1. Postgraduate ePortfolio, eProgression and the Research Training Programme Dr. Richy Hetherington Dr. Richy Hetherington Simon is going to go into a bit more detail about ePortfolio and eProgression, Firstly I’m just going to give you a broader outline of postgraduate researcher development and how we hope that the process of using ePortfolio and engaging with the training programme should be fully complimentary to the students research and by no means impact negatively on the time they have available.

2. Roberts Report 1992 “Many employers do not initially pay those with PhDs any more than they would a new graduate, viewing the training (particularly in transferable skills) that PhD students receive as inadequate preparation for careers in business R&D.” “Institutions are not adapting quickly enough to the needs of industry” The reason a lot of this has come about and the reason the Research councils have funded my post is the findings of the Sir Garth Robert’s Report (SET for Europe), one of the main findings of this report was that postgrads and Postdocs were not meeting the requirements of industry and as such weren’t being valued. I think the second quote highlights an important point, I don’t think there has been a significant change in the quality of postgrads or Postdocs over the years, but industry has changed. There is a much greater requirement for recording and evidencing your skills. Newcastle’s training programme predates the Roberts report but with the Robert’s funding has been allowed to develop. We have also been able to introduce ePortfolio which is allows research students to record catalogue and reflect on the skills they are picking up.

3. Research council Joint Skills statement (A)Research Skills and Techniques: validate problems, critical thinking, a knowledge of recent advances (B) Research Environment: broad understanding of context,. confidentiality, ethics commercial exploitation of research (C) Research Management: effective project management (D) Personal Effectiveness: self-discipline, motivation, and thoroughness (E) Communication Skills: promoting the public understanding (F) Networking and Team working: In the institution and the wider research community (G) Career Management: Commitment to continued professional development The joint skills statement - many items should be automatic for most research students but it’s no use if this is not recorded or noted, The student needs to know they have them and can identify that they have them.

4. Research Student Training Programme The mechanics are relatively simple for the beginning of each academic year a programme of training and development are devised. Booklet containing a timetable of events is sent to all students and supervisors are also asked if they would like to receive one. The booklet however is only a guide for the years activities and several events have been added that were not in the booklet. All events are booked online at the graduate school website. This allows events to be added and changes to be made throughout the year. Postgrads will be emailed about these changes. The booking process allows us to electronically evaluate the sessions make sure we have enough provision available, and update the student’s ePortfolio to show which events they have attended.

5. Electronic booking system Appropriate staffing Appropriate staffing Monitoring Monitoring Evaluation Evaluation Accommodate Changes Accommodate Changes Additions Additions Allows to check how courses are going change make changes etc

6. Inside the booklet A diary of eventsA diary of events A programme of events is listed, giving brief details, and using statistics and comments evaluation data from the previous year, trying to get across to the researcher what benefits the sessions will have to them.

7. Training Programme Timetable In total 102 hours of training offered In total 102 hours of training offered For First years 8 compulsory session totalling 12 hours For First years 8 compulsory session totalling 12 hours For Second Years 1 compulsory session totalling 2 hours For Second Years 1 compulsory session totalling 2 hours For Third Years 0 compulsory sessions For Third Years 0 compulsory sessions A wide range of subjects are covered and over 100 hours of training are available each year, although we don’t expect or want each student to take up these hours. Sessions are designed to help the researchers to get through their degree programme and become a more employable person. Although the events are aimed at postgraduates within the Medical Faculty, postgrads from other faculties such as SAGE or HASS are welcomed, and there is a reciprocal agreement with their training programmes organisers.

8. Training event Title Attendance 06/07 Would recommend to a colleague met their training needs Basic Safety7170%68% Managing your Research Degree8397%92% Research Governance5642%60% Introduction to Bioethics4782%77% Academic Integrity and Plagiarism5192%96% Proteomics Seminar4795%85% Overview of Statistical Packages2655%78% One to one Statistical support7063%88% Statistical methods – SPSS for Beginners4393% Statistical methods – Advanced SPSS39100% Information Databases28100% Document Management 0139100% Document Management 0236100%89% Data Handling and Spreadsheet Skills (MS Excel)14100%75% Here are some examples of some of the workshops listed, and details from the electronic evaluation data as to how the students have received and responded to the sessions.

9. Training event Title Attendance 06/07 Would recommend to a colleague met their training needs Endnote53100% Advanced Medline46100% Building robust search strategies24100% Evaluating Electronic Resources11100% Presentation Skills (Using PowerPoint)2266% Poster Presentations – What Makes a Good Poster?30100% Poster Presentations – Competition Evening5470%88% Thesis Writing6597%90% Science and the Media1390%70% How to Write Eye-Catching CVs and Covering Letters21100% Moving out of Academic Research1389% The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator19100% Managing Your Career1282%100% WEBSPACE – Webpage Design3168%55% Creative Thinking1760%50% The advanced courses in a number of courses may help to let you get the most out of software you’ve already been using. Skills training for postgrads by the end of the studies is a lot less about teaching new skill and much more about getting postgrads to accept they are highly skilled and be able to promote their own abilities. Workshops provided by the careers service will help you to do this. There's no point we do what we do if no one gets to find out about it so sessions about science in the media and promoting public understanding will help show how best you can promote your self and you work.

10. New Courses Proteomics Proteomics Creative thinking – Enterprise Creative thinking – Enterprise Posters Practical advice Posters Practical advice WEBSPACE WEBSPACE Open Access Publishing Open Access Publishing Abstract Writing Abstract Writing Chairing and Abstract Selection Chairing and Abstract Selection New additions to the programme since the production of the training skills booklet.

11. Wider View Skills Swap Skills Swap Postgraduate conference Postgraduate conference Famelab Famelab UKgrad and UKgradschools UKgrad and UKgradschools SEB Careers event SEB Careers event Biotechnology YES Biotechnology YES Research Seminars Research Seminars An introduction to UK grad is offered and all UKRC funded students are strongly encouraged to attend. Where possible copies of skills training presentations will be added to blackboard so you can catch up with any you have missed. There is also a forum where you are invited to discuss skills training and delivery with other postgrads and the skills coordinator ISS & library provide a variety of skills training including the use of endnote and several IT areas. The SDU provide training in teaching and demonstrating. Not really mentioned in the training programme is the ability to attend undergraduate and masters courses within the faculty this is normally an informal arrangement with the course or module leader, can be arranged by the skills coordinator There are several others, which can be found in the training programme

12. Taking opportunities On the graduate school website is a calendar that includes all events. We hope in the future to link all events to electronic evaluation and to additions to the ePortfolio so that when students express an interest they’ll be asked if they attended and how it was and if they did their ePortfolio will be updated and they will be directed to input information on the sort of skills they are likely to have picked up by attending such an event.