The Graduate College Training Programme for the academic year 2023/24 will be delivered as:
Please register for the sessions that have a booking button.
All the Faculties Doctoral Training Programmes can be accessed from the Graduate College Research Student Training Moodle Page.
Each semester we run a series of short training sessions that introduce researchers to the key ideas in the topics that we support, with some talks led by experts from elsewhere in the Library and other professional services. Training includes such topics as Open Access, Publishing Journal Articles, Read & Publish agreements, Copyright in Scholarship, ORCID & other Persistent Identifiers, and Research Metrics.
To see all the sessions for this Semester, please click on 'Book your place'.
Date and time: Wednesday 11 October, 11:00 to 12:30
Location: Online via Google Meet Conferencing - Google invitations will be sent out to all those who have registered for the session.
Presenter: Lauren Morry, Research Ethics Officer.
Any research project that involves the study of humans (even simply interviewing human subjects) or examination of biological samples (such as blood or tissue samples) taken from humans cannot begin without specific Ethics Committee permission. This session explains how to apply for permission through UREC, the University's Research Ethics Committee. It is essential for anyone who is likely to be working with human subjects or materials and may be of general interest to others.
Date and time: Thursday 26 October 2023, 13:00 to 14:00
Format: Access to 2 short training videos, 1 month in advance. One hour informal online Q&A meeting with Knowledge Exchange Manager.
Presenter: Ashley Ritchie, Knowledge Exchange Manager.
Description: What is Knowledge Exchange (KE)? How do you undertake it? What does it consist of? What are the benefits of undertaking Knowledge Exchange?
In this session, we will provide a broad overview of Knowledge Exchange and the myriad of opportunities available at Oxford Brookes and how these relate to career development and institutional metrics like the Research Excellence Framework (REF) and Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF).
Training materials will also provide an introduction to the Research, Innovation & Knowledge Exchange (RIKE) Networks.
Date and time: 31 October 2023, 12:00 to 13:00.
Format: Online via Zoom - the link will be sent out to all those who registered for this session.
Presenter: Professor Susan Brooks, Director of Researcher Development
Description: A research degree is a training programme – in how to do research, but also in a broad range of transferable and professional skills. Many research students aspire to a career in research and academia, but the reality is that most will ultimately take their high value skills into a range of other well-rewarded and satisfying careers. Either way, a research degree is a unique opportunity to not only immerse yourself in a subject that you are passionately interested in and carry out some original research, but also to push your boundaries, have some great experiences, acquire a broad range of skills, network and have fun. In this session, we will consider the top ten things you should make sure that you do to make the most of your research degree, and to best position yourself for the career that you want.
Date and time: Wednesday 8 November 2023, 13:00 to 15:00
Format: 2 hour online workshop led by Knowledge Exchange Manager
Presenter: Ashley Ritchie, Knowledge Exchange Manager
Description: In this session, we will explore how we can use our knowledge and expertise to improve businesses, organisations, charities, and other bodies through the use of consultancy, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) or Contract Research. We will look at what consultancy, CPD and Contract Research is, the university's expectations, how to recognize potential opportunities, how projects are delivered, the use of Academic Trust Funds and costings.
Date and time: Tuesday 21 November 2023, 12:00 to 13:00
Location: Online via Google Meet Conferencing.
Presenter: Helen Whittaker.
Description: An exploration of the most effective methods of searching, discovering and accessing information for your research. The session will include an overview of research tools and services available via the Library, as well as techniques for getting the best from them. Discover key resources for keeping up-to-date and refresh and enhance your search skills.
Date and time: Wednesday 22 November 2023, 13:00 to 15:00 (bookings will close at 17:00 on Tuesday 21 November).
Location: Online via Google Meet Conferencing - invitations will be sent out to all those who have registered for the session.
Presenter: Professor Susan Brooks, Director of Researcher Development.
Description: One of the key skills to successfully completing a research degree is good time management. The research student needs to balance the many facets of their programme with the many other things going on in their lives, meet multiple and complex deadlines, and finally submit their thesis on time. It is quite a juggling act! And it can be very stressful trying to get everything right. This very practical session looks at the research degree as a 'project' and explores strategies for managing that project. This includes using your time effectively to 'work smarter rather than harder' and to achieve a good 'work-life balance', reducing your stress in the process. Good time management will help you finish your research degree successfully. In addition, it is a very valuable 'transferable skill' in the workplace and will help you get the most out of all aspects of your life.
Date and time: Wednesday 22 November, 12:00 to 13:00
Format: 1 hour online interactive workshop facilitated by Co-Lead of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Research, Innovation & Knowledge Exchange (RIKE) Network (EDIN)
Presenter: Dr Sola Adesola, Co-Lead of the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Research, Innovation & Knowledge Exchange (RIKE) Network (EDIN).
Description: This workshop will inform, guide and influence participants to key best practices in bringing due considerations of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) to research methods and strategy.
On Demand: Pre-recorded materials can be downloaded anytime from the Graduate College Research Student training Moodle course. Please note that you will need to be logged in to your Moodle account to access these files.
Produced by: Professor Susan Brooks, Director of Researcher Development.
Most students find the idea of the viva rather scary! This session is aimed at all those who will be facing their viva in the near future, but may also be helpful to research students at earlier stages in their studies, who are not sure what is involved. It clarifies what the University regulations say is required. It also demystifies the process by outlining what is going on behind the scenes, what the examiners are looking for and what procedures they are following. It also provides practical and useful advice about what you can do to make the process as painless and successful as possible.
Date and time: Wednesday 29 November 2023, 12:00 to 13:00 - Session cancelled due to illness
Location: Online via Google Meet Conferencing.
Presenter: Helen Whittaker.
Description: Managing information overload - this session provides an introduction to EndNote, a reference management service. Find out how to collect, store and manage your references efficiently and effectively using EndNote. Discover how to use EndNote with many databases and library catalogues to transfer references into your EndNote library and create bibliographies or reference lists formatted in the style of your choice. The session will also include tips on citing your references correctly.
Date and time: Wednesday 29 November 2023, 11:00 to 12:30
Format: 1.5 hour online interactive workshop led by Knowledge Exchange Manager
Presenter: Ashley Ritchie, Knowledge Exchange Manager
Description: Would you like to use social media to promote your research or engage with publics? Do you already use social media for your research but would like to better utilise these tools or increase your reach and impact? Join the Knowledge Exchange team for this interactive workshop to upskill and gain confidence in getting social media to work for you.
Date and time: Tuesday 5 December 2023, 11:00 to 12:30 (bookings will close at 17:00 on Monday 4 December).
Location: Online via Google Meet Conferencing - invitations will be sent out to all those who have registered for the session.
Presenter: Professor Susan Brooks, Director of Researcher Development.
Description: It is never too early to start thinking about writing your thesis and many students find the idea extremely daunting. While this session is particularly helpful for those about to begin or are in the midst of writing, it may also be helpful to research students at every stage of their studies. It is always good to know what you are aiming for! The session clarifies what the University regulations say is required and provides hints and tips for successful and timely completion. It is an opportunity to ask questions and get some impartial advice as well as sharing experiences and concerns with other research students.
Date and time: Wednesday 6 December 2023, 12:00 to 13:00.
Format: Access to a short training video will be released 1 month in advance of the 1 hour online live Q & A with IP & Commercialisation Manager.
Presenter: Dr Ed Cole, IP and Commercialisation Manager.
In this session, you will learn the essentials of Intellectual Property (IP), how to identify the various forms of IP, how they can be protected and what to do when you have ideas that you think are commercialisable. training will cover copyright; patents, designs and trade marks; IP policy and support.
Presenter: Annette Whitehall, Mental Health and Student Support, Oxford Brookes University
Description: This workshop will look at:
Date and time: Friday 15 December 2023, 12:30 to 13:30
Format: 1 hour online workshop led by Co-Director of Centre for Diversity Policy Research & Practice
Presenter: Dr Charikleia Tzanakou, Co-Director of the Centre for Diversity Policy Research & Practice.
Description: This introductory session will explore why it is important to take a gender dimension into account in research and innovation. Only by fully integrating the gender dimension in research and innovation can we maximise excellence, creativity, economic opportunities, and societal relevance. While the focus is on gender, we consider gender as a starting point to understand how different lenses can provide new ways of thinking about our research, leading to innovative findings and insights.
This workshop will help increase your understanding of applying a gender lens to research and how gender intersects with other inequalities (e.g. age, class). It will introduce you to tools to embed gender and other intersectional lenses in the research lifecycle.
Date and time: Wednesday 31 January 2024, 11:00 to 13:00
Format: 2 hour interactive online workshop led by Public Engagement & Outreach Lead, incorporating the News & Media Team.
Presenter: Professor Anna Nekaris, Public Engagement & Outreach Lead.
Description: The Public Engagement Network (PEN) at Oxford Brookes offers researchers opportunities and support to help you incorporate public engagement activities and assessment into your research. In this workshop we will introduce you to the opportunities available from PEN, as well as navigate you through your own research, through a series of activities, with an aim of helping you to develop a personal public engagement strategy.
The workshop will also include an overview of the role of the University's News and Media Team in publicising a story, through press release, website article and social media posts.
Date and time: Tuesday 6 February 2024, 13:00 to 14:00
Location: Live Online via Google Meet Conferencing, invitations will be sent to all those who book this session.
Presenter: Helen Whittaker, Academic Liaison Team Leader.
Description: Keeping up to date with the huge amount of information available to you can be overwhelming and challenging. This session provides tips and strategies for staying current in your area of research and managing your information. We will also look at key current awareness resources and tools.
Date and time: Wednesday 7 February 2024, 13:00 to 14:00.
Format: Access to short training video, 1 month in advance. 1 hour informal online Q&A meeting with expert panel
Presenter: Ashley Ritchie, Knowledge Exchange Manager
Description: A Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) is a unique three-way collaboration funded by both Innovate UK and an industrial partner that brings together University academics, a qualified graduate, and an ambitious industry partner to accelerate strategic innovation and growth. In this session, we will look at what a KTP is, how it is funded, how the programme works, how you can get involved, and demystify this unique funding opportunity.
The expert panel will comprise the Knowledge Exchange Manager, KTP Manager and KTP Co-ordinator.
Date and time: Wednesday 6 March 2024, 11:00 to 13:00
Format: 2 hour interactive online workshop led by Public Engagement & Outreach Lead
Presenter: Professor Anna Nekaris, University Public Engagement and Outreach Lead.
Description: This online workshop will comprise presentations, activities, ideas and analyses for how to assess your Public Engagement activities. Ranging from interviews to questionnaires to creative ways you may not have thought of before, this session can help you measure the impact of your research.
Date and time: Wednesday 20 March 2024, 10:00 to 11:30 (bookings will close at 17:00 on Tuesday 19 March).
Location: Online via Google Meet Conferencing - Google invitations will be sent out to all those who have registered for the session.
Presenter: Lauren Morry, Research Ethics Officer.
Any research project that involves the study of humans (even simply interviewing human subjects) or examination of biological samples (such as blood or tissue samples) taken from humans cannot begin without specific Ethics Committee permission. This session explains how to apply for permission through UREC, the University's Research Ethics Committee. It is essential for anyone who is likely to be working with human subjects or materials and may be of general interest to others.
Date and time: Wednesday 20 March 2024, 16:00 to 17:00 (bookings will close at 17:00 on Tuesday 19 March).
Location: Online via Google Meet Conferencing, invitations will be sent to all those who book this session.
Presenter: Professor Susan Brooks, Director of Researcher Development.
Description: Many research students will have the opportunity to attend - and perhaps to present their work - at a conference. Conferences are a brilliant venue for raising your profile as a researcher and for networking, and it is really important that you make the most of the opportunity. In this presentation, we consider how to make the most of conferences and the opportunities they offer, including strategies for effective networking while you are there.
Date and time: Wednesday 10 April 2024, 13:00 to 14:00 (bookings will close at 17:00 on Tuesday 9 April).
Location: Online via Google Meet Conferencing, invitations will be sent to all those who book this session.
Presenter: Professor Susan Brooks, Director of Researcher Development.
Description: During your research degree, your Director of Studies is one of the most important people in your life and maintaining a good relationship with them and your supervisory team may be key to your success. In this session, we share aspects of good practice in maintaining a positive, useful and supportive relationship with your supervisors and getting the most out of them. We also explore strategies for what to do if things go wrong.
Presenter: Annette Whitehall, Mental Health and Student Support, Oxford Brookes University
Description: This workshop will look at:
On Demand: Pre-recorded materials can be downloaded anytime from the Graduate College Research Student training Moodle course. Please note that you will need to be logged in to your Moodle account to access these files.
Produced by: Professor Susan Brooks, Director of Researcher Development.
Description: Having a strong publication record is crucial for academic success. In this presentation we will consider the range of skills you will need to successfully publish your research findings, from choosing the right publishing platform to producing a polished and professional manuscript. We will consider the value of getting, and responding to feedback on your writing, and suggest practical ways in which you find the time, space and motivation to focus on your writing.
Date and time: Wednesday 24 April 2024, 13:00 to 14:00
Location: Online via Google Meet Conferencing.
Presenter: Helen Whittaker.
Description: Managing information overload - this session provides an introduction to EndNote, a reference management service. Find out how to collect, store and manage your references efficiently and effectively using EndNote. Discover how to use Endnote with many databases and library catalogues to transfer references into your EndNote library and create bibliographies or reference lists formatted in the style of your choice. The session will also include tips on citing your references correctly.
On Demand: Pre-recorded materials can be downloaded anytime from the Graduate College Research Student training Moodle course. Please note that you will need to be logged in to your Moodle account to access these files.
Produced by: Professor Susan Brooks, Director of Researcher Development.
Description: Whatever your discipline, you will keep records of your research and be required to produce a 'data management plan' for registration. In this presentation we consider the many different types of research records and 'data' that you might generate, and how you can plan carefully to capture, store and manage the outputs of your research throughout the lifecycle of your project.
Date and time: Thursday 2 May 2024, 12:00 to 13:30.
Location: Live workshop via Google Meet.
Presenter: Professor Tina Miller (University Impact Champion) and Lauren MacIntyre (University Impact Manager)
Description: In this session we will introduce you to Impact, what it is and how you might think about building impact into your own research plans. The session will include examples of doing impact and bringing about a change through your research/research findings. Join Professor Tina Miller (University Impact Champion) and Lauren MacIntyre (University Impact Manager) for this interactive session.
Date and time: Thursday 9 May 2024, 11:00 to 12:00.
Location: Live workshop via Zoom.
Presenter: Professor Linda King, Pro Vice Chancellor - Research & Global Partnerships.
The Researcher Development team would like to invite research students to join the following Research-Only Staff Network themed meeting.
These meeting are an opportunity to network with our Research-Only Staff (e.g. Research Assistants, Research Fellows) from across the University and to find out more about an important research topic, with an opportunity for questions.
Date and time: Tuesday 28 May 2024, 12:00 to 13:30 (bookings will close at 17:00 on Monday 27 May).
Location: Live online session via Google Meet Conferencing, invitations will be sent to all who book this session.
Presenter: Professor Susan Brooks, Director of Research Development.
Description: We are all aware that effective networking is an essential skill for a researcher and can contribute considerably to your career success whether you choose to stay within academia or seek a career in another field. However, networking is a professional skill that does not come easily to many, especially at the beginning of your research career. In this presentation, we will suggest some ways that you can strategically develop an effective professional network, and ways in which your supervisors can support you to do so in a practical way.
Date and time: Wednesday 12 June 2024, 13:00-14:00.
Location: In-person meeting in JHB Executive Suite (JHB 128), John Henry Brookes Building, Headington Campus.
Presenter: Dr Lauren Morry, Research Ethics Officer.
The Researcher Development team would like to invite research students to join the following Research-Only Staff Network themed meeting.
These meetings are an opportunity to network with our Research-Only Staff (e.g. Research Assistants, Research Fellows) from across the University and to find out more about an important research topic, with an opportunity for questions.
Date and time: Thursday 13 June 2024, 12:00 - 13:00
Location: Access to a series of short training videos 1 month in advance, 1 hour online Q&A with expert panel.
Description: Oxford Brookes embraces responsible Open Research and wants to support Researchers to engage with it. In this training session, we will define Open Research and explain the benefits, provide an overview of Open Access and outline the University's role in a large UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN) Open Research Project.
Date and time: Wednesday 19 June 2024, 13:00 to 14:00 (bookings will close at 17:00 on Tuesday 18 June).
Location: Online Live event will be held via Google Meet Conferencing. A link to the live event will be sent by email to those who have registered for this session.
Presenter: Professor Susan Brooks, Director of Researcher Development.
Description: While studying for a research degree shares many common features, whether you are doing it full time or part time, part time students do face unique challenges. Part time students are often more mature and have more complicated lives than their full time counterparts. Some are returning to study after periods of time spent doing other things and many live geographically distant from the University, or are physically present on campus only occasionally. All share the issues inevitably associated with pursuing a research programme over an extended time period. This session explores some of these issues, is an opportunity for part time researchers to share their experiences, and looks at some practical strategies for successful part time study.
Presenter: Annette Whitehall, Mental Health and Student Support, Oxford Brookes University
Description: This workshop will look at:
On Demand: Pre-recorded materials can be downloaded anytime from the Graduate College Research Student training Moodle course. Please note that you will need to be logged in to your Moodle account to access these files.
Produced by: Professor Susan Brooks, Director of Researcher Development.
Description: As an academic community, Oxford Brookes University has a responsibility to encourage and nurture the highest possible standards of intellectual honesty and integrity. Here we introduce the basic principles around how Brookes expects you to plan and conduct your research, record and report your findings, and disseminate, apply and exploit the fruits of your research.