Research with E-Resources Week: w/b Monday 7th December

The ILS Research and Academic Liaison Teams have organised a week of workshops for staff and research students, starting on Monday 7^th December. Please book a place at the following workshops if you’re interested in:

Updating or refreshing your research skills

Advising students about key resources and services provided by ILS

Carrying out in-depth research

To book a place at any of the sessions, please email Su Fagg: s.fagg@worc.ac.uk. Refreshments will be provided.

Mon 7th Dec, 9.30 – 11.00am, EEG 023:  Widening Your Searches – Make sure you’re not missing anything.  Find out how to use resources such as the Web of Knowledge effectively.

Mon 7th Dec, 2.15 – 3.45pm, EE 1021: Spreading Your Net – Locating information from a wide range of sources including theses, research repositories and Open Access sources.

Tues 8th Dec, 10.15 – 11.45am, EE 1021: Exploring Resources in your Subject Area

Tues 8th Dec, 2.15 – 3.45pm, EE 1021: Keeping Up To Date - Use clever web tools (e.g. Google Reader, Delicious) to manage the information you really want to receive, store and share.

Weds 9th Dec, 9.30 – 11.00am, EEG 023: Open Session – What do you want to know?  Drop in with questions or for a refresher on anything already covered.

Weds 9th Dec, 2.15 – 3.45pm, PL 1002: RefWorks – Discover how to store and manage your references.

Thurs 10th Dec, 9.30 – 11.00am, EE 1021: WRap It Up – Find out how to upload your research outputs and make them visible to all researchers via the web.  Find and use Open Access sources.

Thurs 10th Dec, 2.15 – 3.45pm, EE 1021: Exploring Resources In Your Subject Area

Fri 11th Dec, 9.30 – 11.00am, PL 1002: Open Session – What do you want to know?  Drop in with questions or for a refresher on anything already covered.

Researcher development framework – consultation exercise

Vitae is developing a framework which will be a tool for planning, promoting and supporting the personal, professional and career development of researchers. It will describe knowledge, skills, behaviours and personal qualities acquired by researchers and will encourage researchers to aspire to excellence through development to a high level.

The proposed framework is an evolution of the 2001 Joint Skills Statement (JSS); whilst the JSS took a snapshot of the skills we would expect a researcher to have acquired by the end of a doctoral degree, the researcher development framework covers a longer period of the research career and broadens the range of descriptors to include skills, knowledge, behaviours, qualities and attitudes.

 The intention is that the framework will be aspirational yet realistic, offering descriptors of good researchers and identifying how an individual might progress to the next level in a given area. 

Vitae is now seeking consultation on this framework from research students, research assistants, research supervisors, research managers, Principal Investigators, and others involved in research.

Details of the framework and an opportunity to provide feedback can be found at:  http://www.vitae.ac.uk/policy-practice/165001/Researcher-development-framework-consultation.html

Graduate Research School Research Training and Development Workshops for Staff 2009-10

The 2009-10 programme of research training and development workshops for staff can be found on the GRS website here: http://www.worc.ac.uk/graduateschool/684.htm.

Please contact John-Paul Wilson (j.wilson@worc.ac.uk) if you wish to attend any of the sessions.

DON AND DUSTED: IS THE AGE OF THE SCHOLAR OVER? – EVENT AT THE BRITISH LIBRARY

Wednesday 7 October, 18:30-20:00

 The pursuit of knowledge for its own sake is viewed by some as outdated.

This event attempts to answer questions like; is evidence-based research in the humanities and social science inching out theoretical work? Is output- driven research in the sciences limiting experimentation?

This event forms part of the Battle of Ideas festival.

(http://www.battleofideas.org.uk/) and will take place at the British Library Conference Centre in collaboration with the Institute of Ideas.

 £7.50/£5 concessions

 Book tickets and further information here: http://www.bl.uk/whatson/events/event95566.html

Extrenal Training Events for Research Supervisors and Research Managers

There follows a list of upcoming training events, conferences and courses for research degree supervisors and research managers run by organisations such as Vitae, the Social Research Association, the British Library, the Society for Research in Higher Education and ARCISS.  The links take you to further details about the event/course/conference:

Tue 6 Oct  Survive or Prosper? a workshop on directing research centres

Thu 19 Oct  Vitae connections: using Vitae resources to develop the skills and careers of researchers

Fri 27 Nov  Shaping Academic Work: The Next Ten Years

Tue 15 Dec  Moving On Up – Social Mobility and Social Research

UK Council for Graduate Education EVENTS

UKCGE events for the forthcoming 2009/10 academic year…

Please follow the links (where available) for further information and bookings for each event.

20th October 2009 – Meeting the Needs of… Research Managers and Administrators – NEC, Birmingham  http://www.ukcge.ac.uk/events/eventsarea/mtnadmin.htm

9th – 10th November 2009 – International Conference on Professional Doctorates – Cavendish Conference Centre, London  http://www.ukcge.ac.uk/profdocs  (Jointly hosted with Middlesex University)

December 2009 – Latest Developments in Research Council Practice  Date and venue TBC

January 2010 – Meeting the Needs of… Doctoral Examiners  Date and venue TBC

15th February 2010 – Winter Conference 2010: The Future of the Research Degree - Diversity, Convergence, Comparability – The British Library Conference Centre, London  http://www.ukcge.ac.uk/events/eventsarea/wc10.htm

24th – 25th March 2010 – Residential Workshop 2010 – Radisson Blu, Bristol  http://www.ukcge.ac.uk/events/eventsarea/residential2010.htm

April 2010 – Meeting the Needs of… Postgraduate Taught Students  Date and venue TBC

May 2010 – Research Ethics  Date and venue TBC

June 2010 – Meeting the Needs of… International Students  Date and venue TBC

7th – 8th July 2010 – Summer Conference 2010 – St Anne’s College, Oxford  http://www.ukcge.ac.uk/events/eventsarea/sc10.htm

For further information about these and other UKCGE Events, please visit: http://www.ukcge.ac.uk/events

National Postgraduate Committee AGM – 26th August 2009

The National Postgraduate Committee is pleased to announce the Annual General Meeting of the academic year 2008/2009. 

Hosted by the National Union of Students, we will be discussing issues of National Importance to PG students, and as such any interested postgraduate, Union Sabbatical Officer or staff member is welcome. 

There is no charge to members of affiliates for attending this event.

Wednesday 26th August 2009, 10:30am – The Edge, The Endcliffe Village, 34 Endcliffes Crescent Sheffield, S10 3ED

Respond: Matt Gayle, General Secretary  matt_gayle@hotmail.com

Draft Agenda

1. Welcome and Chair Person’s Address, 2. Minutes of previous OGMs, 3. Financial Report, 4. Report from Current Officers – a. General Secretary’s Report, b. (Chair’s Report), c. NPC Scotland Report, d. Communications Officer Report, e. Equal Opportunities Officer Report, f. Project officers’ report, g. Reports from External Organizations, h. Appointed officer holders report, 5. Motions – a. Dissolution of NPC motion, 6. Elections – a. General Secretary, b. Chair, c. Treasurer, d. Conference Secretary, e. Communications Officer, f. Equal Opportunities, g. Minutes Secretary, h. 4 Project Officers, i. 2 Ordinary Members, j. 2 Members of Finance Subcommittee, k. 3 Members of constitutional Subcommittee

Explanation of Elections

All nominations should be submitted to: matt@mattgayle.cm (General Secretary)

Only authorized, registered delegates will be entitled to vote during these elections, which will occur in the order outlined on the agenda.

Deadline:  The Nominations for any of the listed Officer bearers of the National Postgraduate Committee must be submitted to the General Secretary by 8pm, 25th August 2009.

Nominations:  All nominations will require a proposer, who must be a delegate to the Annual General Meeting of the National Postgraduate Committee.  All nominations will require a seconder, who must be either a delegate, trustee or NPC Honorary member. The seconder must be from a different institution as the proposer.

Verification:  Candidates must have signed confirmation of their proposer/ or seconder if either is unable to attend the conference.

Note on General Secretary Position:  The management subcommittee has ruled, that in any event the General Secretary position will cease to be a sabbatical position as of the academic year 2009/10.

Graduate Junction WEBSITE

Connecting researchers with industry, social enterprise and each other.

The Academic Network

For all Masters, PhD and Postdoctoral researchers.  Any subject, anywhere in the world.  Use Graduate Junction to grow your own academic network and make contact with other researchers who share your research interests.

Research Profiles

Share your work with the world, create a personal research profile today.  Search for researchers to find profiles that interest you.

Group Discussion

Discuss your work with researchers from all over the world in group discussion forums.

News

Competitions

Latest Blogs

Follow what your peers are thinking by following their research blogs.

http://www.graduatejunction.com/site/index

Call for NCCPE-ESRC Research Synthesis 2009 Proposals – Deadline 31st July

Two Topics are available:

1) Widening Participation from Undergraduate to Post-graduate Research Degrees

2) Academic Promotion Criteria for Third Stream Activity

The National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) is working with the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) to commission research syntheses relevant to higher education and public engagement. The NCCPE is managing this call and welcomes applicants to address the stated topic.

Further calls will be launched on additional topics.

This synthesis will uncover and synthesise current academic literature and report on this topic. It is intended that the synthesis will outline the existing data and highlight any trends and/or gaps in existing knowledge. If justified, appropriate ‘grey’ literature may also be referenced.

Applications can be made for up to £15,000 for this synthesis, with additional funding available for outputs and dissemination, as agreed with the NCCPE and ESRC. It is anticipated that this synthesis will be conducted during the autumn of 2009. 

The final product of the synthesis will include a written synthesis report along with a PowerPoint presentation.

The deadline for applications to be submitted is 12:00 on 31 July 2009, via the University of Bristol’s e-tendering system.

All relevant documents, as well as further information, is available by registering at https://tender.bris.ac.uk/procontract/bristol/supplier.nsf/frm_home?openForm

Please contact Sandra Spencer for any enquiries at nccpe.enquiries@uwe.ac.uk

Researcher Careers and Recession: Online Discussion Space – 13th July

Join in the discussions!  www.vitae.ac.uk/careersandrecession

Anyone with an interest in the potential impacts of the recession on researcher careers is welcome to engage in the discussions.

Vitae have set up an online discussion space on researcher careers and recession.  We have dedicated this space on the website to post various articles (commissioned specifically for this space) on the topic of the recession and its potential impact on researcher careers.  Throughout this week we will be posting new articles on a daily basis.

You can make comments on the articles, raise questions and concerns and post up any useful or related web links that you want to share with others.

So far on this space we have:

‘Research and recession’ By Fiona Christie, Careers coordinator for postgraduate researchers, University of Salford

‘Challenges and perspectives for early career researchers during the current economic climate’ by Professor Sarah O’Hara, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Professor Bob Webb, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research, University of Nottingham

‘Impact of the recession on research and research careers’ By Aaron Porter, Vice-President (Higher Education), National Union of Students

Thanks in advance for your comments and feedback!

www.vitae.ac.uk/careersandrecession