Registration is now open to attend our exciting virtual workshop series on networking and profile building - learn effective tools for successfully growing and nurturing your networks and put your skills into practice with other UK researchers as part of the training.
The five sessions, running between 28 January and 22 February, were designed to be complementary and are meant to be attended as a series. You must register for all five sessions.
The workshop series was created as a collaboration between Queen’s University Belfast, Queen Mary University London, University of Cambridge, King’s College London, University of Nottingham, Imperial College London, University of Glasgow and University of Cardiff.
Learn more about each of the sessions:
- Session 1: Introduction to the principles of networking
- Session 2: Building confidence to network and taking first steps
- Session 3: Networking Session hosted on Kumospace
- Session 4: Collaboration & partnering
- Session 5: Social media for networking (Twitter, LinkedIn)
Session 1: Introduction to the principles of networking
Date: Friday 28 January 2022, 10:30-12:00
Led by: Tom Rusbridge (King’s) and Nicole Horst (Cambridge)
This session will enable you to:
- define networking - what it is and isn’t, and why it’s important for a range of contexts
- map your existing network and reflect on how it is functioning
- identify gaps in your network and plan how to fill them
- connect with other participants during and between sessions.
Session 2: Building confidence to network and taking first steps
Date: Thursday 3 February 2022, 14:00-15:30
Led by: Josie Grindulis (Cardiff) and Victoria Sedman (Nottingham)
This session connects to previous one, and will help you delve a little further into developing methods of networking which are comfortable for you. During the session you will meet a range of experienced “networking regulars” drawn from the partner universities and their networks.
This session will enable you to:
- self-assess and gain confidence in developing and using networking for career development
- identify barriers to networking and strategies to overcome them
- evaluate the range of networking options/practices which suit extraverts and those which suit introverts
- reflect on how this safe space was used at the event to develop or boost your network.
Session 3: Networking Session hosted on Kumospace
Date: Monday 7 February 2022, 13:00-14:00
Led by: Victoria Sedman (Nottingham) and Rui Pires Martins (QMUL)
This free-form networking session will give participants the opportunity to network with participants from other institutions. Kumospace is an interactive networking platform that creates a virtual space you can move around in and find others to interact with.
Please register for your free profile in order to use the service.
Session 4: Collaboration & Partnering
Date: Tuesday 15 February 2022, 10:00-11:30
Led by: Paul Monahan (Queens Belfast) and Rui Pires Martins (QMUL)
Collaboration and partnering have become an important part of research. Whether through collaborating within your academic discipline, or partnering with non-academic organisations, academics are expected to form productive networking connections to further their research goals.
In this session, we will help you assess the value of collaboration and partnering for your career. You'll learn how to evaluate your collaboration/partnering potential, gaining practical ways to help you form these connections.
This session will focus on:
- what is research collaboration and some examples/case studies
- how to begin and manage a research collaboration
- panel discussion – Queen’s University Belfast and Queen Mary University London staff discuss their experience of research collaboration
- planning next steps in developing networks and potential collaborations.
Session 5: Social media for networking (Twitter, LinkedIn)
Date: Tuesday 22 February 2022, 10:00-11:30
Led by: Donald Lush (King’s), Sam Oakley (Glasgow) and Ruth Winden (Leeds)
This session will explore how online networking can support your goals. We will help you review and improve your online profile, going in depth on making best use of Twitter and LinkedIn. We’ll discuss strategies to make the most of your time and resources, and this session will give you a handy peer group to get you off to a flying start!
Please ensure that you are available to attend all five sessions if you register for this series.
Register here - registration closes on 3 January 2022.