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The University ran extended evaluation, based on the Rugby Team Impact Framework, on the new Speed Reading course for the 2009-10 academic year. This was the first time such longitudinal evaluation had been attempted for Graduate School courses.

The Project Support Assistant (PSA) model was introduced as a form of enhanced skills development, offering a work experience opportunity to current doctoral researchers. The PSAs gain experience of planning and implementing large scale events/conferences, as well as developing and honing their project management, communication, team working and inter-personal skills. It is important to ensure that the PSAs have a project manager that is familiar with the project and available for regular team meetings. Although the PSAs lead on the planning of the event, they do require a high level of support from the project manager.

Online induction package for First Year Doctoral Researchers. DR Essentials is a stand-alone online course placed on the self-registration area of WebCT . Doctoral Researchers can access it by adding it to their university online profiles. The course contains five separate modules covering key stages of the incipient doctoral research career. Each module combines content with a number of embedded talking heads that capture the views of Doctoral Researchers and Supervisors across the institution. At the end of each module there is a check list of tasks that should be completed. DR Essentials in its original version was developed at the University of Melbourne in Australia. The version used at the University of Birmingham has been developed by a team of experts from the Centre for Learning and Academic Development (CLAD) and the University Graduate School to meet the needs of researchers at Birmingham. The course is self-paced and users can dip into or work through in its entirety as they may need.

The Jubilee Graduate Centre (JGC) has been exclusively developed for postgraduate students and early career researchers. It works closely with Schools on the Jubilee Campus to develop Faculty-specific training and careers events for PGRs/ECRs focusing on transferable skills, and which reflect the requirements of the Funding Councils.

The Postgraduate Enterprise Summer School, now in its sixth year, is a week long course that has been designed to teach skills in enterprise and entrepreneurship to postgraduate students at the University of Birmingham. Topics covered include innovation, marketing, business planning, financing, commercialisation and presentation skills. By the end of the course participants will: develop a business idea from the concept stage to a fully fledged business proposition; know the steps required to set up their own business; be aware of the requirements to commercialise research in an academic environment; be able to work effectively in a team environment; and identify which role they are best suited to in a business team. The Entrepreneurship and Innovation team of the Careers and Employability Centre plans, runs and facilitates the week with some teaching input. The majority of training is delivered by other internal staff, external trainers and entrepreneurs. The University’s Business School hosts the event providing training rooms and IT suites. Being intensive, all lunches and refreshment breaks need to be catered and one evening dinner is provided, as an opportunity to network with successful entrepreneurs from the region. In recent years, use of software (SimVenture) and the internet, brainstorming tools (Ketso) and profiling tools (e.g. Belbin, eFACETS) have significantly enriched the programme.

The short introduction to presentation skills is aimed at postgraduate researchers in the early stages of their research. It forms part of a portfolio of programmes on different aspects of presentation skills that postgraduate researchers can use to tailor their own development. Resources required are fairly basic- a training room with projection equipment and a flipchart stand for part of the demonstration. The session is delivered by a single trainer.

An interdisciplinary initiative run by doctoral researchers to enrich their research environment, enhance their skills and facilitate exchange of ideas on Europe.

This is a 5-day residential, highly participative, fun and challenging event. Using a combination of outdoor activities, classroom sessions and guided individual and group reflection, participants explore their personal approach to team work, experience what makes teams successful and have the opportunity to share their experiences with a wide range of doctoral researchers. It is based at the University’s outdoor centre in the heart of the Lake District. The University of Birmingham is fortunate in having its own outdoor training centre in the Lake District. This includes fully trained and qualified staff and all specialist equipment. Facilitators skilled in group review and supporting reflection are vital to the success of this activity in order to help participants make connections with the experience and their situation “at home”. We have also found that at least one group tutor should be an experienced academic / researcher, in order to further contextualises the learning. 2 central University staff attend as group leaders, facilitate classroom based exercises and act as small group tutors as appropriate. Up to 4 small group tutors are required to facilitate exercises and group reviews. These are provided by the Centre as appropriate. Access to the on-line Belbin Team Profile tool is also required

The Short Introduction to Project Management is aimed at postgraduate researchers in the early stages of their research degree. It forms part of a portfolio of Project Management programmes of different lengths and levels of depth that postgraduate researchers can use to tailor their own development. Resources required are fairly basic - a training room with projection equipment and pen and paper for the interactive sections. The session is delivered by a single trainer.

This is an annual day-long event for PhD students in the College of Science & Engineering. It consists of presentations by successful professionals in the discipline areas of the college and workshops on key employability issues such as "how to get a job" and "how to win research grants". Presenters are often University of Leicester alumni. Presentations are built around a clear brief focussing on opportunities and tips for aspiring professionals. The event incorporates a carefully structured networking lunch where PhD students meet the presenters to discuss career and employability issues, current trends in the professional areas and so on. The events also include exhibitions from research councils, recruitment companies and those providing development opportunities for PhD researchers in parallel with their studies.