Researchers are frequently under pressure to communicate their information verbally, whether it is an oral presentation, in a meeting or an interaction at a conference. Performing well in a keynote presentation or impressing at a chance meeting is key to facilitating collaborations, building relationships with future employers and boosting your career. Public speaking and networking are key components to a successful career, both within academia and beyond.

This online GRADskills workshop will cover various situations that researchers are faced with regularly with regard to verbal interaction. We will cover oral presentations, short communications, how to pitch your research and how to network effectively. Participants will be introduced to various techniques that they can use and adapt to a variety of situations: how do you respond to difficult questions? How do you effectively engage with senior academics?

Request a place: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/pdms/index.php?mode=single&query=9415

What previous participants have said about this course:

• “The presentation exercise was quite useful – preparing quickly and getting feedback.”
• “It was a very helpful event and an excellent workshop leader.”
• “If they have not done a course like that, they should definitely give it a try.”

When hiring new team members, organisations are now increasingly choosing individuals with transferable skills such as leadership, teamworking, strong communication, negotiation and cooperative working. How an individual perceives their own professional style, what their preferences are and how they interact with and manage others is a key part of this, and researchers can benefit from exploring their own personal method of working. This online GRADskills workshop is designed specifically for research postgraduates who are interested in further developing their skillset in order to enhance their employment prospects.

The workshop introduces different organisational cultures, the different types and styles of leadership, how to identify leadership opportunities and various team roles. It consists of case studies, group discussion, individual exercises and presentations from the instructor.

Request a place: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/pdms/index.php?mode=single&query=9417

What previous participants have said about this course:

• “This will help you develop an understanding of your own leadership and teamworking ability.”
• “A very informative session that helps you understand leadership qualities and roles within teams.”
• “I found it very useful to consider what it is that makes a good leader and why some people are good leaders.”

Are you looking to develop your teaching experience?  Would you like to gain some experience of curriculum design?  Are you interested in teaching and enabling undergraduates to perform well in their academic pursuits?

Then the Academic Skills Project (ASP) is for you!  The ASP is a PGR led initiative, project managed by CEED (Centre for Educational Enhancement and Development),  which aims to create a framework for subject-specific academic skills to be delivered to undergraduates via high quality workshops.

The ASP is now entering its sixth year and for 2020/21 will be delivered online.  A video briefing about the next cycle of the project is now available.

PGRs are able to participate in two ways:

1. School Coordinator– coordinates the overall project within their school, including recruiting other PGRs to act as workshop leaders, liaising with the DoT/ other academic staff liaison, designing the overall programme, managing the budget, evaluation of the workshops, room booking etc.  This is expected to take c. 15-20 hours per semester.  The Coordinator is paid a fixed stipend of £200 for Semester 1.  Recruitment currently open.
2. Workshop Leaders– responsible for design, delivery and evaluation of individual workshops in consultation with the School Coordinator.  Workshop Leaders are paid at the standard tutoring rate at a recommended minimum of 2 hour preparation plus delivery time—or equivalent if designing other online resources. Workshop Leaders are normally recruited by School Coordinators towards the end of June and in July.

We are currently looking to recruit School Coordinators in some schools- more information on how to apply is contained within the video briefing and on the ASP webpage.

You can also contact CEED for more information.