WRoCAH development programme (2014-2018 starters)

“Building community and sharing knowledge and experience across the cohort and all stakeholders with the needs, expectations and interests of doctoral researchers at the heart of WRoCAH’s vision and activity”

WRoCAH Year by year

Click on the years below to expand and learn about the compulsory elements during each year of the WRoCAH development programme.

These events are intended to support the research and personal development of doctoral researchers with WRoCAH.  For each event and activity there are a number of learning objectives and doctoral researchers may add additional personal objectives as well.

Reflection on training and its impact on development and employability is encouraged at each stage.  This reflection forms an important part of structuring development for doctoral researchers and making sure training plans reflect an individual’s personal goals and aspirations.

Year 3 – What Next? Life after PhD

Year 3In the third year, WRoCAH doctoral researchers will focus on the impact of their research through collaboration and exchange both within and beyond academia. This will include strategies for network building, impact and engagement in preparation for Knowledge Exchange Projects.

By the end of the year, doctoral researchers will have:

  • Participated in Colloquium 3: What Next?  Life after PhD
  • Identified opportunities for knowledge transfer from their own research, and if appropriate, made a bids for Knowledge Exchange Projects
  • Identified opportunities for research collaboration and networking within the cohort and beyond
  • Updated their personal training plan, identifying gaps in knowledge or skills
  • Participated in or identified collective training suggestions that could be supported by the WRoCAH Cohort Development Fund including Student-Led Forums

Doctoral researchers will also provide an update on training they have completed under the theme of What Next?  Life after PhD to WRoCAH at the end of the academic year.

  • Colloquium 3: What Next? Life after PhD

    The third colloquium focuses on collaboration and exchange within and beyond academia, building research networks, impact and engagement and preparation for Knowledge Exchange Projects.

Year 2 – Who With? Working with Partners and getting out there

Year 2The second year of WRoCAH studentships will focus on building a positive professional presence in academic life and beyond.

The skills and experiences needed to support this will be the focus of a colloquium held in December of the second year.  Part of this will be planning for the upcoming Researcher Employability Project.

By the end of the second year, doctoral researchers will have:

  • Participated in Colloquium 2: Who With?
  • Completed a 1 month Researcher Employability Project with a direct link to personal career aspirations
  • Addressed their own learning needs around the key aspects of developing a professional profile in academic life and beyond
  • Continued to update their personal training plan, identifying gaps in knowledge or skills as they arise
  • Participated in or identified collective training suggestions that could be supported by the Cohort Development Fund including Student-Led Forums
  • Considered opportunities for Knowledge Exchange Projects arising from research

Doctoral researchers will also provide an update on training they have completed under the theme of The Professional Profile to WRoCAH at the end of the academic year.

Year 1 – What Now? Making the Most of WRoCAH

Year 1In the first year of the WRoCAH studentship training programme, doctoral researchers will focus on the transition from masters study to doctoral research. With the support of their supervisors, they will identify and act upon their training needs against this theme.

Three key events will help doctoral researchers consider their longer term development and employability as they embark upon their research.

In February of Year 1, all doctoral researchers will participate in a 1-day colloquium, echoing this theme.

By the end of the year, doctoral researchers will have:

  • Participated in 2 induction events and Colloquium 1: What Now?  Making the Most of WRoCAH.
  • Worked actively to make a successful transition from taught to doctoral research;
  • A comprehensive and regularly updated personal training plan, identifying gaps in knowledge or skills;
  • Addressed their own initial learning needs to become an effective researcher in the Arts & Humanities;
  • Participated in or identified collective training suggestions that could be supported by the Cohort Development Fund including Student-Led Forums
  • Considered where they might conduct their Researcher Employability projects in relation to employability and career aspirations.

Doctoral researchers will also provide an update on training they have completed under the theme of The Effective Researcher to WRoCAH at the end of the academic year.

  • WRoCAH Welcome

    All doctoral researchers will attend a 1-day induction in October with all other new WRoCAH doctoral researchers starting in that year. This event is in addition to local induction events at each institution and will be held at one of either Leeds, Sheffield or York.

  • Putting your Training Plan to work (November)

    The second induction day in November is a less formal event focused on getting to know the cohort, finding shared training needs and considering future employability.

  • Colloquium 1: What Now? Making the Most of WRoCAH (February)

    The first Annual Colloquium will bring the full cohort of WRoCAH doctoral researchers back together for a 1-day workshop under the What Now? Making the Most of WRoCAH theme.