Postgraduate Research Welcome Skills Training for PG Research Students Dr Jon Turner.

Postgraduate Research Welcome

Skills Training for PG Research StudentsDr Jon Turner

Skills Training for Postgraduate Research Students

Dr Jon Turner

Director, Institute for Academic Development

www.ed.ac.uk/iad

The Expectation

Research Councils; Funding Councils, other PhD sponsors, The University and employers all expect you to develop skills beyond your research.

What can you do?

Become President of a Society?Professor Lesley Yellowlees, is the first female president of the Royal Society of ChemistryPhD - Chemistry

Become Prime Minister?Gordon Brown was leader of the Labour party and Prime Minister

PhD – History

Win a Nobel Prize?Peter Charles Doherty won a Nobel Prize for his research in Medical Sciences

PhD – Veterinary Medicine

Write a(nother) book?Philippa Gregory is a best-selling novelist.

PhD - 18th century literature

The skills you need…• To get started…

• During your research…

• Finishing your research…

• For your future career…

The skills you need….

• To get started with your Research

• During your research

• Finishing your research

• Future career

Language, computing, literature searching, project planning and design

Statistics, research methods, IP, project management, supervisor management, communication, team work

Critical analysis, paper and thesis writing

Awareness of skills developed, Career planning, commercialisation

Skills Development

Research

External Activities -e.g. schools

outreach

Prior experience

School Courses

Individual advice & support e.g. careers

Central courses - library, computing

services

Skills Training Programme -

IAD

Web-based information &

resources

External Courses

Supervisor Support

• Graduate School Courses and events

• IAD: Postgraduate Essentials

• COMPASS: Induction for international students

Getting off to a good start…

PG Essentialswww.ed.ac.uk/iad/doctoral

• online course for postgraduate researchers

• Flexible and interactive• Aimed at equipping you

with the essential knowledge needed to make the best start possible

• Offered in semesters 1 & 2

Edinburgh COMPASS Programme• Orientation courses and social events for

International Postgraduate Research Students in Edinburgh

• A chance to socialise, gain an understanding of academic culture in the UK and build a network of peers from a variety of disciplines, universities and locations

• Induction Event: Wednesday 14th October• http://www.ed.ac.uk/iad/compass

University of Edinburgh International Office

Keep going…with tailored provision

Pick and choose from a wide variety of training opportunities to suit your personal needs

www.iad.ed.ac.uk

Example of IAD Courses• Preparing for Conferences – Posters and

Presentations• Project Management• Bitesize workshops – Conference and Event

Organising, Effective Slide Design• How to be an Effective Researcher• Finding Academic Literature• Statistics• Time Management• Speed Reading• Preparing for the Viva

Postgraduate-led Initiatives

• On-line journals– Experience of academic

publication & communication

• Workshops and seminars• Networking and social

events • Competitive funding is

available (IAD Researcher-led Initiative Fund)

Three Minute Thesis Competition (3MT)

• University Final June 2016• Presentation skills training available• Previous 3MT Final videos available

on University’s YouTube Channel

Contributing to policy & social impactEdinburgh Beltane• Public and policy engagement

– Skills, opportunities and contribution

• Public Engagement Network– Connections between researchers,

publics, policy makers, organisations like museums and science centres

IAD SUPPORT FOR TUTORS AND DEMONSTRATORS

We support tutors and demonstrators across the University in their teaching roles. We offer:

• Courses for new teachers on tutoring, demonstrating and marking

• Courses on developing teaching further for more experienced teachers (lecturing, supervising, one-to-one advising, designing courses)

• Support for seeking accreditation for your teaching • Online courses and resources• Individual consultation (short appointments)• Networking and social events

Other Sources of Training and Support• Careers Service• Library• Information

Services • English Language

Teaching Centre• And much, much

more….

Vitae Research www.vitae.ac.uk

What to do next…• Refer to your

Graduate School for more information

• Visit the IAD webpages

• Check details of content, target audience (year of study, discipline) and eligibility

• Consult supervisors• Ask other students• Give it a try!

All photos courtesy of our international students 2011: International Global Horizons Competition

Thanks