Semester 1 - 2018
Time Management: planning your research degree and keeping up momentum
Date and time: 24 October 2018, 2.00pm - 2.00pm
Location: John Henry Brookes Building, room JHB 207
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.
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How to successfully address the challenges facing most doctoral research students
Date and time: 1 November 2018, 12.30pm to 2.30pm
Location: FH109 - Gipsy Lane
Presenter: Annette Whitehall, Counsellor, Wellbeing
This workshop will suggest ways to manage such challenges (loss of motivation, procrastination, possible difficulties in the relationship with supervisor etc.), and promote strategies for staying healthy, focused, creative and productive.
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An Introduction to Mindfulness
Date and time: 8 November 2018, 12.00pm to 1.00pm
Location: John Henry Brookes Building, room JHB 206
Presenter: Stephen Davies, Oxford Brookes University
Description: Mindfulness is a simple and effective type of meditation that research has shown helps people deal with stress, promotes relaxation and improves learning and memory. Mindfulness is open to all, easy to learn and does not involve any religious practice. This session will include a guided commentary from an experienced meditation teacher.
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Introduction to Research Impact: What, Who, Why, When, Where, How?
Date and time: 14 November 2018, 12.00pm - 2.00pm
Location: John Henry Brookes Building, room JHB 407
Presenter: Dr Dana Vilistere, Research Impact Officer, RDBO
Description: The ability to identity, develop and achieve potential benefits and beneficiaries of research has become an essential factor in securing funding from the Government, Research Councils UK, and other UK funders, as well as from various European funding sources. This session will help researchers to develop their understanding of how their research may have an impact in wider context and to begin the process of planning activities to achieve it.
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The Viva Examination
Date and time: 28 November 2018, 12.00pm - 1.00pm
Location: John Henry Brookes Building, room JHB 407
Presenter: Professor Susan Brooks, Director of Researcher Development
Description: 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.
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Training to Enable Supervisors and Research Students to Develop Applications for Ethical Approval
Date and time: 5 December 2018, 11.00am - 1.00pm
Location: John Henry Brookes Building, room JHB 207
Presenter: Dr Sarah Quinton, Chair of the University's Research Ethics Committee
Description: 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.
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Tackling the writing up stage of the research degree
Date and time: 12 December 2018, 12.00pm - 1.00pm
Location: John Henry Brookes Building, room JHB 407
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.
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Semester 2 2019
Research Intensive Skills Event (RISE)
Date and time: 15 and 16 January 2019, 9.30am - 4.00pm
Description: This is an excellent opportunity for research students who wish to develop the core set of skills that you will need not only to complete your research degree thesis, but also to develop and enhance the range of attributes you will need as you move into a career after your degree has been awarded, or move on in your current career. These skills are all transferrable so whether you are planning a career in academia, R&D or in another area which is not directly research specific, these will underpin your future ambitions both in a work environment and more widely when engaging with life in general.
This two day event will comprise of the following sessions:
- Publishing for a Change; the session will provide you with a better understanding of the options and issues in scholarly publishing;
- Collaborative challenge: Interdisciplinary team working;
- Using social media to raise your professional profile and promote your research;
- Reflection on learning from the day's events, identifying skills and training needs, setting personal objectives;
- Critical thinking: a multidisciplinary session, suitable for all no matter what you are researching;
- Writing concisely and precisely e.g. an effective abstract;
- Time management strategies;
- Stress management, mindfulness and wellbeing: Mindfulness is a simple and effective technique for dealing with stress and anxiety. It can also encourage clear and creative thinking.
A full event programme giving further details of all sessions can be found here: Research Intensive Skills Event Programme
It should be noted that if you are interested in joining this event, you must be able to attend and take part in all the sessions on both days. This is a requirement because the programme is designed to facilitate continuity of skills development during the course of the whole period of this event. It should also be noted that your Registration must have been approved by the relevant Research Degrees subject Sub-Committee in order for you to attend this event.
Numbers are restricted to 30 and due to the expected high demand, a deposit of £10 will be required upon booking. This will be refunded following attendance of both days. Refunds will be made for any bookings cancelled before 31 December 2018. Please note that we will be unable to refund deposits for any cancellations made after this date.
PLEASE NOTE THIS EVENT IS CURRENTLY FULLY BOOKED. However, it is likely that some students may cancel their place due to other commitments that arise. Therefore, we are operating a reserve list and places will be offered to those on the reserve list as and when they become available. You can join the reserve list by completing the form via the link below.
JOIN RESERVE LIST
Publishing your research data: with particular focus on Oxford Brookes' institutional repository RADAR
Date and time: 6 March 2019, 4.00pm - 5.00pm
Location: TBC
This sessions offers an introduction to the idea of sharing the data that your research produces and how that can raise your research profile and benefit your discipline as a whole. It will also outline how the practical considerations of intellectual property, participant consent, data protection, embargoes, and licencing affect the publishing of research data.
Presenters: Daniel Croft, Scholarly Communications and Research Team Leader, Oxford Brookes Library and Professor Chris Hawes, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
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Research degrees – strategies for successful part-time study
Date and time: 20 March 2019, 12.00pm - 2.00pm
Location: TBC
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.
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Managing your Supervisor and building a good working relationship with your supervisory team
Date and time: 10 April 2019, 4.00pm - 5.00pm
Location: TBC
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.
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The Viva Examination
Date and time: 17 April 2019, 4.00pm - 5.00pm
Location: TBC
Presenter: Professor Susan Brooks, Director of Researcher Development
Description: 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.
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Communicating your findings: publishing, Open Access, matrics and impact
Date and time: 5 June 2019, 4.00pm - 5.00pm
Location: TBC
Presenter: Daniel Croft, Scholarly Communications and Research Team Leader
Description: This session will give you an overview of the publishing process and how the Open Access movement is driving changes in scholarly publishing. It will also introduce the ways in which the quality of research is sometimes assessed through research metrics and 'impact'.
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12 tips on how to make LinkedIn work for you
Date and time: 12 June 2019, 4.00pm - 5.00pm
Location: TBC
Presenter: Dr Anne Osterrieder, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
Description: LinkedIn is a professional networking website, which allows you to build an online profile, and connect with colleagues and students. In this hands-on session, we will explore the finer details of using LinkedIn as a careers tool, from highlighting your achievements and skills to showcasing your presentations and adjusting your personal settings.
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