New skills, new friends for PGRs
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Postgraduate research students networking at the Conference
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Over 140 research students attended the University's inaugural PGR Student Conference on Friday 22 June to do some serious networking and find out what transferable skills they can present to potential employers.
The conference which was organised by the Graduate Research Office was funded by the Roberts Skills Training Development Grant, set up by former Vice-Chancellor Gareth Roberts. This promotes and supports the development of generic skills training for PGR students and postdoctoral researchers.
The day included a presentation competition and workshops with the Careers Service and others on various advanced skills including a career in and outside academia, leadership skills, getting published and much more. Researchers who attended enjoyed the practical information and training, as well as the chance to meet each other.
George Vital Zammit from Politics said that doing a PhD is a solitary experience and it was good to get together with other PhD students to share common experiences: "Sometimes it is truly consoling to realize that others like you are sharing your same worries, albeit a different research area," he said.
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Professor Geof Tomlinson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, speaking at the PGR Student Conference
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"It was strategic, efficient, and can easily transform Sheffield graduates into the most employable graduates anywhere in the world," said Muhammad Jameel Yusha'u from Journalism Studies.
Claire Taylor from the Graduate Research Office was delighted with the response from delegates and will be bidding for money again next year to run another conference. "The best bit for me was seeing researchers from different disciplines getting the opportunity to meet and interact with each other," she said.
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