:00 – 20:00

• University Arms (upstairs)

• Register via email


Previous discussion topics

• Demographic patterns of ice age humans

• The philosophy of politics

• The ecology of old green roofs

• Modelling decision-making in the brain

• Zebra fish as model organism in developmental

biology

• Studying superstars


• Develops your broad scholarship and wider engagement skills

• Presentation skills

• Communication across discipline (general audience)

• Dissemination of your work to the academic community

• Receive confidential feedback via an audience participation tool

• Optional: GEO recording of your presentation (to boost your CV)


Find out more or contact us

• Web: www.pgcafeforum.co.uk

• Email: [email protected]

• Facebook “PG Café Forum”

Next event: Tuesday 25 October from 6-8pm @ University Arms (Wilson Room)

Introduction to the Students’ Union

Thom Arnold

Welcome to the University of Sheffield Professor Richard Jones Pro-Vice-Chancellor.

Documents

Transcript of Welcome to the University of Sheffield Professor Richard Jones Pro-Vice-Chancellor.