Friday 21 July 2023
Equipping PGRs (Postgraduate Researchers) with Essential Skills: Fostering Collaborations and Igniting Professional Growth
Just 3 months after starting their research programmes, in July our first cohort of Co(l)laboratory PhD students came together at the iconic Nottingham Contemporary for a 3-day summer retreat to reflect on civic leadership, collaborative research and how to address research dilemmas.
The first day began with a focus on collaborative research, with this portion of the retreat, led by Alyssa Chaffee from NCCPE and Co(l)laboratory’s own Dr Matthew Young. Through a range of interactive exercises, our researchers discussed civic leadership and shared their perceptions of what it meant to become a civic leader. We were also joined by NTU academics, Dr Anna Souto and Dr Penelope Siebert who shared their experiences of undertaking participatory and collaborative research in practice. Hearing about the opportunities and challenges within this project, which focused on access to mental health provision from minorities in Nottingham, enabled our researchers to understand the importance of collaboration and how working alongside other people is the best way for them to get the most out of their projects. To finish the day, our researchers participated in some team bonding activities which involved a trip to the newly refurbished Nottingham Castle followed by a group dinner.
The morning of day 2 was focused on professional development, with our researchers hearing the career journeys of two Nottingham PhD graduates, Dr Angie Dilley, PR and Communications Strategic Lead at Healthwatch Nottingham and Dr Prema Nirgude, Head of Insights and Engagement, NHS Nottingham Integrated Care Board. Following this, they engaged in a career planning workshop led by two members of the UoN careers team, Lucie Whitfield, and Kirstin Barnard. This workshop gave advice on how to approach career planning and gave our researchers tips for how to plan each stage of their careers.
The latter part of the day focussed on how to open up their research and ensure that their projects will have an impact on Nottinghamshire communities. It started with a workshop from Jane Bonnell and Vic Boskett from the NTU Library team, who shared the principles of open research and helped researchers to identify opportunities for applying open practices to their research projects. We were then joined by Michelle Poland, NTU Research Impact Manager, helped researchers develop a plan for embedding impact principles within their projects. To end the day, our researchers were given a guided tour of the Nottingham Contemporary current exhibitions, giving them the opportunity to engage with the venue’s rich cultural offerings and take in some of the bright and creative featured exhibitions after a day of learning.
Kirstin Barnard, one of the speakers from the UoN careers team, expressed her excitement in the coming together of universities to create a great working environment for our students:
“We are really pleased to be working with Co(l)Lab and partnering with Trent on this fantastic initiative. We are looking forward to working with the whole group over the next few years around their Career needs and how we can work in collaboration in the future”.
The final day of the retreat took a more reflective turn, with researchers engaging in a workshop to help them consider the many different research dilemmas they may encounter within their research projects, and strategies for navigating them. This was delivered by Nicola Middleton and Alison Edgley from the UoN Researcher Academy, who introduced researchers to concepts and practices which would support them in negotiating research dilemmas, such as inclusivity, research ethics and transparency. The goal of this was for our researchers to bring these concepts and critical skills into their study so that they were aware of any obstacles they may face and the best ways to overcome them. This session wrapped up our summer retreat for our first cohort of PhD researchers, which created a rich learning environment for our researchers to immerse themselves into the world of research while connecting with the city in which they hope to bring about positive change.
Reflecting on having organised the event, our Senior Lecturer in Doctoral Education and Civic Engagement, Dr Rachel Handforth said:
“As the team supporting our first cohort of Co(l)laboratory PhD student researchers, we were thrilled to be able to bring together our fantastic students at Nottingham Contemporary- such an iconic organisation who were wonderful hosts – to learn about civic leadership, open research and how to navigate research dilemmas.
Over the 3 days we have had brilliant discussions with academic and professionals from both universities about partnership working, participatory research practices, and how to ensure research has impact.
We really enjoyed hearing from two Nottingham PhD graduates working in healthcare organisations in Nottinghamshire about their post-PhD career journeys and how they used their research skills, acquired during the PhD, to effect change in the city. It was great for our students to consider what professional and community experience they are bringing into the PhD and start considering their future career plans.
It was also a good opportunity for our students to visit key cultural landmarks across Nottingham, including the recently re-opened Castle, to help them physically connect with place that has inspired all of their research projects.”
