Introduction
In 2012-13 the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences is proud to offer a Personal and Professional Development training programme that aims to equip you with the research and transferable skills for your postgraduate research and beyond. The programme has been developed for all postgraduate researchers, with the exception of the clinical psychology research students whose training is determined by the Clinical Psychology Doctoral programme.
The Research Councils’ requirements stress the importance of generic training and preparation for a professional career. You may find that the training sessions offered are general in their scope, interdisciplinary in approach and not subject specific. This has been derived from evidence presented in the Robert’s Report which suggests that postgraduates who lacked these skills sometimes performed poorly at interview and did not secure the best-paid jobs. The programme encourages you to be an active part of the Faculty’s research community and, finally, a participant in the wider community with an emphasis on learning through experience and activity.
Although some of the training takes place in formal sessions, the programme also aims to create a distinct research community which draws together both research students and academics. Most of the sessions are provided by research active academic staff, but we also work with other parts of UEA in providing practical and technical training and career development for Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences research students. If there is a training activity outside of this training programme that you and your supervisor agree is appropriate for you this can also be taken into account.
Skills gained from this programme will improve your ability to present your work to a variety of audiences. They will also help you to develop an understanding of the role of research in the wider world. The programme offers a range of basic skills to help you start with your research as well as helping you with more advanced skills at the final hurdle of your viva and beyond. There are many opportunities to gain recognition for your efforts in presenting papers at conferences, serving on committees, interacting with the public and learning other skills not listed within the programme.
The programme also has a social benefit and offers an opportunity for you to interact with others from different schools who you may not otherwise have met during the normal course of your studies.
The programme for 2012-13 is now available to download.
