Skills Development Programme
The College of Arts & Humanities has an international reputation for the quality of its research. We value the contributions that our research students make to this vibrant research culture. To ensure that our research students are equipped to become leaders in their chosen field – within or beyond academia – we aim to provide the highest quality training and skills development opportunities.
In planning and delivering its Postgraduate Skills Development Programme, the Graduate School embraces the national Researcher Development Framework. This sets out the knowledge, skills and experience required at each stage of an academic career. These are organised into four main areas:
(A) Knowledge and Intellectual Abilities
This area relates to the bodies of knowledge that you need to engage and any specific skills that you need to carry out your research, as well as your analytical and creative faculties. The training and experience for this strand will most often come from your own Subject Area or School, or professional organizations in your field of study, as well as services such as Information Technology or the Glasgow University Library. Practical experiences in this area might come from writing, teaching, or presenting your research.
(B) Personal Effectiveness
This area is about the management of your own research and the career opportunities that your research opens up for you. This strand includes skills such as time management, career planning, networking, and building a professional reputation, as well as encouraging attributes such as self-confidence and responsibility in professional settings. Training in this area might come from the College of Arts & Humanities Graduate School, the Careers and Researcher Development Services, or your own Subject Area or School, as well as the experiences you have engaging with your field through networks, conferences, or social media.
(C) Research Governance and Organization
This area relates to your awareness and understanding of professional standards in your field of study; your involvement with the professional bodies that set these standards; larger-scale project management; and funding for your research or other professional projects. Training in this area includes workshops or practical experience with, for example, research ethics, copyright policies, grant-writing and other fundraising, representation in professional societies.
(D) Engagement, Influence, and Impact
This area covers the varieties of communication and dissemination that stem from your research--such as teaching, publishing, or other forms of public engagement—as well as your engagement with other scholars through research collaboration, peer review, and the organization of professional and public dissemination activities. This is a particularly robust strand for the Arts and Humanities, where there are a good number of formal workshops to help you hone a range of communication skills, and a plethora of opportunities to participate in seminars, conferences, publications, performances, and a variety of public outreach.
Whilst you will have access to many training opportunities within your School, the Graduate School offers a year-round portfolio of more generic skills workshops. These are directed towards the four named strands, but also to the different stages of postgraduate research study. All registered postgraduate research students are required to keep a researcher skills development log, to be presented at their annual progress review meeting.
Skills development extends beyond workshops and many of the other activities delivered or supported by the Graduate School are intended to facilitate professional development. These include collaborative research training initiatives, involvement with e-Sharp, conference organising and attendance, internships and careers events.
The University advises its doctoral researchers to undertake 2 weeks of skills development training per year (or equivalent for part-time students). This skills development training may include attendance at workshops offered by the Graduate School, or by the University’s Researcher Development unit, the Learning and Teaching Centre, by your School or subject area, or external organisations. There are opportunities to apply for funding should you have specific skills needs or if you have an idea for a collaborative training initiative. Skills Development also encompasses a whole range of non-formalised activities, including attending visiting speaker seminars; writing and presenting a conference paper; attending a conference; undertaking Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) training; helping organise a symposium or a conference; working with e-Sharp, etc. etc.