Graduate School Skills Programme
Dr Rachel L Hardy R.L.Hardy@warwick.ac.uk
The Graduate School Skills Programme (go.warwick.ac.uk/pgskills) has been offered to postgraduate students
since 2000 and is constantly evolving and expanding for the benefit of our postgraduate researchers at the
University and as a result of initiatives from the UK Research Councils.
The Research Councils affirm that provision of generic skills training should contribute to a student’s research,
and help in maximising research outputs, by providing skills and tools to enable PhD students to become more
effective in their research work, as well as helping their subsequent careers.
The government has provided funding through the Research Councils for individual universities to offer skills
training. The provision of generic skills training is based on the UK Research Councils ‘Joint Statement of Skills
Training Requirements of Research Postgraduates’. This statement identifies the competencies that a postgraduate
researcher should have or develop during the course of their PhD degree programme. The statement covers seven
sections: research skills and techniques, research environment, research management, personal effectiveness,
communication skills, team-working and networking skills, and career management. Each university is required
to provide annual reports with evidence that skills’ training is offered and is successful.
In the academic year 2006/7 the Graduate School Skills Programme offered PhD students across campus 58 skills
sessions. All sessions were free and open to all postgraduate researchers registered at the University of Warwick.
Over the academic year 44% of all PGRs attended at least one session.
Faculty attendance on the Programme 06/07:
Faculty
Number of PGRs
attended at least one
session
No. of PGRs in each
faculty (reported in
Academic Statistics
06/07)
% of
Faculty
PGRs
Science
235
556
42
Arts
83
133
62
Social Studies
150
379
40
Medicine
14
34
41
TOTAL
482
1102
Programme for 2007/08:
74 different sessions will be offered over the 2007/8 academic year (for full list of sessions offered see Appendix
1). Some sessions will be repeated to ensure that material is faculty-specific, and to cater for demand (based on
number of registrations in the previous academic year) making a total of 99 sessions.
A new part time programme will be introduced which will run in the evenings and on Saturdays in the hope more
part-time researchers will be able to benefit from the programme. This programme is not, however, limited to
part-time researchers and any PhD student may register for these sessions if dates and times are more convenient.
The University will also be participating in a UK Grad Midlands Hub part-time researcher workshop series that
will run throughout the year.
Online resources will also be developed and made available over the course of the year to all PGRs as another
method to cater for the needs of student based away from the University as well as part-time students.
Other activities of the Graduate School Skills Programme:
ePortfolios
An ePortfolio is a website that showcases the research, experience and professional development of a
postgraduate research student. It is owned by the student, and its development is their responsibility.
e-Lab and the Graduate School Skills Programme teams at Warwick have designed an easy-to-use template,
which will enable you to produce an ePortfolio that is world-wide accessible, professionally designed and simple
to use and update. The benefits of ePortfolios include a presence within the online academic community, a
powerful means for presenting work and making contacts, both within and beyond the University, and a focus for
personal development, e.g. recording courses attended.
For further information about ePortfolios please go to: go.warwick.ac.uk/eportfolio
Professional and Research Development (PRD)
PRD is designed for postgraduate researchers. It is aimed to help students plan a programme of research training
suited to their particular needs and to serve as a record of the skills they acquire during research at Warwick. It is
based on the Research Councils’ list of competencies that postgraduate researchers are expected to have or
develop during their research. PRD booklets can be obtained at the PhD induction event or by contacting Max
Fasipe on M.Fasipe@warwick.ac.uk The Graduate School is currently developing a web-based version and
further details will be distributed when this becomes available.
Academic Coaching
The Graduate School Programme offers academic coaching for PhD students. Once a week the academic coach
will be available in the Learning Grid for PhD students to drop in and discuss issues and receive one-to-one help
and guidance on a range of issues. Examples include: academic writing, time management, working with your
supervisor, writing literature reviews, upgrading from MPhil to PhD, preparing for your viva, and personal
development. See: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/study/csde/gsp/ac/
Annual Postgraduate Research Poster Competition
The University of Warwick Postgraduate Research Poster competition takes place in May of each year. Prizes
will be awarded and the top ten will go on to represent the University at a regional postgraduate poster
competition. For more information see: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/study/csde/gsp/postercomp/
Appendix 1: List of sessions that will be offered in 2007/8:
*= new session not offered previously
*2 day Effective Researcher Training Course (for Arts and Social Science students)
*2 day Effective Researcher Training Course (for Science and Medicine students)
Presentation and Communication
Voice Training
*An Introduction to Neuro-Linguistic
Programming for Researchers
*Debating and Public Speaking
Preparing for and Surviving your Viva
*Personal Impact and Confident Networking
Two day Presentation Course
Presenting to an Academic Audience
Preparing for the Upgrade from MPhil to PhD
*Effective PowerPoint Presentations
Negotiation
Assertiveness and Putting Your Case Across
Dealing with the Media
Research Management
*Organising References using Endnote
Health and Nutrition throughout your PhD
*Creativity for Problem Solving
*Stress Management
Cultural Awareness - In conjunction with One World
*Intellectual Property
Week
Speed Reading
Time Management and Self Motivation
* Developing and Improving Memory
Project Management
Staying Motivated to Finish – writing your
thesis
*Project Management Software
Team Development Course
*Writing Research Bids
*Literature Searching Techniques
*Managing Emotional Awareness
*How to Quickly and Efficiently Take Notes
*Risk Assessment
Poster Creation and Design
Working with your Supervisor(s)
Research Methods and IT
Qualitative Research Methods 1 – selecting the right methods
*Qualitative Research Methods 2 – transcribing and analysing data
ePortfolio Training
MATLAB Training
*Academic Writing Series
Understanding Academic Writing and the Main
Types of Postgraduate Writing
Contextualising Writing and Authorial Types
Perspectives
Elements of Structure and Organisation
Thesis Structure
Paragraph Construction: Elements and Transition
Revision, Proofreading, Editing
The Academic Writing Style and Language
Referencing and Plagiarism
The Cognitive Domain (Bloom’s Taxonomy)
Peer Editing
Developing a Critical Argument
Using Feedback Efficiently and Effectively
Reporting - Paraphrase, Summary & Synthesis
Presenting Academic Writing to Specific
Audiences
of
Grammatical Accuracy: Morphology and Syntax
Overcoming Writer's Block
Managing Research Material and Ideas
How NOT to Write
Engaging the Reader: Writing Text that is
Interesting to Read
Other Academic Writing Sessions
How to Write a Literature Review - Science and Medicine
How to Write a Literature Review - Arts and Social Studies
Writing for Publication
*The Peer Review Process
Writing a PhD Thesis - Science and Medicine
Writing a PhD Thesis - Arts and Social Studies
Career Management
Career Planning – Science and Medicine
*Employer and Alumni Networking Event
Career Planning – Arts and Social Studies
Careers Seminar 1 - Social Studies students
A Guide to Entrepreneurship
Career Seminar 2 - Science and Engineering students
Introduction to Work as a Lecturer
Succeed at Interviews – Arts and Social Studies
*Looking Beyond Academia – Sci & Eng
Succeed at Interviews – Science and Medicine
*Looking Beyond Academia – Arts & SS
Introduction to Assessment Centres
*Academic Jobs – Arts and Social Studies
Making the Most of your PhD
*Academic Jobs – Science and Medicine
*MBTI Personality Testing
*Non-Academic Careers day for Arts Faculty PhDs
*Women PhDs
*Making an Impact in Applications – Arts & SS
*Making an Impact in Applications – Sci & Eng
*Part Time Programme
Preparing for the Upgrade from MPhil to PhD
Speed Reading
ePortfolio Training
Managing a Part-time PhD
*Regional Part-time Researcher Series – UK GRAD