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Effective Researcher Development Programme
Guide to opportunities for PhD students and contract researchers 2008/09

As would be expected from one of the UK’s leading research-intensive Universities, Education Enhancement at the University of Exeter organises a training programme for all MPhil/PhD students. Moreover, elements of the programme are also suitable for early career stage contract researchers. Research students and contract 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 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 Schools at the University and gain from their experiences, skills, cultures and points of view.

Overall aims of the 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 PhD or  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 PhD or research progress, training and development;
• Consider longer-term goals and career planning within a period of your choice.

What’s new in 2008/09?

• A chronologically based ‘thematic’ guide to PhD development has been introduced and will shortly be reflected in the on-line booking system. We hope this makes it even easier for you to reflect on you research development needs and navigate our skills programme.
• Help with statistics has been considerably expanded this year with more advances courses on offer; including and Introduction to Randomisation and an Introduction to the hugely powerful ‘R’ package.
• Some courses have been ‘tailored’ to the needs of specific research disciplines in consultation with the leading academics. Even more ‘tailored’ courses will come online throughout the coming year.
• The skills induction programme has been improved and updated; there are now specific two day induction programmes for research students based at the Tremough campus and the Medical and Dental school.
• Throughout the next year online materials will be developed in conjunction with the Universities of Bath and Bristol to support students who are not based centrally on campus.
• More careers and contract researcher focused workshops have been introduced in addition to the development of a workshop looking at maximising the important relationship with your supervisor or principle investigator.