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Forthcoming Events

Tue 20th January

Getting your thesis ready: 6pm - 8pm; Online; For postgraduate researchers (PGRs) approaching the final stages of preparing their thesis (4-6 months from submission), this workshop covers thesis presentation, the submission process and copyright considerations.

Wed 21st January

Reading and note-making: 7:30pm - 9pm; Online; A huge quantity of reading is required for postgraduate research. This workshop helps you develop strategies to read effectively and efficiently, extracting the key information into your notes. Bring your own reading material to practise with!

Fri 23rd January

AI for academic writing for PGRs: 2pm - 4pm; Fourth Floor Training Room, Main Library; Explore effective and appropriate use of generative AI tools in the context of academic writing and the University's regulations and guidelines for the assessment of research degree theses.

Tue 27th January

Making the most of conferences: 6pm - 8pm; Main Library Fourth Floor Training Room; This workshop introduces practical tips for postgraduate researchers (PGRs) preparing to attend a conference, helping you get the maximum value from your conference, including getting the most out of networking opportunities.

Thu 29th January

Planning for success: 6pm - 8pm; Main Library Fourth Floor Training Room; Designed primarily for postgraduate researchers (PGRs) in the very early stages of their research programme (approximately during the first three months), this workshop covers research project management techniques.

Mon 2nd February

Researcher visibility essentials: ORCID and Pure: 2pm - 3pm; Online; Learn how to create an ORCID profile for yourself that is recognised in academia and grows in value as your career progresses. Link it to your University of Birmingham Research Portal webpage to increase your discoverability.

Writing clearly and concisely: 6pm - 8pm; Fourth Floor Training Room, Main Library; Sharpen up your writing to communicate your research and ideas more effectively. This will be most useful for those who have already drafted some texts.

Wed 4th February

Working effectively with your supervisor: 2pm - 4pm; Main Library Fourth Floor Training Room; Understand what to expect from the supervisor-PGR relationship, how to get the most from your supervisory team, and the support available to complement your supervision.

PGT Essentials: Getting started with your research strategy: 6pm - 7:30pm; Online; Where do you begin when faced with a broad research topic? How do you turn an idea into a precise, effective search for related literature? Join the Academic Skills Centre for this online workshop followed by a Q&A where you can ask questions.

Thu 5th February

Starting to write for PGRs: 2pm - 4pm; Main Library Fourth Floor Training Room; An introduction to the writing process, your knowledge of yourself as a writer, and strategies for planning and creating text, suitable for those at the beginning of their development as postgraduate research level academic writers.

Supporting your Dissertation: Writing your literature review: 4pm - 5pm; Online; The literature review is an important component of a dissertation. This workshop, hosted by the ASC, will explore what an effective literature review involves, focusing on how to structure a review, and how to write critically about the literature.

Mon 9th February

Development Needs Analysis: 6pm - 7:30pm; Online; The Development Needs Analysis (GRS1) form is a requirement of research programmes. This highly practical workshop supports the process, including introducing you to Vitae’s Researcher Development Framework.

Tue 10th February

Building on your Skills: Using EndNote to store references: 5pm - 6pm; Online; New to reference management software or EndNote 21? Come along to this session, hosted by the ASC, which will cover the basics: loading EndNote 21, importing references, creating groups, and connecting your EndNote 21 library with MS Word.

Wed 11th February

Designing and presenting your poster at conferences: 1pm - 3pm; Main Library Fourth Floor Training Room; Learn how to maximise the opportunity to communicate your research in a highly visual way using a poster. Understand the nature of a poster session, how to create visual impact, and how to use PowerPoint in this context.

Literature searching: hints and tips for researchers: 2pm - 4pm; Online; This practical introduction to effective literature searching provides guidance on search strategy planning, the use of keywords and subject headings, and tips on managing search results.

Structuring your thesis: 5pm - 6:30pm; Online; Already have some draft texts but unsure how these might fit together in a logical thesis structure? This highly interactive workshop will cover common thesis structures and strategies for creating your own.

Supporting your dissertation: Writing Writing skills (secondary research): 5pm - 6pm; Online; This workshop, hosted by the ASC, will focus on some key writing skills for your dissertations. Including: Signposting to structure your argument. Writing critically. What to include in your introduction and conclusion. Approaches to editing.

Thu 12th February

Preparing for your viva: 2pm - 3pm; Main Library Fourth Floor Training Room; The viva is an important part of the assessment for your programme. Attend this workshop in the months approaching your viva to do some practical activities to help you prepare.

Introduction to AI tools for researchers: 6pm - 7pm; Online; Develop an understanding of the opportunities and risks of using AI tools in the research process, explore how AI Tools might be used to augment research processes to create efficiencies, and critically evaluate potential ethical risks.

Fri 13th February

Shut Up and Work for early career researchers: 1:30pm - 8:30pm; Main Library Fourth Floor Training Room; Work on your own writing, planning or literature discovery in a quiet but supportive environment. There will be time to set targets at the beginning of the day and there will be regular planned breaks to enable you to network or take a walk.

Tue 17th February

Supporting your dissertation: Writing Writing skills (primary research): 5pm - 6pm; Online; This workshop, hosted by the ASC, will focus on some key writing skills for your dissertations. Including: Signposting to structure your argument. Writing critically. What to include in your introduction and conclusion. Approaches to editing.

Planning for success: 6pm - 7:30pm; Online; Designed primarily for postgraduate researchers (PGRs) in the very early stages of their research programme (approximately during the first three months), this workshop covers research project management techniques.

Wed 18th February

PGT Essentials: Critical Thinking: 5:30pm - 7pm; Online; Join the Academic Skills Centre for for an online workshop on critical thinking, including strategies for success and expert advice, followed by a Q&A where you can ask any questions related to critical thinking and writing.

Reviewing the literature: 6pm - 8pm; Fourth Floor Training Room, Main Library; Understand the nature of a quality literature review and how to effectively synthesise the literature you have read in your thesis.

Thu 19th February

Data management plans for PGRs: 2pm - 3pm; Online; All postgraduate researchers are required to have a Data Management Plan in place before completing their first annual review (GRS3). This workshop will help you to achieve this by covering the basics of research data management.

Unearthing the past: using archives and special collections: 2pm - 4pm; Cadbury Research Library, Lower Ground Floor, Muirhead Tower; Get an introduction to archives and a practical guide to special collections departments. Explore how archives and special collections can be best used for your research. Go behind the scenes at the Cadbury Research Library.

Building on your Skills: Improve your academic writing: 4pm - 5pm; Online; Looking to develop your academic writing style further? This workshop, hosted by the ASC, will help you to: Develop your academic voice. Integrate critical discussion. Understand how to make your writing clear and concise.

Fri 20th February

Introduction to presentation skills: 2pm - 4pm; Main Library Fourth Floor Training Room; Are you a postgraduate researcher who wants to build your confidence in delivering presentations? This workshop covers the basics of a good presentation, including structure and visual aids. Get peer feedback on an informal presentation of your own.

Tue 24th February

What is Citation Justice?: 2pm - 3pm; Online; Explore the role of influence and power in who we cite, how bias in this area can occur and be addressed, and discover tools for finding literature that is more representative of the global majority.

AI for academic writing for PGRs: 6pm - 7:30pm; Online; Explore effective and appropriate use of generative AI tools in the context of academic writing and the University's regulations and guidelines for the assessment of research degree theses.

Wed 25th February

Building on your Skills: Critical thinking - how to get a first: 5pm - 6pm; Online; In this workshop, hosted by the ASC, we’ll explore how to apply critical thinking skills to your writing in order to achieve higher marks in your assignments.

Thu 26th February

Increasing your productivity: 7:30pm - 9pm; Online; As postgraduate researchers (PGRs), we cannot change the number of hours in a day, but we can use them as effectively as possible. This workshop encourages you to understand your own working preferences to be as productive as possible.

Tue 3rd March

Building on your Skills: Reflective writing: 5pm - 6pm; Online; Increasingly, assignments have a reflective component. You might be asked to reflect on your learning, your writing, or your practice. Whatever the context, this workshop hosted by the ASC, will help you get you started with your reflective writing.

Wed 4th March

PGT Essentials: Developing your writing: 6pm - 7:30pm; Online; Join the Academic Skills Centre for this online workshop on developing your academic writing, structuring your essays, and writing more critically, followed by a Q&A where you can ask any questions related to academic writing.

Thu 5th March

Starting to write for PGRs: 5pm - 6:30pm; Online; An introduction to the writing process, your knowledge of yourself as a writer, and strategies for planning and creating text, suitable for those at the beginning of their development as postgraduate research level academic writers.

Fri 6th March

Writing clearly and concisely: 1pm - 2:30pm; Online; Sharpen up your writing to communicate your research and ideas more effectively. This will be most useful for those who have already drafted some texts.

Tue 10th March

Data management plans for PGRs: 2pm - 3pm; Online; All postgraduate researchers are required to have a Data Management Plan in place before completing their first annual review (GRS3). This workshop will help you to achieve this by covering the basics of research data management.

Development Needs Analysis: 2pm - 4pm; Main Library Fourth Floor Training Room; The Development Needs Analysis (GRS1) form is a requirement of research programmes. This highly practical workshop supports the process, including introducing you to Vitae’s Researcher Development Framework.

Wed 11th March

Introduction to AI tools for researchers: 2pm - 3pm; Online; Develop an understanding of the opportunities and risks of using AI tools in the research process, explore how AI Tools might be used to augment research processes to create efficiencies, and critically evaluate potential ethical risks.

Reading and note-making: 3pm - 5pm; Main Library Fourth Floor Training Room; A huge quantity of reading is required for postgraduate research. This workshop helps you develop strategies to read effectively and efficiently, extracting the key information into your notes. Bring your own reading material to practise with!

Building on your Skills: Writing introductions and conclusions: 5pm - 6pm; Online; This workshop, hosted by the ASC, focuses on structure, content and wording, providing you with clear strategies and tips for writing introductions and conclusions.

Thu 12th March

Making the most of conferences: 3pm - 4:30pm; Online; This workshop introduces practical tips for postgraduate researchers (PGRs) preparing to attend a conference, helping you get the maximum value from your conference, including getting the most out of networking opportunities.

Fri 13th March

Shut Up and Work for early career researchers: 1:30pm - 8:30pm; Main Library Fourth Floor Training Room; Work on your own writing, planning or literature discovery in a quiet but supportive environment. There will be time to set targets at the beginning of the day and there will be regular planned breaks to enable you to network or take a walk.

Introduction to presentation skills: 3:30pm - 5pm; Online; Are you a postgraduate researcher who wants to build your confidence in delivering presentations? This workshop covers the basics of a good presentation, including structure and visual aids. Get peer feedback on an informal presentation of your own.

Mon 16th March

Reviewing the literature: 5pm - 6:30pm; Online; Understand the nature of a quality literature review and how to effectively synthesise the literature you have read in your thesis.

Tue 17th March

Preparing for your viva: 2pm - 3pm; Online; The viva is an important part of the assessment for your programme. Attend this workshop in the months approaching your viva to do some practical activities to help you prepare.

Literature searching: hints and tips for researchers: 5pm - 7pm; Main Library Fourth Floor Training Room; This practical introduction to effective literature searching provides guidance on search strategy planning, the use of keywords and subject headings, and tips on managing search results.

Wed 18th March

Structuring your thesis: 2pm - 4pm; Main Library Fourth Floor Training Room; Already have some draft texts but unsure how these might fit together in a logical thesis structure? This highly interactive workshop will cover common thesis structures and strategies for creating your own.

Getting your thesis ready: 6pm - 8pm; Main Library Fourth Floor Training Room; For postgraduate researchers (PGRs) approaching the final stages of preparing their thesis (4-6 months from submission), this workshop covers thesis presentation, the submission process and copyright considerations.

PGT Essentials: Managing your research project: 6pm - 7:30pm; Online; Managing your PGT research project for the first time can be overwhelming and unfamiliar. Join the ASC for this online workshop on time management, working with your supervisor and getting started with your project, followed by a Q&A.

Mon 23rd March

Working effectively with your supervisor: 6pm - 7:30pm; Online; Understand what to expect from the supervisor-PGR relationship, how to get the most from your supervisory team, and the support available to complement your supervision.

Wed 25th March

Building on your Skills: Exams and revision: 5pm - 6pm; Online; This workshop, hosted by the ASC, will help you prepare for your exams. It will help reflect on your own approaches to revision, consider different strategies for revising, and ensure you’re prepared on the day for the exam.

Mon 13th April

Preparing for your viva: 5pm - 6pm; Main Library Fourth Floor Training Room; The viva is an important part of the assessment for your programme. Attend this workshop in the months approaching your viva to do some practical activities to help you prepare.

Fri 17th April

Shut Up and Work for early career researchers: 12:30pm - 7:30pm; Main Library Fourth Floor Training Room; Work on your own writing, planning or literature discovery in a quiet but supportive environment. There will be time to set targets at the beginning of the day and there will be regular planned breaks to enable you to network or take a walk.

Wed 29th April

PGT Essentials: Getting started with your dissertation: 5pm - 6:30pm; Online; How do I get started with my dissertation? Where do I begin with literature searching? How can I engage with my subject critically communicate this in my writing? Three advisors from the ASC will give you some top tips followed by a Q&A.

Wed 6th May

Getting your thesis ready: 1pm - 3pm; Online; For postgraduate researchers (PGRs) approaching the final stages of preparing their thesis (4-6 months from submission), this workshop covers thesis presentation, the submission process and copyright considerations.

Thu 16th July

Getting your thesis ready: 5pm - 7pm; Main Library Fourth Floor Training Room; For postgraduate researchers (PGRs) approaching the final stages of preparing their thesis (4-6 months from submission), this workshop covers thesis presentation, the submission process and copyright considerations.

Mon 10th August

Getting your thesis ready: 1pm - 3pm; Online; For postgraduate researchers (PGRs) approaching the final stages of preparing their thesis (4-6 months from submission), this workshop covers thesis presentation, the submission process and copyright considerations.

Tue 15th September

Getting your thesis ready: 5pm - 7pm; Online; For postgraduate researchers (PGRs) approaching the final stages of preparing their thesis (4-6 months from submission), this workshop covers thesis presentation, the submission process and copyright considerations.

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