Postgraduate Skills Development Summer School 2007
Posted on: 18 June 2007
The inaugural TCD Postgraduate Skills Development Summer School is taking place from June 18th-20thwith over 130 postgraduates participating. This three-day Summer School brings together postgraduate students from across
The aim of the event is to provide information, skills and self-management strategies to help postgraduates work towards successfully completing their degree and for planning their future career; and provide opportunities to network and discuss their postgraduate experiences. A range of activities took place to address the needs of postgraduates, whether at the early stages or the later stages of their study. The activities all focused on the four thematic areas: Managing your research, Writing a thesis or dissertation, Presenting your research and Career planning
Panel discussion forums provided opportunities fro students to engage with academic staff, alumni and others regarding the postgraduate issues of supervision, career direction and research publication. In addition, there were a range of social events enabling postgraduates to discuss their research and postgraduate experience in an informal and fun atmosphere.
At the opening session on Monday, Ruth Pe Papilleo, Graduate Students’ Union President, spoke of the diversity of the individual needs’ of Postgraduates and two speakers from the Irish University Associate, Dr. Conor O’Carroll (Assistant Director: Research Policy) and Dr. Westley Forsythe (4th Level Network Coordinator) both spoke of the many national initiatives to support postgraduates and the importance of skills developments.
Support units from across College collaborated to design and facilitate the summer school including CAPSL, Careers Advisory Service, the Library, ISS and academic Schools and departments with committed support and input from the Graduate Studies Office and Graduate Students’ Union.
The Summer School is partially funded by a HEA small grant to support postgraduate skills developments. As this is the first Postgraduate Skills Development Summer School, Trinity was delighted to have key role holders from other universities attending giving feedback on the event and supporting the strong collaboration among Irish universities in relation to postgraduate skills development.