Have you been keeping up with the HDR development bulletin? Each week a different aspect of the Research and Employability Skills Training (REST) Program is spotlighted to help HDR students’ identify opportunities to progress with their skill development. The skills covered so far include Career planning, Thesis writing and Research practice.
See below for what was covered and full details further on. For personalised advice, email HDR.Development@flinders.edu.au and we can help 😊
Skill Spotlight: Literature Review (Mon 4 Sept)
The skill we are focusing on this week is developing your ‘Literature review’. Resources associated with this skill can be accessed here on the REST FLO site and here on the Flinders library site. Conducting a literature review early on in your candidature is an essential part of your HDR learning journey. It creates space for you to deeply familiarise yourself with existing knowledge from one or more disciplines, as you identify and clarify the research gap you want to pursue.
Skill Spotlight: Personal Awareness and Growth (Mon 11 Sept)
This week we are focusing on Personal Awareness and Growth. You can find this skill here on the REST FLO site. This skill can be approached through a number of different lenses, but ultimately it is about checking in with yourself and through this reflection, identifying opportunities to invest back into yourself through self-care and self-development.
Skill Spotlight: Collaboration and Leadership (Mon 18 Sept)
This week we are focusing on the topic Collaboration and Leadership. You can find this skill here on the REST FLO site. At some point in your HDR candidature, someone has probably said to you that your HDR is a training ground. You do not have to know everything; you should ask questions; and should make the most of this opportunity to learn. These things are all true – however, just because you are ‘researchers in training’ does not mean you have to position yourself as (or remain) a novice! So lets explore something that is talked about less often (due to things like power dynamics, imposter syndrome etc.), which is the expertise you bring with you to your program as well as the expertise you rapidly develop during your candidature.
Skill Spotlight: Candidature management (Mon 25 Sept)
This week we are exploring the topic ‘thesis submission and examination’ as part of the skill candidature management. This topic is linked here on the REST FLO site. Every HDR student at Flinders University is required to complete a research thesis as part of their candidature. Depending on the type and length of your program, the word limits and content will vary slightly. Are you familiar with the expectations for your program?
Skill Spotlight: Literature Review
Monday 9 September
The skill we are focusing on this week is developing your ‘Literature review’. Resources associated with this skill can be accessed here on the REST FLO site and here on the Flinders library site.
Conducting a literature review early on in your candidature is an essential part of your HDR learning journey. It creates space for you to deeply familiarise yourself with existing knowledge from one or more disciplines, as you identify and clarify the research gap you want to pursue.
Your literature review is also one of the most important parts of your thesis. It is a systematic interrogation of the existing research that helps you to position your research in the knowledge gap. It enables you to explore existing understanding in your research area whilst also providing context for the scope and significance of your specific research project.
The literature review is also a place that can trip you up.
- Where should you stop and start the story?
- How much detail and synthesis should you include?
- How do you make sure it is ‘up to date’ by the time you are ready to submit?
Some of these boundaries will be determined through discussion between you and your supervisor. However, boundaries can also be guided by the type of approach you use when conducting your review as well as your field of research (some fields have a lot of existing knowledge, others have much less).
The library has several resources that can support you to conduct a thorough review. In addition to supplying the databases you will need to use to conduct your search, they run training in things like search procedures and setting up literature trackers. The library also offers one-one-one help and has provided the content below to share with you so you can learn more about this service.
Advanced and systematic searching support
HDRs who are seeking further assistance with library search skills, including systematic style reviews, can attend a Library Search Support drop-in session to get customised support and ask any questions you may have.
Sessions are run weekly at Central, Sturt & Medical libraries, as well as online (view drop-in schedule). Drop by anytime if you are stuck with searching and a librarian can provide specialised assistance, no bookings are required.
To get the most out of your time, it is suggested that you complete either of the following self-paced modules in Canvas (login required) prior to attending a drop-in: Searching with confidence (beginner) and/or Systematic literature searching (advanced).
Skill Spotlight: Personal Awareness and Growth
Monday 11 September
This week we are focusing on Personal Awareness and Growth. You can find this skill here on the REST FLO site. This skill can be approached through a number of different lenses, but ultimately it is about checking in with yourself and through this reflection, identifying opportunities to invest back into yourself through self-care and self-development.
Since it is Wellbeing Week – there are lots of things happening across the university that will help support and facilitate personal awareness and growth. We encourage you to explore the activities on offer and pick one that helps you to step outside your research brain space for a few moments.
Did you know there are also year-round wellbeing activities and resources you can tap into? Health, Counselling and Disability Services eMental Health Project Officer, Dr Gareth Furber has kindly summarised what’s on offer in this blog. Gareth also recently put a call out to see if there was any interest in running another round of the Be Well Plan (date tbc – please register your interest by emailing ‘Be Well Plan Yep’ to gareth.furber@flinders.edu.au).
Skill Spotlight: Collaboration and Leadership
Monday 18 September
At some point in your HDR candidature, someone has probably said to you that your HDR is a training ground. You do not have to know everything; you should ask questions; and should make the most of this opportunity to learn. These things are all true – however, just because you are ‘researchers in training’ does not mean you have to position yourself as (or remain) a novice! So lets explore something that is talked about less often (due to things like power dynamics, imposter syndrome etc.), which is the expertise you bring with you to your program as well as the expertise you rapidly develop during your candidature.
The very nature of the HDR experience means you are emerging leaders at the forefront of innovation, research, and knowledge dissemination in your research area. HDR students also often take on collaborative and/or leadership roles within their academic communities, working as teaching assistants, mentors, and running student organizations. These roles require an abundance of collaboration and leadership skills including effective communication, self-awareness, decision making, and sometimes advocacy (for yourself and for others). Chances are you have developed a number of these ‘softer skills’ before starting your candidature – through previous study, work and life experience.
HDR student expertise plays a pivotal role in shaping not only the academic landscape but also the broader community. So take a moment this week to reflect on how your collaboration and leadership skills are being used. Is there more would like to be doing being to both sharpen your skills or influence you HDR experience?
Skill Spotlight: Candidature Management
Monday 25 September
This week we are exploring the topic ‘thesis submission and examination’ as part of the skill candidature management. This topic is linked here on the REST FLO site.
Every HDR student at Flinders University is required to complete a research thesis as part of their candidature. Depending on the type and length of your program, the word limits and content will vary slightly. Are you familiar with the expectations for your program?
If you want to check that you are, here are some links to the policies and procedures that guide your Flinders HDR program:
Even if you are only just beginning your program, it is a good idea to set yourself up for success by getting an understanding of what you are expected to create and how your examiners will judge your thesis as early as possible. You can find detailed information on the thesis preparation, submission and examination process, including links to relevant forms and processes on the HDR Examination and Completions website
HDR students are also welcome to attend next month’s HDR Completions Workshop to get information about the thesis submission and examination process, and to workshop strategies to get you through the last six months of candidature.
HDR Completions Workshop
Thursday 26th October
9:30am – 2pm
Online via Teams
Other useful resources
There are also a number of useful Epigeum online courses available for both students and supervisors that can be completed. Information below.
For Students: Epigeum Research Skills Toolkit – Delivering your Research Project
This online module helps students to:
- Identify methods for reflective practice and record-keeping during a project
- Evaluate what should happen at the completion of a project
- Plan how to complete your thesis or dissertation and navigate the closing stages of your project whilst maintaining your well-being.
For detailed instructions on how to create an account with Epigeum (if you have not already done so), please refer here for students.
For Supervisors: Module 9: Preparing for Completion and Examination
This online module, which is part of the HDR Supervisor Development Program, helps HDR supervisors to:
- Identify your institutional regulations and disciplinary norms regarding submission of the doctoral output
- Advise candidates on strategies for effectively completing and submitting their output for examination
- Explain the assessment process
- Identify examiners for candidates, taking into account the research
- Support candidates in the periods prior to and following examination, particularly in completing revisions.