GRADskills

Key details: GRADskills is operated by CEED for St Leonards College and supports the development of research postgraduate students to improve their research capability and widen their employability inside and outside of academia.

Booking not required

Audience

  • PG research

Programme information

GRADskills is a suite of workshops and activities designed specifically for research postgraduate students (i.e. PhD, MPhil), delivered by the Centre for Education Enhancement and Development (CEED) for St Leonard's Postgraduate College. GRADskills aim is to support the development of all research postgraduate students at the University of St Andrews, to improve their research capability and widen their employability inside and outside of academia. gradskills-pgr@st-andrews.ac.uk. 

Workshops are grouped into thematic bundles which roughly follow the trajectory of the research degree (first year, mid-way, final year). 

Further online or asynchronous resources can be found on the GRADskills webpages.

More information on Vitae's Researcher Development Framework (RDF) and how you can use this to plan your professional development can be found here.

Individual workshop booking links

Links below indicate an upcoming event, but please note booking for each will open approximately five weeks ahead of each one. If a workshop title is not actively linked below, then dates for the current term have already passed and dates for the upcoming term have not yet been chosen. Further enquiries and last minute bookings (online bookings close the day before an event) should be directed to gradskills-pgr@st-andrews.ac.uk.

If you can no longer attend a workshop, please cancel your booking at least 2 working days in advance. Failure to do so may mean that future bookings are not approved. This PDMS intro video shows how to find, book and later print a certified training record.

As part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing the overall learning experience, we are pleased to inform you about some significant updates to our courses. Starting Semester 2, 2024 for our PGR Courses. We will be implementing a new course etiquette; model policy and cancellation procedure specifically tailored to streamline administrative processes and provide clear expectations for students participating in workshops. 

Key Changes: 

Course Etiquette: 

To foster a more collaborative and respectful learning environment, we have introduced a set of course etiquettes. These guidelines aim to promote constructive communication, inclusive participation, and a positive atmosphere during workshops. We believe that adhering to these etiquettes will contribute to a more enriching educational experience for everyone involved. 

Model Policies for Workshop Participation: 

Our new model policies outline the expectations and responsibilities of students participating in workshops. These policies cover various aspects, including attendance requirements, active engagement, and cancellations. By establishing clear guidelines, we aim to ensure that all students have a comprehensive understanding of what is expected of them, thus facilitating a smoother administrative process. 

Cancellation Procedures:  

The new procedure outlines a step-by-step process for course cancellation, making it more transparent and straightforward for our students. We believe that this enhanced clarity will contribute to a more seamless experience for all participants. 

The updated policy includes specific timeframes and requirements for cancellations, helping students understand when cancellations can be made and what information is needed to facilitate the process. This specificity is designed to eliminate confusion and promote a more efficient administrative workflow. 

We encourage you to thoroughly review the new course etiquettes and model policies, which will be available here ( link here will be provided for the webpage below). Familiarising yourself with these guidelines will ensure a smoother transition into the updated learning environment. 

Should you have any questions or need further clarification on any aspect of the new guidelines, please do not hesitate to reach out gradskills-pgr@ or ceed@ We are here to assist you and ensure that you have all the information you need. 

We appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we implement these changes. Our goal is to create an educational environment that is conducive to your success, and we believe that these updates will contribute significantly to achieving that goal. 

Thank you for being a valued member of our learning community. 

Theme 1) Getting started

8 courses - these are all optional.

Theme 2) Carrying out my research

10 courses - these are all optional.

Theme 3) Dealing with my data

6 courses - these are all optional.

Theme 4) Conferences, networking, and public engagement

10 courses - these are all optional.

Theme 5) Writing and publishing (in various media)

31 courses - these are all optional.

Theme 6) Teaching

11 courses - these are all optional.

Theme 7) Finishing up: what's next?

13 courses - these are all optional.

Programme organiser

CEED
Email: ceed@st-andrews.ac.uk