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Leading the Way – Research Skills Training in the North West
Programme
About the event
Skills training for research postgraduates has been the subject of a number of recent national policy initiatives. The development of new funding regimes and the subsequent development of postgraduate skills training is now starting to be realised within Institutions. This event aims to offer the opportunity to hear of recent developments relevant to those in the North West and provide a networking opportunity.
Aims of the Event
The event will give practitioners, senior managers and PhD supervisors the opportunity to discuss policy, practice and audit of postgraduate skills training. It will offer insights from partners at a range of institutions across the North West region and will help unpick the relevant national and regional strategies affecting our work. It will provide a forum to promote collaborative approaches between higher education institutions.
Who should attend?
The event is aimed at those within the region with an interest in promoting the skills of postgraduate students. It will be of benefit to colleagues who have been working in postgraduate skills training and supervision for a number of years and those new to the agenda. In particular it will be of interest to:
- Senior policy staff in institutions
- Directors of research / graduate schools
- Postgraduate supervisors / coordinators
- Relevant academic and administrative staff
- Postgraduate trainers and careers staff
The Programme
| 9.00 – 9.30 | Registration Tea, coffee and Danish pastries will be available |
Reception Room |
| 09.30 – 9.40 | Welcome & Introduction Jane Ratchford, Champion Postgrad Talent North West |
Banqueting Hall |
| 9.45 – 10.05 | Keynote Speech 1 European Bologna update When will it be important for HEIs? What should HEIs being thinking about now? What is the position of the UK? | Banqueting Hall |
| 10.05 – 10.25 | Keynote Speech 2 Update on the planned method of assessing impact of skills training | Banqueting Hall |
| 10.25 – 10.55 | Break | Reception Room |
| 10.55 – 11.15 | Keynote Speech 3 The NW strategy in postgraduate training | Banqueting Hall |
| 11.15 – 12.00 | Open Forum Discussion | Banqueting Hall |
| 12.00 – 13.00 | Lunch | Banqueting Hall |
| 13.00 – 13.45 | Workshop Session 1 (See below) |
Various |
| 13.50 – 14.35 | Workshop Session 2 (See below) |
Various |
| 14.35 – 14.50 | Break | Reception Room |
| 13.50 – 14.35 | Workshop Session 3 (See below) |
Various |
| 15.35 – 16.00 | Workshop feedback and setting the regional agenda | Banqueting Hall |
WORKSHOP TOPICS
A. Discipline specific collaborations
- What value is there?
- What is needed?
- What networks currently exist?
- What framework would be practice for NW region?
B. Local GRADschools and collaborative training
- What's working?
- Where are the needs?
- What can be done to move forward – 3 recommendations
C. Distanced and E-learning
- What sort of services are required for postgraduate researchers?
- How to contact these groups?
- What are the specific requirements of these groups?
- What is being offered currently – good practice – post-it exercise?
D. How HEIs plan to create provision for postdocs and the value of a NW postdoctoral community
- What are the needs of postdocs vs PGRs?
- How do their needs compliment?
- What are HEIs currently doing?
- How can we effectively create a regional network? Is a regional network needed?
E. Evaluation and feedback - how do you effectively evaluate the programmes you deliver?
With the implementation of the Roberts agenda now starting to become more embedded, and with the revised QAA Code of Practice for Research Degree Programmes launched in 2005, the focus on being able to evaluate provision is becoming more important. There are broad issues around how do we as a sector demonstrate that the skills agenda is making a difference, which pick up the work of the Rugby Team (www.grad.ac.uk/nationalpolicy).
On an Institutional level its also important to be able to effectively evaluate programmes in order to ensure that they are meeting the needs of our researchers. Participants will leave this session having:
- explored external drivers for evaluation the impact of skills development (eg Roberts, QAA Code of Practice, Rugby Team etc)
- looked at various methods of evaluation and explored how they can be used
F. Research Student Experience Questionnaire
- How do HEIs assess the research student experience?
- How might a national survey add value?
- What are the key questions that must be answered?
Postgrad Talent NW is supported by the NW Regional Hub of the Research Councils’ UK GRAD Programme.
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