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First Year PGR Induction Programme
This induction programme is offered to all first year postgraduate research students early in the academic session and it involves two half-day events: one institution-wide session, which includes a general welcome to the university from a Senior Officer and provision of general information, and one faculty-based session, which includes a range of presentations relevant to each faculty.
- Institution(s):
- University of Strathclyde
- Region(s):
- Scotland and Northern Ireland
- Date first submitted:
- 17 Jun 2011
- Date last modified:
- 21 Jun 2011
- Relationship to RDF:
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- Domain A: Knowledge and intellectual abilities
- Knowledge base
- Domain B: Personal effectiveness
- Professional and career development
- Domain C: Research governance and organisation
- Research management
- Domain D: Engagement, influence and impact
- Communication and dissemination
- Focus:
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- Researchers' reflective processes
- Career development
- Audience:
-
- Postgraduate researchers
- Range:
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- Institution
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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?
Previously each Faculty managed their own postgraduate inductions but the proposal to centralise these had the aim of making better use of resources and providing cross-disciplinary networking opportunities. These events meet the University’s commitment to offering cross-disciplinary opportunities and to ensuring that transition to research study is fully supported. Interactive and activity-led, these events include talks and presentations from leading research staff and current PhD students, as well as general information about:
· Library systems
· Research and innovation
· University of Strathclyde Students’ Association
· What is a PhD? Writing the thesis and preparing for the viva
· Student Support Services
· Careers Service
· Researcher Development
The range of activities is wide and includes fun, ice-breakers as well as sessions that focus on high priority topics, such as Research Ethics, presenting and submitting papers for publication, intellectual property and commercialisation, and what to expect from a career in research at Strathclyde.
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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'?
These inductions are offered to all first year postgraduate students, with special sessions aimed at international students, and approximately 270 attended in 2010.
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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?
Standard evaluations are carried out by the participants and are analysed by the Researcher Development Officer. These evaluations are considered when developing future sessions.