Training and Development

 

Define your research training programme

Create a personalised research training experience

NINE DTP award-holders have the opportunity to create and shape their own training experience during their PhD. Candidates can attend our programme of events, apply for small grants to attend and engage in external opportunities, or even create or propose events of their own devising.

Professional Development Short Courses

NINE DTP works with outside experts to teach short (usually 2-4-hour) courses on a range of topics that our research postgraduates have recognised as meeting professional needs. Most of these courses are taught in online or hybrid format, so they’re easily accessible to students from across the DTP. Some of the topics covered in recent years include:

  • Research Design & Methodology

    Undertaking Interdisciplinary Research
    Creative Research Methods
    Methodological ‘Top ups’
    Undertaking Ethically Challenging Research
    Researching Vulnerable Populations and Inclusive Research Practice

  • Research Design & Methodology

    Undertaking Interdisciplinary Research
    Creative Research Methods
    Methodological ‘Top ups’
    Undertaking Ethically Challenging Research
    Researching Vulnerable Populations and Inclusive Research Practice

  • Data & Digital Skills

    Data Skills
    Data Management Skills
    Legitimate use of AI Applications in Postgraduate Research

  • Thinking & Reflection

    Critical Thinking and Theoretically Informed Analysis

    Critical Reflection Skills

  • Project & Personal Management

    Project Management Skills
    Time Management Skills
    Getting the Most from Supervision
    Combatting ‘Imposter Syndrome’

  • Professional Development & Ethics

    Networking Skills
    Career Strategisation
    Legal Considerations for Researchers

Specialised Courses

NINE DTP academic staff offer a number of 1-5-day short courses on specialised topics. In-person attendance by NINE DTP students is covered by the DTP, including travel costs for Northern Ireland students to attend trainings in England, and vice versa.

On a space available basis, students from beyond the DTP or its institutions may be able to attend for a fee. Some of the courses offered in recent years include:

NINE DTP Summer School 

These are typically 3-4 day events, offered every June, on one or more of the NINE DTP campuses. They bring together all of the NINE DTP students from the seven partner institutions for a comprehensive programme covering everything from conceptual questions in the social sciences to strategies for professional development. All costs for attendance by NINE DTP students are covered by the DTP.

Video Resources

Recordings of many of the short courses and Summer School presentations over past years are available on a password-protected area of the NINE DTP website. Topics include Networking Skills for Researchers, Preparing for your Viva, Open Access Publishing, Intellectual Property, Applying for PostDocs, Mixed Methods Research, Data Management Plans, and much, much more.

To access this website, first contact us via Contact - NINE DTP requesting a password. Once you have received a password, click the box below to access the password-protected site.

Video Resources - Click Here

Development Needs Analysis

All NINE DTP students are required to complete an annual Development Needs Analysis exercise. The DNA is conducted via InkPath and the results are to be reviewed jointly by student and supervisor, so that student and supervisor can work together to plot out next steps in the student’s training.

The DNA uses the Vitae framework, which breaks training needs into four categories:

  • Knowledge and Intellectual Abilities
  • Professional Effectiveness
  • Research Governance and Organisation
  • Engagement, Influence and Impact

The outcomes of this exercise are analysed on an institutional, pathway and overall DTP level, with the NINE DTP Director reporting the findings to the Academic Quality Committee. The ESRC also review individual responses, to ensure the exercise is being completed effectively and the training needs of our students are being identified and addressed appropriately within our remit.

We encourage all NINE DTP students to use the DNA process to shape their own research training experience in conjunction with their supervisors.

Upcoming Training Offered by NINE DTP

Registration for most NINE DTP-sponsored courses is done via InkPath.

On the calendar below click on dates marked with a black dot for information on training courses.

If you don't see what you're looking for, consider institution-sponsored training courses, RTSG-funded training, or developing your own training event.