Guide to opportunities for PhD students and contract researchers 2011/12

As would be expected from one of the UK’s leading research-intensive universities, Employability and Graduate Development at the University of Exeter organises a training programme for all early career researchers. Research students and research staff may attend at any stage of their research. There is plenty of choice and variety within our programme as you will see within these web pages and what we provide is in addition to discipline-specific research methods training that is co-ordinated by your respective School(s).

With well over 150 sessions run last year, there is something for everyone. An added benefit of attending the workshops is the opportunity to meet researchers from other Colleges at the University and gain from their experiences, skills, cultures and points of view.

Overall aims of the Researcher Development Programme

By engaging proactively, this comprehensive ‘pick-and-mix’ programme is intended to help you:

  • consider and evaluate a variety of tools and tips for undertaking your research effectively.
  • reflect imaginatively on your own professional practice, particularly in ways relevant to undertaking research in your subject area.
  • make confident choices with regard to your own approaches to research progress, training and development.
  • consider longer-term goals and career planning within a period of your choice.

 What’s new in 2011/12?

  • Closer interaction with the Colleges to provide 'tailored' workshops which are more subject specific.
  • Researcher Developer Online provides workshops which have been developed in conjunction with the Universities of Bath and Bristol to support students who are not based centrally on campus. 
  • More employability and researcher focused workshops are being developed in addition to a workshop looking at maximising the important relationship with your supervisor or principle investigator.
  • An exciting 'Images of Research' competition will run for the first time this academic year. Other competitions will be announced throughout the year.
  • 'Development Centers' for research staff which carefully examine individual CPD requirements.
  • Enhanced links with Research and Knowledge Transfer for the development of research staff development opportunities.
  • A residential 'Leadership in Action' course for research students and staff will run collaboratively with other Universities in the region.