Skills Development Programme
At Swansea, transferable skills development is an integral part of the research student experience. The Postgraduate Research Skills Development Programme has been developed to support research students in the development of generic and transferable skills.
Assessing your Training Needs and Planning your Training
In order to ascertain which courses will most benefit you, at the start of each academic year you should complete the skills audit in your research portfolio. This is available on Blackboard, and on the Research Skills website. In conjunction with your supervisors, you can then plan your skills development activities for the session.
The skills development programme offered by the Academic Board (Postgraduate Research) is a key resource for you to draw on. It is co-ordinated by the Postgraduate Skills Development Officer and brings together a range of courses provided both centrally and within departments. These are designed to assist you in developing the generic skills necessary for completion of your research, as well as the transferable skills necessary for your future employability.
The programme has four main elements. Firstly, the Academic Board (Postgraduate Research) Research Activity Days and Short Courses enable you to develop your transferable skills. This provision is offered by staff from Swansea University and external trainers with extensive experience of developing research students’ skills at Swansea and other universities.
Secondly, the Academic Board programme is closely integrated with the work of the Careers Service. Postgraduate research students receive introductory lectures and interviews with members of the Careers Service which relate postgraduate research study to future career management.
Thirdly, certain Master’s degree modules incorporate generic research skills elements which are likely to be of value to research students in a number of departments. The Academic Board (Postgraduate Research) has organised a mechanism by which these can be made available to students to the mutual advantage of the departments concerned. The list of modules is up-dated annually.
Finally, the programme highlights development opportunities available elsewhere on campus. We would draw your attention to the wide range of courses offered by the Staff Development Unit, and the Library and Information Service, which also offers the European Computer Driving Licence as well as specific IT courses.
College Training Provision
Your College will provide for your subject-specific research training and skills development, often using Master’s degree modules.
All Colleges within the University are committed to providing a vigorous research environment in which research students feel encouraged and stimulated in their study. Typically, staff are active researchers who can advise from first-hand experience on the practicalities of funding, organising and evaluating research.
< Issues Of Relevance To Part-time Students | Research Students from Outside the European Union >
