Inviting the researcher voice to Vitae's Open Space

Vitae is running an Open Space event on 19 June to explore whether, with current recruitment practices, the best doctoral candidates are being selected and how the professional career development of researchers can be supported.

An important aspect of an Open Space is to have many different voices represented. Therefore, we would like to encourage PhD candidates and recent graduates to attend this event to share their experiences of professional and career development within or alongside cohort training models (e.g., centres for doctoral training, CDTs, doctoral training partnerships, DTPs, etc.). To this end, we are offering six fee-exempt places to late stage PhD candidates and recent PhD graduates who would like to share their views on cohort training models .

For researchers

An Open Space event takes a theme, goal, or challenge and invites participants to select specific questions to discuss in small groups. The context for the day is set by invited speakers, followed by dynamic group discussions. Participants move freely from one group to another throughout the day so that many diverse opinions and voices can contribute.

This Open Space event is based around the challenge of the emergence of new cohort training models for PhD candidates, such as CDTs and Horizon 2020 innovative training networks (ITN). These new training structures provide new challenges for institutions. How can these structures be integrated within the current research degree landscape such that they ensure an equality of professional development provision for all?

It is important to us to include all relevant voices, which includes researchers who have participated in these training structures. Diverse perspectives will add to the richness of discussion.

Participants at this event will have the opportunity to discuss and share their views with representatives from funding bodies, directors of doctoral centres and graduate schools, and more. Participants may add to their own professional development by experiencing an Open Space event format and taking advantage of the possible networking opportunities this allows.  Participants may also take important lessons and information back to their institutions and colleagues.

Full event details can be found on our website

Eligibility

• You are in the final year of your PhD or within two years of graduating, and
• You were enrolled in (or have experience of) cohort training models, such as centres for doctoral training (CDT) or doctoral training partnerships (DTP)

 Application procedure

Applicants should answer one of the following questions, in 200 words maximum:

• What would you like to share about your experience of cohort training models?
• What innovative methods to researcher professional and career development would you like to see implemented?

Please apply by email by 5pm, 12th June 2014.

What is included?

• Fee-exempt places for 6 researchers to attend the Vitae Open Space event, 19 June
• Morning and afternoon refreshments and lunch
• The opportunity to discuss and share your views with representatives from funding bodies, directors of doctoral centres and graduate schools, and more

Travel and accommodation costs are not included; however please make your researchers aware of an appropriate contact person if travel sponsorship is available locally.