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Annual Researcher Event for Medical and Dental Researchers
- Institution(s):
- University of Exeter
- Region(s):
- South West and Wales
- Date first submitted:
- 3 Nov 2010
- Date last modified:
- 3 Nov 2010
- Focus:
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- Personal effectiveness
- Research project skills
- Academic practice
- Audience:
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- Postgraduate researchers
- Doctoral researchers
- Supervisors
- Range:
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- Department
- Institution
- Discipline
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Rationale, aims and outcomes
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What is the rationale for doing this?
How does it fit with institutional strategy?
What are the main features of the provision?
What are the aims and expected outcomes?
The rational is to introduce the conference setting to researchers at PCMD within a ‘closed’ and ‘safe’ environment. Every student gets the chance to present their research in a conference setting before having to do this externally. This fits with the institutional strategy (at all three collaborative institutes: University of Exeter, University of Plymouth and PCMD) in ensuring that PhD researchers are provided with a robust programme of activities that support skills development and the ‘Robert’s agenda’.
The main feature of the provision is a two-day residential ‘conference’ where all students (all years) are given an opportunity to submit an abstract and present their work to their peers, within a controlled environment. The event is complimented by an annual dinner and a prize for the best presentations. The abstracts and presentations are judged by the Postgraduate Development Manager at Exeter and the Skills Development Officer at Plymouth.The aims are to give research students at PCMD the opportunity to develop their writing and presenting skills to an expert audience before having to do so in a ‘real’ conference environment. We hope that this will give researchers at PCMD more confidence in presenting at their next conference and also give them experience of the other important aspects of a research conference, e.g. networking.
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Engagement
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Are there any pre-requisites for engagement, e.g. levels of skill, years of experience, essential pre-activities?
How many participate in each 'activity'?
No pre-requisites are required, other than registration for a research degree at PCMD.
Approximately, 80 participate in the activity (all years). -
Evaluation: benefits, challenges and next steps
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How do you monitor effectiveness?
Who do you seek feedback from?
Do you have benchmarks?
We hope that this will give researchers at PCMD more confidence in presenting at their next conference and also give them experience of the other important aspects of a research conference, e.g. networking. It should also allow new researchers to quickly settle into their new role as a researcher, as it compliments the ‘SmartStart’ PhD inductions. The event is highly valued by both the student participants and academics at PCMD, alike.
Training space, staff and materials are also needed. A good administrative team is essential, as is an appropriate venue. The event is managed by the PCMD Graduate School and takes place in a hotel in Torquay.
The course is delivered by a range of academics (including the Dean of Research) and professional services staff, whose commitment is essential to make the event as dynamic and interesting as possible; therefore identification of the staff required to deliver the course well in advance was essential.We are looking at how participants perceive this session, with a view to continual future improvement.