An overview of the development workshops that we offer at UWE for Early Career Researchers

1. Researcher Skills
Development Workshops
2011/12

3. About these Skills Development Workshops IT Training In Software Packages
At UWE, Bristol we are committed to supporting the Human Resources, through the Learning and Development
development of early career researchers throughout their Centre, offer training for all staff at UWE in the Microsoft
time here whether that be on a research degree programme Office suite of software (version 2007). Sessions on two of
or as a member of staff employed to undertake research. An the most popular packages, Managing Long Documents in
important part of this is the expectation that UWE researchers Microsoft Word & Using Microsoft Excel for Processing Data
proactively engage in skills development activities that are are listed in this brochure. Researchers also have free access
offered by Faculties/Departments and by Research, Business & to any of the IT training that Human Resources offer which
Innovation (RBI). includes courses aimed at the beginner through to more
advanced levels. Please refer to the Human Resources website.
Vitae (a national organisation supporting the career
development of researchers in UK universities) in partnership
with the UK Research Councils have published a Researcher
Development Framework (RDF) which sets out a range of
skills, knowledge, behaviours and attributes that researchers
Booking Information
should look to demonstrate as they become more For further information or to book a place on any of the
experienced. The aim of this programme is to provide, along workshops listed please contact the Research Support Service:
with subject specific training within Faculties, opportunities to E-mail: rbi.rss@uwe.ac.uk
develop those skills you may not have already acquired (see
http://www.vitae.ac.uk/rdf for detail) as well as supporting the Telephone: 0117 32 83974
community of researchers at UWE.
All of the workshops available to researchers are free of
charge and can be registered for via the RBI website:
http://rbi.uwe.ac.uk/internet/events
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4. Frequently Asked Questions 5. Are refreshments provided?
Yes, refreshments are offered as standard on all of our
1. How much does it cost to attend?
workshops. Where a workshop is offered over a whole day,
All of the workshops that we offer on the skills development we will normally offer participants vouchers for lunch to be
programme are free of charge to all postgraduate research redeemed at a university food outlet.
students and research staff.
6. Where are the workshops held?
2. Am I eligible to attend?
The majority of the workshops are held in room 3S512 within
All postgraduate research degree students (MPhil/PhD/ 'S' Block on Frenchay Campus. The IT workshops are held in
professional doctorate) and research staff are eligible to attend the Learning & Development Centre (Botetourt House) which is
the workshops. Postgraduate taught and undergraduate located on the Bristol Business Park (opposite the East entrance
students will not normally be eligible to attend. to Frenchay Campus). Please refer to the maps in this brochure
for further detail.
3. How do I book onto a workshop?
Please visit the RBI events section [http://rbi.uwe.ac.uk/intranet/ 7. How do I cancel a booking?
events/workshops.asp] for a full list of workshops offered. For If you are unable to attend a workshop after booking a place,
each event there is a link to register online, it is simple and please e-mail rbi.rss@uwe.ac.uk or telephone 0117 32 83974
quick to complete.
8. Are the skills development workshops compulsory?
4. What happens if a workshop is fully booked?
No, the skills development programme is offered as a broad
Should a workshop become fully booked, then we will operate platform of events with recognition that researchers may decide
a waiting list and inform you promptly if a space becomes what is appropriate to meet their individual training needs.
available. Should there be sufficient demand, a repeat
workshop may be commissioned.
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5. 9. Do the workshops offered count toward the research a result the UK Research Councils set out a range of skills
degree credit requirement? and abilities that they would expect all research students to
The workshops offered are not credit bearing although some demonstrate by the time they complete their studies, not just
faculties have structures that can account for attendance for to enhance their degree programme, but also to improve their
the purposes of research degree credit requirement. employability, regardless of their career path. These skills and
abilities were set out in the RCUK Joint Statement on Skills
10. Who designs and delivers the workshops? (2001).
The workshops are designed by the Researcher Skills More recently, a comprehensive Researcher Development
Development Officer, Dr. Paul Spencer, who has experience of Framework (RDF) has been published by Vitae, a national
completing a research degree at UWE as well as designing and organisation that promotes researcher development, describing
delivering generic skills development events. Some workshops the knowledge, behaviours and attributes of effective and
are delivered by external experts with the remainder being highly skilled researchers appropriate for a wide range of
delivered by experts from within UWE. careers.
11. Why does UWE offer a skills development In recognition of the broader range of skills and abilities that
should be enhanced, RBI offer a skills development programme
programme?
across the whole university with the focus on the transferable
The nature of undertaking a higher degree by research has and/or generic elements to support the subject specific
changed in recent years as a result of a national review of provision within faculties. This ensures that at UWE all areas of
the provision of postgraduate research programmes (“SET the Researcher Development Framework are addressed.
for Success” report, Sir Gareth Roberts), there is now further
emphasis on the development of research skills as part of
a research degree as well as the production of a thesis. As
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6. 12. How/where can I find out more?
Research, Business and Innovation (RBI)
More information about the support that Research, Business &
Innovation offer UWE researchers can be found on this website:
http://rbi.uwe.ac.uk/intranet/research/
Vitae – Researcher Development Organisation
Vitae is a national organisation championing the personal,
professional and career development of doctoral researchers
and research staff in higher education institutions and research
institutes. Vitae provides resources, advice, information and fora
for individual postgraduate researchers and members of research
staff who are interested in their professional development and
careers http://www.vitae.ac.uk
Research Councils UK
Research Councils UK (RCUK) is a strategic partnership between
the seven UK Research Councils. RCUK was established in 2002
to enable the Councils to work together more effectively to
enhance the overall impact and effectiveness of their research,
training and innovation activities, contributing to the delivery of
the Government’s objectives for science and innovation.
http://www.rcuk.ac.uk
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7. Researcher Development Framework (RDF)
Researcher Development Framework is a tool for planning,
promoting and supporting the personal, professional and career
development of researchers in higher education. It describes the
knowledge, skills, behaviours and personal qualities of researchers
and encourages them to aspire to excellence through achieving
higher levels of development. It details, for different stages of
researchers’ careers, the competencies that they might aspire to.
The RDF was created from empirical data, collected through
interviewing researchers, to identify the characteristics of excellent
researchers expressed in the RDF as ‘descriptors'. The descriptors
are structured in four domains and twelve sub-domains,
encompassing the knowledge, intellectual abilities, techniques
and professional standards to do research, as well as the personal
qualities, knowledge and skills to work with others and ensure
the wider impact of research. Each of the sixty-three descriptors
contains between three to five phases, representing distinct
stages of development or level of performance within
that descriptor.
The RDF provides a comprehensive underpinning for a
professional development tool that Vitae have developed for
researchers to audit their own skills, knowledge, attributes and
behaviours against those set out on the RDF. It can be accessed http://www.vitae.ac.uk/policy-practice/234301/
from the Vitae website http://www.vitae.ac.uk/rdf Researcher-Development-Framework.html
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8. Workshops at a Glance
Engagement Influence + Impact Knowledge + Intellectual Abilities
The knowledge and skills to work with others The knowledge, intellectual abilities and
and ensure the wider impact of research. techniques to do research
Research Student Welcome Event Nvivo 9
Thursday 06 October 2011, 16:00-19:30, Friday 14 and 21 October, 2011, Thursday 09 and Friday 10
Room 3S512, Frenchay campus February 2012, Thursday 29 and Friday 30 March 2012, 09:30 -
16:30, IT Training room 1, Botetourt House, Bristol Business Park
Perfect Posters
The Progression Exam
Tuesday 15 November 2011 and Tuesday 08 May 2012,
Monday 24 October 2011, Monday 30 January 2012,
09:30-12:30, Room 3S512, Frenchay campus
09:30-12:30 and Monday 30 April 2012, 09:30-12:30,
The Digital Researcher Room 3S512, Frenchay campus
Wednesday 01 February 2012, 09:30-16:30, Writing Up Your Thesis
Room 3S512, Frenchay campus Monday 31 October 2011 and Monday 19 March 2012,
The Art and Science of Communication 09:30-12:30, Room 3S512, Frenchay campus
Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 February 2012, The Final Viva
09:30-16:30, Room 3S512, Frenchay campus Monday 31 October 2011 and Monday 19 March 2012,
First Steps to Small Group Teaching 13:30-16:30, Room 3S512, Frenchay campus
Wednesday 16 May 2012, 09:30-16:30 Managing Long Documents in Microsoft Word 2007
Wednesday 16 November 2011 and Wednesday 07 March
Managing Working Relationships
2012, IT Training room 1, Botetourt House, Bristol Business Park
Monday 14 May 2012, 09:30-16:30,
Room 3S512, Frenchay campus Using Microsoft Excel 2007 to Process Data
Wednesday 23 November 2011 and Wednesday 14 March
2012, IT Training room 1, Botetourt House, Bristol Business Park
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9. Research Governance + Organisation Personal Effectiveness
The knowledge of the standards, requirements The personal qualities and approach
and professionalism to do research to be an effective researcher
The Beginners’ Guide to the Research Degree Researchers’ Forum
Tuesday 18 October 2010, 09:30-16:30, Room 3S512, Friday 30 September 2011, Frome, ECC
Frenchay campus The Effective Researcher
Getting Published, Strategies for Successful Researchers Friday 18 November 2011, 09:30-16:30, Room 3S512,
Wednesday 29 February 2012, 09:30-12:30, Room 3S512, Frenchay campus
Frenchay campus The Effective Part time Researcher
Project Management in a Nutshell Saturday 19 November 2011, 09:30-16:30, Room 3S512,
Tuesday 22 May 2012, 09:30-12:30, Room 3S512, Frenchay campus
Frenchay campus The Common Good: Spotlight on Social Enterprise
Future Directions Wednesday 08 February 2012, 09:30-16:30, Room 3S512,
Tuesday 29 May 2012, 09:30-16:30, Room 3S512, Frenchay campus
Frenchay campus How to Win Funds and Influence People
Thursday 22 March 2012, 09:30-16:30, Room 3S512,
Frenchay campus
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10. Researchers’ Forum • Identifying audiences for your research beyond the
The UWE Researchers’ Forum is an important platform for all immediately obvious
staff for whom promotion issues are dealt with through the • Planning to do something with what has been learned.
Research Grade and Progression Group, including Research
Friday 30 September 2011, 09:30 - 16:00, Frome, UWE
Associates, Research Fellows etc. and provides a platform to
Exhibition & Conference Centre
run development events specifically for research staff to support
their career aspirations.
The September forum will focus on increasing your impact as a
researcher by managing your profile and getting your research
Research Student Welcome Event
noticed. This popular event is being held on the Frenchay Campus and
is designed to provide recently registered research students
The way you present yourself and the impact this has with an overview of the institutional support that is available
(including verbal and non-verbal communication, confidence, throughout their research degree programmes. The event is
assertiveness, energy and self-esteem) informal and focuses on providing new researchers with the
• Separating self-promotion from profile-raising; how to opportunity to socialise with their peer group from across the
speak with energy about your research without sounding whole University. The event will cover the following
like an unappealing show-off • A welcome and introduction to UWE from the Graduate
• Engaging people with your research by making it School Director
understandable, memorable and exciting in conversations • A chance to hear from current research students
(including story-telling and choice of language)
• A guide to the support available to research students
• Exploring the impact your research has and how you can
• A social event with a buffet in the Street Cafe
get this across in your formal and informal communications
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11. All UWE research students who are within their first 6 months The Beginners’ Guide to the Research Degree
of registration are encouraged to attend. This workshop is aimed at research students who are in the
Wednesday 05 October 2011, 16:00 - 19:30, Room 3S512, early stages of the research degree. The workshop will present
S Block, Frenchay Campus an overview of the research degree programme at UWE and
will include advice on planning your research project, applying
for ethical approval and arrangements for protecting intellectual
property generated.
NVivo 9: Software for Qualitative Data Analysis
Tuesday 18 October 2011, 09:30 - 16:30, Room 3S512,
This software package for computer assisted qualitative data
S Block, Frenchay Campus
analysis is widely used at UWE, Bristol and an institutional
licence for its use is held. The aim of these sessions are to
provide participants with an overview of the potential of
the software and an idea of its long-term usage, whilst also The Progression Exam
providing a grounding in the basic tools and tasks which are This workshop aims to explain the regulations surrounding
most often used in a real project. this important hurdle in the research degree process to better
Friday 14 and 21 October, 2011, Thursday 09 and Friday enable research students to navigate it successfully by providing
10 February 2012, Thursday 29 and Friday 30 March 2012, hints & tips on putting together the written element and
09:30 – 16:30, IT Training room 1, Botetourt House, Bristol preparation for the oral examination.
Business Park Monday 24 October 2011, Monday 30 January 2012
and Monday 30 April 2012, 09:30 – 12:30, Room 3S512,
S Block, Frenchay campus
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12. Managing Long Documents in Microsoft Word 2007 Using Microsoft Excel 2007 to Process Data
A workshop concentrating on using advanced facilities Microsoft Excel provides a number of tools for data processing,
in Microsoft Word such as master documents, outlining, suitable for small-scale surveys or any kind of research data. If
referencing and indexing to keep your thesis well organised and you are looking for a simpler alternative to a major database
easy to manage. Suitable for all research students who have an application, then this is likely to provide everything you
intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Word. need. Suitable for all research students with an intermediate
knowledge of Microsoft Excel.
Wednesday 16 November 2011 and Wednesday 07
March 2012, 09:30 - 12:30, IT Training Room 1, Botetourt Wednesday 23 November 2011 and Wednesday 14
House, Bristol Business Park (opposite Frenchay Campus March 2012, 09:30 – 12:30, IT Training Room 1, Botetourt
entrance). House, Bristol Business Park (opposite Frenchay Campus
entrance).
Writing Up Your Thesis
This popular workshop is aimed at focusing on the problems The Final Viva Examination
of organising material, overcoming writer’s block and useful Advice on preparing for the final viva voce examination and its
techniques for getting the writing done. Suitable for students in aftermath, with plenty of opportunity for asking questions. Suitable
mid-term or later stages of their research degree programmes. for students who are preparing for the final stages of their study.
Monday 31 October 2011 and Monday 19 March 2012, Monday 31 October 2011 and Monday 19 March 2012,
09:30 – 12:30, Room 3S512, S Block, Frenchay campus 13:30 – 16:30, Room 3S512, S Block, Frenchay campus
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13. Perfect Posters and working styles in a format that is both attractive and useful
This workshop will explore how to effectively communicate to a large number of researchers.
your research in the form of a poster. We will be looking at Friday 18 November 2011, 09:30 – 16:30, Room 3S512, S
visual communication and why presenting a poster is different Block, Frenchay campus
to writing a research paper or giving an oral presentation.
Participants will have the chance to discuss hints and tips for
designing posters that maximise impact.
The Effective Part Time Researcher
Tuesday 15 November 2011 and Tuesday 08 May 2012,
This one day programme is aimed at those 6-18 months into
09:30 – 12:30, Room 3S512, S Block, Frenchay campus
their Part-time PhD or professional doctorate. It has been
designed with the needs of those who are balancing doctoral
studies with a wider set of professional and/or home life
The Effective Researcher Programme commitments in mind and is a good opportunity to share
experiences, good practice and strategies for managing the
This intensive workshop is designed to address the needs of
process of the research and will cover:
researchers who are new to the challenges of undertaking a
research project with the aim of increasing confidence in project • Facilitated activities and discussion to enable participants to
management and managing the relationship with a research talk about their research, the process they are involved in,
supervisor. Specifically the workshop is designed to provide their skills development and to share good practice.
participants with an opportunity to build their understanding,
• 'Making the PhD fit with the rest of my life' a mix of small
skills and confidence in communication, planning, time
group and individual exercises designed to elicit how people
management, problem solving, leadership and assertiveness, as
manage priorities, how they make their research happen and
well as building a greater self-awareness of individual’s learning
to share tips and experiences on how they 'get it all done'.
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14. • Sharing the experience of someone who has completed The Common Good: spotlight on Social enterprise
their doctoral studies part-time and the supervisor Social enterprises are businesses that do things differently, they
perspective. trade goods and services in a way that adds or creates social
• Exploring the role of an academic supervisor for a part-time value; in fact the social or environmental aims of the business
researcher. are of equal importance to its commercial activities. This
added value comes from the way social enterprises use profits
Saturday 19 November 2011, 09:30 – 16:30, Room 3S512, to maximise social, community or environmental benefits.
S Block, Frenchay campus This workshop has been designed to allow participants to
find out more about these innovative organisations, hearing
from inspirational people who have successfully started these
ventures and allowing participants to explore some of their own
Digital Researcher
creative solutions to social and environmental challenges in a
Social media is booming. You can now find user generated way that provides the opportunity to consider social enterprise
content in just about all spheres of life; politics, music, history, as a possible outlet for the skills that researchers typically
you name it and it can be found. What about the field of develop.
academic research? Are the critics right to sneer at social media
as being trivial time-wasting activities or could there be a real Wednesday 08 February 2012, 09:30 – 16:30, Room 3S512,
benefit to the researchers who do engage using more of the S Block, Frenchay campus
tools at their disposal? This hands on interactive workshop
will allow researchers to explore the use of social media tools
with a view to improving their practice in an academic research
context.
Wednesday 01 February 2012, 09:30 – 16:30, Room TBC,
S Block, Frenchay campus
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15. The Art and Science of Communication communication can result in being quantified as compelling.
It is easy to quantify someone with a great proficiency in Piero Vitelli, Island 41 Ltd
athletics, performance or industry. What we grade is the Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 February 2012,
difference in levels of skill, application and result. Applying the 09:30 – 16:30, Room 3S512, S Block, Frenchay campus
same logic to how we communicate might not seem useful
given that it is something that we have all done since the day
we were born, but this course argues that communication is a
behaviour rather than a skill. It is a deliberately chosen response Getting Published, Strategies for Successful
to the environment in which we find ourselves, and one that if Researchers
done without conscious effort is little more than a reflex. If our This workshop aims to explore the common strategies employed
argument is valid, it stands to reason that a conscious behaviour by researchers in engaging with public output of their research.
can be far more effective and potentially less harmful than a It will cover topics such as who one should write for, which
habitual response to external stimuli. journals to target, ensuring compliance with author guidelines
This is a two-day course designed to provide an environment in and publication ethics.
which participants practise shaping communication in order to Wednesday 29 February 2012, 09:30-12:30, Room 3S512,
disseminate their work in a variety of settings, whether traditional S Block, Frenchay campus
or incidental. Topics explored such as impact, involvement and
engagement will help participants build their confidence through
experimentation, discussion and feedback.
This course responds to the current climate of austerity by
being unapologetically content-rich and time-poor, and aims
to prove that there is much to be gained by learning to control
levels of skill, aptitude and application that will mean conscious
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16. How to Win Funds and Influence People First Steps to Small Group Teaching
Understanding how research attracts funding is key to Early Career Researchers often take on some kind of teaching
progressing in a research career. This workshop has been role alongside their research whether leading a seminar,
designed to give participants an opportunity to learn about demonstrating practical aspects of science courses, assisting
how research is funded in the UK, to practice putting together with field trips or standing in front of a class to lecture.
a collaborative bid for research funds, to become aware of the However few researchers have had the opportunity to learn
need to understand the costing of projects and to understand or develop an understanding of the pedagogy that underpins
why making connections with others is instrumental in effective delivery in these roles. This workshop is designed to
achieving success in a competitive funding environment. introduce researchers to the basic elements of learning and
teaching that will help them to build confidence in teaching
Thursday 22 March 2012, 09:30-16:30, Room 3S512,
others.
S Block, Frenchay campus
Wednesday 16 May 2012, 09:30 – 16:30, Room 3S512,
S Block, Frenchay campus
Managing Working Relationships
Have you ever wondered why some people can seem so easy to
get on with while others take more of an effort, or why some
people seem to speak your language while others are alien to
you? The cause might be no more than the fact that you and
they are motivated by different innate preferences. This session
aims to explore these different preferences using a tool called
Myers-Briggs Type Indicators (MBTI) in a fun and interactive way.
Monday 14 May 2012, 09:30-16:30, Room 32512, S Block,
Frenchay campus
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17. Project Management in a Nutshell Future directions
Projects are about delivering specific pieces of work. These can Researchers acquire a broad set of skills and competencies
range from short reports on a specific topic to multimillion- as a consequence of the projects or work they undertake.
pound construction projects. The techniques that are used Understanding these competencies and being able to describe
to manage projects are applicable to projects in any field. them is the challenge that many of us face especially when
This session aims to introduce project management tools seeking employment. This workshop has been designed to
and techniques with a broad perspective but many of the help researchers understand the value of the skills and provide
activities will be focussed on your individual projects. The skills opportunities for researchers to consider the future direction
introduced within this session are important transferable skills as that they could take.
project management is a core competence for many industries.
Tuesday 29 May 2012, 09:30-16:30, room 3S512, S Block,
This workshop has been designed to guide participants through Frenchay campus
the fundamental principles of project management and
de-mystifying the associated jargon along the way.
Tuesday 22 May 2012, 09:30-12:30, Room 3S512, S Block,
Frenchay campus
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18. Careers Advice and Support Library Services
The UWE Careers Service offers a range of services to Library services offers support for researchers at each stage of
postgraduate research students including: their research, and throughout research careers.
• Information about job and career options As well as a Library on each campus, with the main Library at
Frenchay open 24/7 in term time, the university has access to a
• Individual advice and guidance
huge range of books and journals online. We also offer:
• Help with planning and managing your career
• Librarians with knowledge and expertise in your subject
• Help with job applications – drawing up your CV/application plus support from Research and Knowledge Exchange
form, preparing for interviews Librarians
• Anywhere, anytime access to databases for your subject and
• Workshop sessions by arrangement on various aspects of
for research methodologies
career planning and applications
• Support in accessing those hard to find references
The CDU offers short appointments, which are bookable on
• UWE's Research Repository and information about open
the day, and longer appointments by arrangement. They will
access publishing
respond promptly to telephone and email enquiries, and also
offer support to students and graduates for up to 3 years • Help with organising your references and creating
after leaving the University. For full details of their services at bibliographies
Frenchay and other campuses see www.uwe.ac.uk/careers • Web based guidance relating to journal impact factors and
getting published
• Guidance on accessing and using other libraries
More information is on the Library web pages at
http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/library or you can e-mail the R&KE
Librarians at lib.rke@uwe.ac.uk
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19. Pedestrian entrance
from Frenchay Campus
Cycle route to
Lockleaze
Bolland
Library
Felixstowe
Court
Booking details P
8
4 6
For further information or to book a place online please visit: Restaurant
5
Octagon
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http://rbi.uwe.ac.uk/internet/events 7 ‘Building 2’
B D
S C E
Wallscourt Farmhouse
Or contact us directly: B
F
A
E-mail rbi.rss@uwe.ac.uk
Pedestrian entrance
from Frenchay Campus L
19b
N
Telephone 0117 32 83974 Cycle route to
3 19c K H G M
Centre for
Lockleaze
Fax 0117 32 82688 Performing Arts Bolland
Library
(PR01, PR02) Felixstowe
Court
9
19a
10
J
P
8
4 6
Octagon 1 R
Bus stops
5
7 15
2
Brecon Court
B D
Q
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S C E
Northavon
All-weather
House
B 11 pitch
Research, Business and Innovation A
19b
L
F
Carroll
Health
Centre
Cotswold Court
(HEFCE) Halley
Nursery
N
Court
3 19c K G M
Centre for H
Frenchay Campus
Centre
Performing Arts
(PR01, PR02) 19a Main
for
Gatehouse
A4174 Filton Road
J Sport
Mendip Court Entrance
Coldharbour Lane
1 Bus stops Quantock Court
2
17
n
Northavo
House
(HEFCE)
Estates Co
Bristol BS16 1QY
Halley
Nursery
Cycle route to Office
Main Gatehouse
Glenside/St Matthias Entrance
Stoke Lane
ou r Lane Wallscourt
harb
Estates Cold House
(Building 435) Traffic lights
Cycle route to
Glenside/St Matthias
Office
Stoke Lane Second Botetourt
House
Second
Entrance/Exit (Building 640)
Entrance/Exit
All workshops are free of charge to research students. To Glenside, St Matthias
Campus and Frenchay Hospital To Glenside, St Matthias
Campus and Frenchay Hospital
to Jnct 1 M32
and City Centre
The Gardens
Du Pont
Building
The Gardens
Building 650 Du Po
Key
Car park (staff car parks are barrier controlled)
Buildi
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Walkways/cycle paths
Disabled parking Accessible lift
Information Showers
Key
Car park (staff car parks are barrier controlled)
20
Walkways/cycle paths
Disabled parking Accessible lift
Information Showers

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