the speed phd: introduction to a research degree an innovative workshop of the university of...
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The Speed PhD: Introduction to a Research Degree
An Innovative Workshop of
The University of Manchester
Dr. Jim BoranResearcher DevelopmentFaculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences
in association with:Dr. Tony Bromley Dr. Gemma MuckleUniversity of Leeds The University of Manchester
Dr. Heather SearsUniversity of Leeds
6 July 2010 1Enhancing the postgraduate research experienceHEA, Edinburgh Napier University
Overview• The Researcher Development Challenge
• Background to Speed PhD Concept
• Workshop Schedule: Talks + Exercise
• Sample Projects
• Supervisor Relationships
• Conference Submission? /Journal Paper?
• Viva & ‘Graduation’
• Evaluation
6 July 2010 2 Enhancing the postgraduate research experienceHEA, Edinburgh Napier University
Researcher Development
is all about gaining and
enhancing skills to
successfully complete your research degree and
maximise employability in
your chosen career path.
The Challenge• How to increase awareness of the key skills,
milestones, challenges and opportunities of a PhD?
• Key considerations
– Timing [1st month? / 9 months?]
• Where in project development?
• degree of knowledge re: Supervisor?
• UG @ Manchester?
– Discipline [good to have a mix?]
– Home vs. Overseas?
• Balance of experience vs. knowledge needed?
• Degree of interactivity?6 July 2010 Enhancing the postgraduate research experience
HEA, Edinburgh Napier University4
Professional development
Assess your skills
Reflect and evaluate
Development activity
Develop personal plan
Industry & professional bodies UK Research Councils International market
Skills for Research PostgraduatesB. Research Environment C. Research
ManagementA. Research Skills
D. Personal Effectiveness
F. Networking & Teamworking
E. Communication Skills
G. Career Management
A1. Problem Solving
A2. Original Thinking
A3. Discipline Knowledge
A4. Research Methods
A5. Critical Analysis
A6. Progress Summaries
B1. Research Context
B2. Research Ethics
B3. Good Research Practice
B4. Health & Safety
B5. Research Funding
B6. Research Justification
B7. Research Commercialisation
C1. Project Management
C2. Information Management
C3. Bibliography Skills
C4. IT Skills
D1. Willingness to Learn
D2. Creative Approach
D3. Open-Mindedness
D4. Self-Assessment Skills
D5. Self-Discipline
D6. Awareness of Support
D7. Self-Reliance
E1. Academic Writing
E2. Critical Arguments
E3. Presentation Skills
E4. Promote Public Understanding
E5. Teaching Skills
F1. Networking
F2. Teamworking
F3. Feedback Skills
G1. Professional Development
G2. Career Management
G3. Transferable Skills Awareness
G4. Promoting Oneself
Research Councils UK Skills List
Task vs. Process
6 July 2010 Enhancing the postgraduate research experienceHEA, Edinburgh Napier University
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...like Speed Dating?“…time-efficient and structured interaction”
wikipedia.org
Day One TIME
ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION
0930 Introduction to GPDP
presentation on the skills training programme & ‘ice-breaker’ introductions
1000 Research Overview
presentation on principles of research, the role of creativity & defining originality
1045 Coffee
1100 PhD Elements presentation on defining PhD degree, managing supervisor & maximizing success
1200 Introduction to Exercise
presentation to describe ‘mock’ PhD project, scoring system & ‘thesis’ regulations
1215 Group Work I teams receive project description pack
1230 Lunch a free lunch is provided
1330 Introduction to Library Services
overview of Library electronic resources
1345 Group Work II teams go online to locate additional literature for their topic
1500 Group Work III teams write up day 2 proposal
1545 Deadline Submit day 2 proposal
1600 END OF DAY 1
talk
exercise
break
6 July 2010 9Enhancing the postgraduate research experienceHEA, Edinburgh Napier University
Day Two TIME
ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION
0930 Research Ethics & Intellectual Property Rights
presentation on ethical principles of research & protecting ownership of research results
1030 Group Work IV teams carry out research & receive ‘Calls for Conference & Journal Papers’
1045 Coffee
1100 Group Work V teams complete research & prepare any conference submission
1230 Lunch display of conference submissions
1330 Personal Development Planning & Guide to Progression Monitoring
presentation on the principles and processes of the skills audit and personal development plan; also overview of online progression monitoring system
1415 Group Work VI teams finalize journal papers & theses
1500 PhD Questions later stage PhDs answer questions submitted by participants
1530 Mock Viva teams answer sample viva questions on their project
1550 Graduation scores are tallied & ‘degrees’ awarded
1600 END OF WORKSHOP
talk
exercise
break
6 July 2010 10Enhancing the postgraduate research experienceHEA, Edinburgh Napier University
Elements of the Speed PhD• Teams of 4 – 6 people on a two-day workshop
EXERCISE
• Each team plays a single ‘fictional’ research student
• Each has a supervisor, ‘acted’ by the workshop facilitator
• Mirrors the timing & structure of a PhD [15mins = 1 month]
• Points system reflects good PhD practice
– Thesis = 15 points = pass
– Additional points for publishing, conferences, etc.
TALKS
• Induction to training and development programme
• Introduces concepts of needs analysis and personal development planning
• Learn of support across the institution
6 July 2010 11Enhancing the postgraduate research experienceHEA, Edinburgh Napier University
Talks• Introduction to Researcher Development
• PhD Elements1. Research problem
2. Supervision
3. System/regulations [+ Progression Monitoring]
4. Planning & time
5. Research environment
6. Researcher (YOU!)
• Library Search Skills
• Research Ethics
• Career Preparation for New PhDs
• Personal Development Planning
6 July 2010 Enhancing the postgraduate research experienceHEA, Edinburgh Napier University
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Speed PhD Exercise Objectives Time management and project management within a
research project; Working with a supervisor type; Teamwork within a research project; Producing written work to fixed regulations; Managing a range of activities within a research
degree; Different research approaches of disciplines; Generic skills common to all disciplines; The psychology of a research degree.
6 July 2010 13Enhancing the postgraduate research experienceHEA, Edinburgh Napier University
Sample Speed PhD Projects
red lines are straight
Optimisation of the Flying-Wing Concept for
Commercial Airliners – An Investigation Using a
Model SystemAn Energy Efficient,
Environmentally Sympathetic Building Design and
Construction Process for an Integrated University of
Manchester Student Services FacilityFooling the Brain – An
Investigation into Visualisation- Considering Why Optical Illusions Work & the Development of New
Illusions
6 July 2010 14Enhancing the postgraduate research experienceHEA, Edinburgh Napier University
Supervisor Relationships• The role of the supervisor is incorporated into the
Speed PhD through caricatures of common supervisor styles; mostly based on availability
• Groups have to ascertain how best to work with the supervisor style they are given
• Groups gain points for filling in the meeting form
Professor Myway –Partly available, but always suggests a different approach
Professor Neverhere –
Very hard to schedule
Dr. Helpful -nearly always available; will come to group & offer help
6 July 2010 15 Enhancing the postgraduate research experienceHEA, Edinburgh Napier University
Points System
• Pass = 15 points
• Good thesis is enough to pass
Description Points
Transfer report not submitted on time -3
Record of first meeting with supervisor 2
Conference poster 2
Conference presentation 3
Published Paper 9
Submission Notice Form submitted late -3
Poor Viva 1
Good Viva 2
Excellent Viva 5
Unacceptable thesis Fail
Borderline Thesis 10
Good Thesis 15
Excellent Thesis 20
6 July 2010 17Enhancing the postgraduate research experienceHEA, Edinburgh Napier University
Deadline Calendar
Time Deadline
Day 1 – 15:45 Transfer report submission closes
Day 2 – 10:30 Call for Conference Papers issued
Day 2 – 10:45 Call for ‘Special Issue’ Journal papers issued
Day 2 – 11:10Final submission time for abstract of conference presentation and/or poster
Day 2 – 12:00 Final submission time for title of journal paper
Day 2 – 12:00 Final submission time for conference poster
Day 2 – 12:00 Final submission time for conference presentation
Day 2 – 14:00 Final submission time - draft journal paper
Day 2 – 14:15 Deadline for Notice of Submission Form submission
Day 2 – 14:30 Final submission time - revised journal paper
Day 2 – 15:00 Deadline for submission of THESIS
Day 2 – 15:30 VIVA
6 July 2010 18 Enhancing the postgraduate research experienceHEA, Edinburgh Napier University
Thesis Regulations• Text: hand written, legible and written in black ink.
• Margins: two (2) centimetres from the page edge.
• Length: a minimum of 8 pages and a maximum of 13 pages.
• All pages of the thesis (except the Title page) should be numbered.
• Submit in the project folder by two holes punched in the left hand margin.
• Any thesis submitted that does not conform to these regulations will not pass.
• The thesis must be submitted at or before 15:00 on day 2 of the course. Strictly no thesis will be accepted after 15:00.
THESIS CONTENTS• Thesis Cover
Sheet• Contents• Acknowledgements• Introduction• Materials and
Methods• Results• Discussion and
conclusion• References• Figures and/or
tables.
6 July 2010 19Enhancing the postgraduate research experienceHEA, Edinburgh Napier University
Conference In Your Lunchtime• Day Two: 1030 - 1200
• Teams are given an optional “Call for Conference Submissions”
• Title [8 words max] / Abstract [50-80 words]
• Two options:– Poster [flip chart paper] – Presentation: min. 4 transparencies
• Deadlines– 1110: Submit abstract– 1200: Poster / Presentation due– 1230: Conference displayed over lunch
• Time management: focus on thesis? or conferences?6 July 2010 20Enhancing the postgraduate research experience
HEA, Edinburgh Napier University
Call for Journal Papers• Day Two: 1045 - 1430
• A call for papers from the “Journal for Researcher Development” is issued
• Submission is optional: [time management?]
• Deadlines
– 1200: Submit title
– 1400: Draft due
– 1430: Final submission time
• Can publish same topic as Conference submission
6 July 2010 21Enhancing the postgraduate research experienceHEA, Edinburgh Napier University
The Viva• After Thesis Submission, each team is asked a
‘generic’ Viva question [e.g. What is original about your thesis?]
• Must answer for Speed PhD project
• Discussion around what examiners are looking for
• Examples of how to answer ‘weakness’ questions
• Review of examiners options for minor corrections, re-examination & requests for additional research
• Emphasis on “You will know more than your examiners…help them understand your research”
6 July 2010 22Enhancing the postgraduate research experienceHEA, Edinburgh Napier University
‘Graduation’• Scores are tallied
• Discussion of ‘extra value’
6 July 2010 23Enhancing the postgraduate research experienceHEA, Edinburgh Napier University
Evaluation
“…I know now what's required in a PhD programme”
“the group work allowed
exchange of ideas and
opportunity to meet other
students…”
“It helps me to make a plan for
the future and make my target
clearer!”
“This is an eye opener and will
assist me greatly in future”
“This gave me an idea of what I will be doing for the next couple of years and how I can manage it in an efficient and planned manner”
“…provided a worthwhile experience in planning and prioritising”
6 July 2010 24Enhancing the postgraduate research experienceHEA, Edinburgh Napier University
Review of Speed PhDGOOD POINTS
• Able to present a broad overview of what to expect during a research degree
• Good teamwork practice
• Meet postgrads from other disciplines
• Find common problems through shared experience [e.g. working with a supervisor]
BAD POINTS
• Transferability not always understood: “I should be working on my own thesis topic”
• ‘Compulsory’ can lead to unhappy campers
• Two days can be seen as too long
• May reduce future engagement?
6 July 2010 25Enhancing the postgraduate research experienceHEA, Edinburgh Napier University