1 / 18

Welcome to Induction for Research Postgrads

Welcome to Induction for Research Postgrads. Professor John Breen Dean, Graduate School www.graduateschool.ul.ie. Today: morning. Introduction (me!) Research Design & Methods (Dr Jill Pearson) Quantitative methods & The role of the Statistical Consultancy Unit (Dr Jean Saunders)

ajaxe
Download Presentation

Welcome to Induction for Research Postgrads

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Welcome to Induction for Research Postgrads Professor John Breen Dean, Graduate School www.graduateschool.ul.ie

  2. Today: morning • Introduction (me!) • Research Design & Methods (Dr Jill Pearson) • Quantitative methods & The role of the Statistical Consultancy Unit (Dr Jean Saunders) • Student Wellbeing (Dr Declan Aherne) • Health & Safety (Philip Thornton) • Careers (Elaine Kiely) • Use of Library and Information Services (Aoife Geraghty)

  3. Today: afternoon • UL Writing Centre • Guide to UL regulations for PGRs (Michael Frain) • Planning for Best Practice in Research (JB) • Open Forum Discussion (chaired by JB)

  4. Enjoy the campus! • Use the facilities • Sports - Arena • Concert hall – UCH • Irish world music centre • Arts • Irish Chamber Orchestra • National self portrait gallery • Hunt museum (UL-Shannon) • Other art galleries

  5. Today … • Intro to UL Graduate School • Nature of research degree • Why more PhDs??? • Managing expectations … yours and the university’s • Role and responsibilities of researchers • Good research practice: working with your supervisor(s) • Research Training and Supports

  6. UL Graduate School • Is your one stop shop for everything to do with your Postgraduate Research Experience at UL • From applications, admissions, monitoring your progress, training courses, thesis submission, examination … examination board

  7. Graduate School is responsible for … • Research & taught postgraduate strategy, procedures, regulations • Postgraduate recruitment & advertizing • Postgraduate admissions • Advice on Postgraduate funding / scholarships • Postgraduate infrastructure / desk space • Faculty & student induction & training • Management of the thesis submission process

  8. Who does what? • John Breen Dean Graduate Studies • Michael Frain Graduate Administrator • Anne O’Dwyer Research Training Coordinator • Marie Beaumont Administration (Thesis submission) • Sinéad Cooney Research Postgraduate Admissions

  9. Why more PhD graduates? • Your country needs you! Building Ireland’s Smart Economy (2008) • Number of researchers per 1000 population: Ireland 14th of 30 OECD countries • Targets: • SET: 543 (2005)  997 (2013) • HSS: 187 (2005)  315 (2013) • UL: 67 (2005)  134 (2013) – all PhDs

  10. Kinds of PhDs • Minimum 3 year programme • Average in UL is 4.2 years • “Traditional model”: single supervisor per postgrad • Increasing trend towards more joint and team supervision • Added value: Personal Development Planning, generic transferable skills, planning a research-based career • So: moving towards …

  11. Fourth level Ireland • Structured PhD programmes (4 years) • Taught modules early in the programme, beginning of the project, then • 3 years research programme leading to PhD thesis • You will hear of “Greps” • Graduate Research Education Programmes • Name used by IRCSET / IRCHSS for structured PhD programmes

  12. Four years, not for years! • Experience in a number of countries is that >5 years there is a sharp decline in finishing rates • UL recent average completion time is 4.2 years • 4 years is a realistic goal – but remember your funding situation may be for 3 years! 4 years ~ not for years

  13. Funding? • Hope you are funded • If not: check possibilities for the research councils • ircset.ie (Science, Engineering, Tech) • irchss.ie (Humanities, Social Sciences) • Some get funded after Year 1: Grad School organizes advisory sessions • A few UL scholarships may help: call in May

  14. IRCHSS: check it out now! • Call is open at present. Closes 11th January • Does offer funding to PGRs who are currently registered • Briefing session yesterday: presentation on GS website

  15. The Nature of a Research Degree • Observation: a masters or PhD dissertation is probably the largest piece of work you have ever faced and it can be daunting • Implications: have to think about to approach a large piece of work • Planning and preparation are critical to success • Establishing a good working relationship with your supervisor(s)

  16. What is a Masters/PhD? • Masters “…must show evidence of independent enquiry and/or originality in either conclusions or method” • PhD should “…show evidence of independent enquiry, originality in the methods used and/or in the conclusions drawn and must make an appreciable new contribution to knowledge or thinking in the candidate’s field.” Academic Regulations.

  17. Afternoon • Managing expectations: yours and ours • Ethics and Governance • Planning your research strategy • Acquiring the necessary skills

  18. So, for now Thank you!

More Related