Our Programme

The Doctoral School’s Researcher Development Programme (RDP) offers academic, professional, and personal development through a number of training workshops and event opportunities. Our programme calendar of activity is interdisciplinary and intended to support the whole research community at the University of Lincoln. All of our workshops are delivered by expert facilitators from both within the University and our external partners, with the aim of  supporting students at all stages of their research.

Our Researcher Development Programme is aligned with the Vitae Researcher Development Framework (RDF). This is a nationally recognised benchmark of the skills and abilities that are needed to be an effective researcher. This framework is endorsed by all the UK Research Councils as well as other influential bodies. All of our workshops are identified by the skills they develop according to this framework.

Themes:

The programme is delivered under four thematic areas, specifically designed to enable you to identify and develop skills, and acquire the knowledge and expertise needed to achieve standards of excellence in your research and professional life.

Research Skills

The workshops listed under this theme provide a wide range of skills and knowledge in becoming an effective researcher. They will allow you to directly apply new learning to your individual research project as well as refresh your skills in areas you are already familiar.

Communication

Communicating your research and ideas in an appropriate way to different audiences is a vital skill, and one you will use throughout your research studies. These workshops help develop your communication skills when disseminating and engaging others with your research.

Writing & Publishing

This theme focuses on the skills and knowledge needed in writing and sharing  your research at all stages; from the conception of your writing, to the findings and conclusions. The practical elements of writing and the opportunity to actually write are also delivered.

Career Development

The workshops under our Career Development theme are designed to help you develop relevant career-orientated skills, consider the journey beyond your PhD, and help you manage all aspects of your research project and subsequent academic, or non-academic career.

Booking:

The Doctoral School development programme is open to all postgraduate research students, it is constructed to deliver a range of skills and attributes that you will use throughout your research study; this section contains the information you need with regards to booking onto a workshop.

1. Explore our workshops through the theme links above, or on our Blackboard calendar.

2. Select your chosen workshop and follow the booking link.

3. Complete the booking form with your student details to register.

4. Receive an emailed diary invitation confirming your space, with further information.

5. Attend the session.

Booking Cancellation:

Once you have booked onto a workshop, you are expected to attend. If you find that you are not able to attend, please ensure that you cancel your booking as soon as possible, so that your space can be offered to someone else.  If we find we have to cancel a workshop at short notice (for example, as a result of tutor illness or extreme weather) we will contact you as soon as possible using your University email address.

Session Recordings:

We will endeavour to record sessions for the benefit of part-time and distance researchers, but please note this is not always possible for a variety of reasons, for example the need for anonymity when discussing ethics training or if a participant in the training wishes to not be recorded.  Some sessions are very interactive and may include break out rooms, which make recording problematic and can interrupt flow. Where recording is not possible training slides will be provided.

If you are a part-time/distance student please do contact us to see if a recording was made.  Full-time students are also able to request a copy of a recording (if one was made) providing a justifiable reason is given ahead of time for non-attendance. We ask all researchers to attend workshops in person when possible.