Introducing Inkpath
In 2023-24, Researcher Development training bookings will be through the University of Glasgow Inkpath platform. This platform will bring together development training from across the institution into one convenient location, and additionally has a number of useful features which will help you to strategically plan your professional development, and find training and development opportunities to match.
At the University of Glasgow, we strongly encourage you to set aside at least 10 days each year for researcher/professional development, in accordance with the PGR Code of Practice. We are committed to supporting you to use this time to develop in ways that best suit your current needs and future plans.
The University of Glasgow Inkpath platform
Is Easy to Use
We want to help you effectively streamline the personal admin time you spend on finding and booking researcher development and giving you clear access to much of the training that is on offer to you here at University of Glasgow.
Inkpath presents a single location where you can easily find, book, and access:
University-wide Researcher Development
Researcher Development offered by your College:
Training offered by the IT Services team
Helps you take ownership of your development
We want to empower you to take ownership of your own development. Through Inkpath, you can identify, manage, record, and reflect on the training you engage with.
Inkpath can help you:
- identify your current training needs, and check back in to reflect on those needs as you progress
- create a full, skills-development focused training record to enable you to strategically plan your professional development in consultation with your supervisory team
- prepare effectively for your APR
- prepare for job applications and interviews
- successfully plan your career development
How do I use Inkpath?
How do I access Inkpath?
You can access Inkpath as a Web app through your browser, or as a phone app.
If using the web app, navigate to: glasgow.inkpath.co.uk
This will take you to the Glasgow SSO sign on page, where you will be prompted for your University of Glasgow credentials to allow you to access the platform.
If you'd prefer to use the phone app, you can
Download it from Google Play
Download it from Apple Store
When signing on via the phone app for the first time, select 'Single Sign On', and choose 'University of Glasgow' from the dropdown menu.
How do I find an activity?
- Log in to Inkpath via the app or web browser.
- Go to home screen ‘My Activities.’
- Click the button ‘Find activities.’
- From here, click the ‘filter and search activities’ search bar to filter by attendance type, and dates.
- Click on the ‘Upcoming’ tab to see all upcoming online or in-person courses (identified as Activities on the Inkpath platform).
- Click on the ‘Self Study’ tab to see all upcoming self-paced resources, asynchronous provision, and mandatory online courses.
- Scroll down to browse all the training activities on offer.
How do I book an activity?
- Click on the Activity
- Click the ‘Details’ tab to find out more about the course including Course Description, Provider, Date and Time, attendance type, and the skills against which the activity is mapped.
- Click the ‘Actions’ tab‘ to book a place by selecting either
- Book Activity if the registration is managed by Inkpath
- Join waiting list if the course is full
- Go to Booking Page if booking is made through another system.
How do I mark my attendance?
You are responsible for recording your own attendance at training and development. There are two ways to do this: by using the code given during the event, or by self-certifying after the event.
Code-Certification: At the end of a session, your convener will display a QR code (for mobile app users) and a unique number code (for web users) on the screen. Click ‘record attendance’ and scan the QR or enter the number code. This will update to show your activity as ‘completed’. If a course takes place across several session dates, this will be at the end of the final session
Self-Certification: Alternatively, you can self-certify your attendance at an activity by navigating to ‘My Activities’ > ‘Past Activities’, selecting the activity and clicking it ‘Complete’.
Remember that this is your own record of your development, which you can use at APR, so please do take the time to keep it up to date. We will not maintain registers for live training sessions: correctly recording your attendance will be your responsibility.
How do I cancel an activity?
- Open up the phone app or navigate to Glasgow.Inkpath.co.uk in your browser
- Click on the ‘My Activities’ tab (shown by the home icon on the navigation bar on the left-side of your screen)
- Find the activity under the ‘Upcoming’ section
- Click on the activity and select ‘Cancel Booking’
- Select your reason for cancellation from the given options and click the "cancel booking" button
If you are unable to do this, please contact the organiser. You can find their contact details on the Activity under the tab ‘Details’
What happens if I miss an activity?
If circumstances result in you missing an activity without having had the chance to follow the cancellation process outlined above, please get in touch with the Organiser to let them know. You can find their contact details on the Activity page in the ‘Details’ tab.
FAQs
Why should I record my training?
Recording your training will enable you to effectively manage your researcher development, helping you find clarity on your strengths and areas for growth, and equipping you with the necessary understanding to help you plan for for present development needs, and your future career.
Recording your training will also enable your supervisors and other University colleagues to advise on your activities and support you through your researcher journey at the University of Glasgow. You can export a PDF of your training log from Inkpath at any time. You can use this document to help you and your supervisory team understand where you are in your development journey, and help you make informed decisions about how best to use your development time at Glasgow to advance you towards your goals.
How can I use Inkpath to help me prepare for my APR?
Inkpath is able to generate an xls or PDF export of your training activities completed through the platform. This document will then be used to support a conversation on your personal development at your APR.
In preparation for your APR, you should export your training record from Inkpath.
To do this, go to ‘My Activities’, and then click ‘Export Activity’.
You can export all of your content by leaving the date range selectors blank, or you can enter a date range to filter your content by before exporting. You have the options to export to an xls (Excel) document, or a PDF. The xls document includes detailed information about the activity, completion status and completion date. The PDF export is a less detailed overview of your activity on Inkpath. Your College will be able to advise on which of these formats would best suit your APR Process.
It is important therefore, that you take care to log all your development activities on Inkpath to make sure that your APR process takes account of all the training you’ve undertaken across the year to support your development alongside your research work.
How can I use Inkpath to help me prepare for job applications and interviews?
Alongside the benefits to your career planning and career awareness offered by the tools for self-reflection on your development which are available within Inkpath, the platform can also be used to help you effectively prepare for job applications and interviews.
Mapping your activities against specific skills, and building a detailed reflective record of your professional development can help you to:
- identify your strengths and areas for growth
- cross-reference your development profile against job criteria, supporting you to showcase your skills and expertise effectively in cover letters, C.V., and in preparation for interviews.
Why has the Researcher Development Programme moved to Inkpath?
The move to Inkpath was prompted by a consultation with PGRs in 2022, who felt that the various booking systems used across the University at that time were a challenge to navigate, and made it difficult to book and attend training workshops. We hope to improve this experience for our researchers by bringing researcher development across the institution into one platform, allowing you to easily access our events and engage with your development planning.
Additionally, we were keen to find a tool that would help you to focus on your own career goals and training needs, helping you to successfully negotiate the complex landscape of professional development as an important part of your research degree.
Is the Inkpath platform fully accessible?
Inkpath has been developed in accordance with WCAG 2.1 AA guidelines and is fully compatible with popular screen readers. Additionally, Inkpath includes a number of in-app features to improve accessibility, including light and dark modes, an option to increase text size, and includes a 'high contrast' mode, which can be enabled at any time with a selector at the bottom of the app. Accessibility is reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that the platform remains accessible to all researchers.
I have accessibility needs which must be met to enable me to attend workshops. How will you ensure this through Inkpath?
Accessible slides, handouts and any additional workshop materials will be provided on the Activity page. Find these by clicking ‘Actions’, and then ‘Click here for more information’. You will be taken to the appropriate folder of the Researcher Development Training Resources Library Sharepoint. If the materials do not meet your accessibility needs, please contact the Activity Organiser to discuss.
If you have other accessibility requirements which we can support with to enable you to engage with our programmes and initiatives, please let us know by detailing how we can meet these requirements in the ‘Accessibility’ open text box during booking.
I am having trouble signing in to Inkpath. Who do I contact for help?
Please refer to the 'How do I access Inkpath?' above and ensure you are logging on using your Single Sign On (SSO) University of Glasgow credentials.
For technical assistance please contact inkpath support email.
If you are still experiencing issues, please contact the Researcher Development team at Researcher-Development@glasgow.ac.uk
I am both a University of Glasgow PGR and a staff member, which account do I use?
If you have both PGR and Staff GUIDs, please ensure that you use your PGR account to log into Inkpath by SSO. This will ensure that you have the correct access to the programmes and initiatives which are available to you.
I am an undergraduate student, can I have access to Inkpath?
Unfortunately not. The platform is currently for use by PGR and Staff groups.
I am halfway through my PhD/MRes, do I need Inkpath?
Yes! You will not be able to book any Researcher Development training workshops without using Inkpath. Additionally, you will use the platform to generate the development-focused materials for your APR. The platform also offers tools to help you make the most of your development time.
I have already submitted or graduated, do I still have access to Inkpath?
As long as you still have a GUID, you will still be able to access the platform.
What counts as an ‘activity’ on Inkpath?
An activity is any training you undertake as part of your development while working towards your research degree.
'Activity' is the catch-all term used on Inkpath for every kind of training you undertake as part of your development. This includes all parts of our Programme: training courses, events, self-paced materials, and other initiatives, as well as other activities you participate in outside of our Programme that contribute to your development, such as conference participation, professional networking, and teaching, among other things.
If you are unsure if the activity is relevant, please speak with your supervisor in the first instance to discuss your planned activities in relation to your development.
What is the difference between upcoming, past, and completed activities?
You will notice that the Inkpath My Activities homescreen is split into three columns: 'Upcoming', 'Past' and 'Complete'.
Upcoming activities are activities which you have booked to attend.
Past activities are activities you booked on but did not mark your attendance on. These activities will not show on your exported development record.
Completed activities are activities you booked on to and marked your attendance on. To make sure your development record is up to date, remember to complete your activities by marking your attendance using one of the two processes shown above under 'How do I mark my attendance?'
I completed an activity that was not booked through Inkpath, how do I add it?
To add your own activity to your development record:
- Go to the "My Activities" page (click the Home icon in the navigation bar on the left-hand side of your screen)
- Click 'Create Activity'
Once you have logged your activity, mark it as complete by going to the ‘My Activities’ section and finding the activity under the past column, clicking on it and marking it as complete.
This will keep your development record up to date, and allow you to track your progress towards the completion of goals you are working towards.
I couldn’t mark my attendance on a course during the live session. How can I do this afterwards?
If you missed the QR Code that was given out during the session you attended, please use the self-certification option to complete the activity on the platform. For instructions on how to do this, please see 'How do I mark my attendance?' above.
Where can I find mandatory courses on Inkpath?
Mandatory courses are located in the Self Study area of the Activities page. To access these courses, click on the relevant Activity, and follow the link to external booking to arrive at the Course Moodle page. For your records, use the self-certification option to mark the Activity as complete once you have completed the Course through Moodle.
I am on the waiting list, how do I know when places become available?
The waiting list is automatically managed by Inkpath. If you are on the waiting list and a place becomes available, you will be notified by email.