Are you preparing for your PhD viva? In this episode, Dr. Dean Fido and Dr. Craig Harper discuss five key tips for successfully defending your thesis during the viva process. We cover understanding the purpose of the viva, knowing your research inside and out, practicing your presentation skills, anticipating potential questions and challenges, and staying calm and focused. With the right preparation and mindset, you can increase your chances of success and make the viva a rewarding experience. Listen now for practical advice and guidance on preparing for your PhD viva.
In this podcast episode, Dr Dean Fido and Dr Craig Harper delve into the hidden curriculum of graduate school and discuss the unspoken expectations and lessons that PhD students often learn along the way. Our three key themes include the importance of networking, the need to publish in top journals, and professional conduct and expectations. Listen now for practical advice on navigating the hidden curriculum of a PhD program and setting yourself up for success in academia.
Are you curious about using AI for academic writing? In this episode, Dr. Dean Fido and Dr. Craig Harper explore the pros and cons of using AI for academic papers and essays, as well as the ethical considerations involved. We'll also share tips for those considering using AI for their own academic work. Whether you're a researcher, scholar, or student, you won't want to miss this in-depth discussion on the use of AI for academic writing.
Welcome back to the #iProgress Podcast. Remember to subscribe to the YouTube channel to see all of our content if you find it useful.
In this episode, your hosts - Dr. Dean Fido and Dr. Craig Harper - talk through the differences between a Masters-level and PhD thesis process.
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YOUTUBE ►► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCslssS3vIVx2okk6g5d9D4g
TWITTER ►► https://twitter.com/iProgress_CC
WEBSITE ►► https://iprogress-cc.com/
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Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
00:37 - Comparing Project Structures and Expectations
04:46 - How Long are the Projects?
09:40 - How You Are Examined
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CRIB NOTES:
- Welcomes & scope of podcast episode
- Topic 1 - Project Structure
- Master’s single project answering a single specific question
- PhD - Multiple projects which are trying to answer a broader project
- Publication and dissemination expectations
- Topic 2 - Project Length
- Time: 9-18 months (Masters) vs. 3-4 years (PhD)
- Writing: 6,000-8,000 words (though some will be longer) for Masters vs. 50,000-80,000 words for PhD
- Topic 3 - Examination
- Supervisor (and second marker) for a Masters vs. an independent team of internal/external examiners with an oral defense for a PhD
- Closing remarks
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Music by AlphaGaming | HarrisHeller
Welcome back to the #iProgress Podcast. Remember to subscribe to the YouTube channel if you find it useful.
In this episode, your hosts - Dr. Dean Fido and Dr. Craig Harper - talk through the life of an academic and how they plan their weeks to maximise productivity and student success while reducing burnout as far as possible.
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YOUTUBE ►► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCslssS3vIVx2okk6g5d9D4g
TWITTER ►► https://twitter.com/iProgress_CC
WEBSITE ►► https://iprogress-cc.com/
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Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
02:02 - Managing Competing Tasks
11:19 - Finding a Balance Between Shallow and Deep Work
17:33 - Keep Control of Your Diary Efficiently
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CRIB NOTES:
- Welcomes & scope of podcast episode
- Topic 1 - Manage Competing Tasks
- Teaching (preparing and giving lectures, seminars, and tutorials)
- Incorporating research into teaching time
- Navigating admin and committee roles
- Topic 2 - Navigate Shallow vs. Deep Work
- Don't become swamped by shallow work (e-mail, general admin, routine meetings)
- Focus and block out deep work time (writing and research planning)
- What about teaching?
- Topic 3 - Maintaining Control
- Planning diaries well in advance
- Using semi-automation (e.g., adopt an office hours model, create booking links)
- Closing remarks
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Music by AlphaGaming | HarrisHeller
Welcome back to the #iProgress Podcast. Remember to subscribe to the YouTube channel to see all of our content if you find it useful.
In this episode, your hosts - Dr. Dean Fido and Dr. Craig Harper - talk through examples of setting SMART goals to succeed at your tasks.
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YOUTUBE ►► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCslssS3vIVx2okk6g5d9D4g
TWITTER ►► https://twitter.com/iProgress_CC
WEBSITE ►► https://iprogress-cc.com/
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Chapters:
00:00 - Defining SMART Goals
03:00 - SMART Goals for Small Wins
06:53 - Using SMART Goals to Write a Paper
15:57 - Project Milestones and SMART Goal Setting
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CRIB NOTES SMART is an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time Bound. For a written walk-through of SMART goal-setting, see https://www.atlassian.com/blog/productivity/how-to-write-smart-goals
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Music by AlphaGaming | HarrisHeller
Welcome back to the #iProgress Podcast.
In this episode, your hosts - Dr. Dean Fido and Dr. Craig Harper - talk through the step from undergraduate to postgraduate study, and how students and educators can help themselves and their learners to navigate this transition.
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YOUTUBE ►► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCslssS3vIVx2okk6g5d9D4g
TWITTER ►► https://twitter.com/iProgress_CC
INSTAGRAM ►► https://www.instagram.com/iprogress_official/
WEBSITE ►► https://iprogress-cc.com/
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Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
02:50 - Setting Postgraduate Expectations
09:46 - How Are Masters Courses Delivered?
20:18 - Are Masters Degrees More DIfficult Than Undergraduate Courses?
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CRIB NOTES:
- Welcomes & scope of podcast episode
- Topic 1 - Managing expectations
- Prepare for independent study
- Develop ideas outside of formal taught material
- Developing your own professional identity and voice
- Topic 2 - Content and delivery
- Larger focus on group discussions
- Applied knowledge which goes above and beyond purely theoretical (e.g., prep for careers)
- Lectures delivered by experts/external speakers
- Topic 3 - A step up in difficulty?
- Is a masters degree really harder than an undergraduate course?
- Considering content vs. situational factors
-Closing remarks
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Music by AlphaGaming | HarrisHeller
Welcome back to the #iProgress Podcast. Remember to subscribe to our channels to see all of our content
In this episode, your hosts - Dr. Dean Fido and Dr. Craig Harper - talk how to get the most from your research supervision meetings.
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YOUTUBE ►► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCslssS3vIVx2okk6g5d9D4g
TWITTER ►► https://twitter.com/iProgress_CC
INSTAGRAM ►► https://www.instagram.com/iprogress_official/
WEBSITE ►► https://iprogress-cc.com/
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Chapters:
00:00 - Supervision as the Heartbeat of the Research Process
03:07 - Setting an Agenda
07:22 - Agree Clear Action Points
13:10 - Maintain Accurate Supervision Logs
16:03 - Be Mindful of Cultural and Interpersonal Differences
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RESOURCES
How to navigate a supervision relationship breakdown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gP1znbXJVC4
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CRIB NOTES:
-Welcomes & Scope of podcast episode
- Supervisory relationship is most important part of the PhD
- Topic 1 - Set an agenda
- Know what you want to achieve
- Without a plan, meetings can be shorter than needed
- Everybody’s time is pressured - ensure that you can maximise efficiency
- Topic 2 - Agree action points for all parties
- Successful progress depends on keeping the project on track
- Task lists and action points foster a collaborative environment
- Topic 3 - Make logs of talking points and agreed actions
- Difficult to remember issues if meeting weeks apart
- Keeps people accountable
- Useful if needed for dispute resolution
- Closing remarks
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Music by AlphaGaming | HarrisHeller
Welcome back to the #iProgress Podcast - JOIN US ON DISCORD: https://discord.gg/Ru5mt8PYpM
In this episode, your hosts - Dr. Dean Fido and Dr. Craig Harper - talk about attainment gaps in university degrees, and explore a recent article from Dean about three quick fixes to closing some of these disparities.
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YOUTUBE ►► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCslssS3vIVx2okk6g5d9D4g
TWITTER ►► https://twitter.com/iProgress_CC
INSTAGRAM ►► https://www.instagram.com/iprogress_official/
WEBSITE ►► https://iprogress-cc.com/
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Chapters:
00:00 - The Extent of Award Attainment Gaps
03:33 - Co-Design and Collaboration with Learners
08:46 - Make Feedback Clear and Accessible When It's Needed
14:46 - Break Down Barriers to Course Engagement and Access to Higher Education
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Resources
Dean's article for Times Higher Education: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/three-immediate-changes-academics-can-make-close-awarding-gaps
COVID adjustments led to reductions in attainment gaps: https://www.cctl.cam.ac.uk/mind-gap-toolkit/how-know/impact-covid
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CRIB NOTES:
-Welcomes & Scope of podcast episode
- Racial and socioeconomic disparities are large, in relation to both awarding levels and progression / drop-out rates
-Topic 1 - Co-Producing Teaching Materials
- Making sure examples and cultural references make sense
- Adapting to different learner abilities and styles
- Academics as experts, but with a responsibility to make content accessible
-Topic 2 - Effective and Accessible Feedback
- Continual feedback throughout teaching as vital to boosting attainment
- Consistency in feedback methods and presentation in summative assessments
- Developing effective ways to test knowledge in real time
- Topic 3 - Break Down Barriers
- COVID-19 adjustments led to reductions in attainment gaps
- Online learning as a leveller of the playing field via increased engagement
- Closing remarks
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Music by AlphaGaming | HarrisHeller
Welcome back to the #iProgress Podcast - JOIN US ON DISCORD: https://discord.gg/Ru5mt8PYpM
In this episode, your hosts - Dr. Dean Fido and Dr. Craig Harper - talk about how you can sell yourself on the academic and professional job markets. They cover the use of social media when searching for opportunities, developing your skill set, and marketing yourself in applications for employment.
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YOUTUBE ►► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCslssS3vIVx2okk6g5d9D4g
TWITTER ►► https://twitter.com/iProgress_CC
INSTAGRAM ►► https://www.instagram.com/iprogress_official/
WEBSITE ►► https://iprogress-cc.com/
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Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction to the Episode 01:38 - Effective Use of Social Media
08:04 - Be So Good That Employers Can't Ignore You
18:11 - Develop an Open and Accessible Portfolio
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Resources
Cal Newport's "So Good They Can't Ignore You" book: https://amzn.to/3ga2psE
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CRIB NOTES:
-Welcomes & Scope of podcast episode
-Topic 1 - Personal Branding
- Establish a personal 'brand'
- Be online and on social media, but choose your platforms wisely
-Topic 2 - Sell Your Skills and Your Story
- Identify what sets you apart
- Don't follow your passion, but develop a skill set that will allow you to enjoy your future role
- Be 'so good they can't ignore you'
- Topic 3 - Develop an open-access portfolio of your skills
- Web presence and online portfolios
- Choose your platform appropriately
- A website for doctoral candidates
- Blogging as an undergraduate
- Closing remarks
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Music by AlphaGaming | HarrisHeller
Welcome back to the #iProgress Podcast - JOIN US ON DISCORD: https://discord.gg/Ru5mt8PYpM
In this episode, your hosts - Dr. Dean Fido and Dr. Craig Harper - talk you through the things that they would change about working in higher education.
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YOUTUBE ►► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCslssS3vIVx2okk6g5d9D4g
TWITTER ►► https://twitter.com/iProgress_CC
INSTAGRAM ►► https://www.instagram.com/iprogress_official/
WEBSITE ►► https://iprogress-cc.com/
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Chapters:
00:00 - Episode Introduction
00:32 - Clarity in Promotion Pathways
09:40 - Protection of Research Hours
16:26 - Cutting University Beauracracy and Additional Academic Workload
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CRIB NOTES:
-Welcomes & Scope of podcast episode
-Topic 1 - Academic Pathways to Promotion
- Understanding criteria
- Establish your evidence
- Smart framing of annual objectives
-Topic 2 - Protecting Research Time
- Time-blocking for success
- Combining tasks to make more efficient use of hours
- Adopt a student-based model for win-win situations
- Topic 3 - Cutting Academic Beaucracy
- The need for research support
- Poor communication between departments adding to academic workloads
- Avoid becoming the 'Switchboard Academic'
- Closing remarks
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Music by AlphaGaming | HarrisHeller
Welcome back to the #iProgress Podcast - JOIN US ON DISCORD: https://discord.gg/Ru5mt8PYpM
In this episode, your hosts - Dr. Dean Fido and Dr. Craig Harper - talk you through how you can effectively and efficiently start your PhD journey. They discuss the need for efficiency in the PhD process, and their top tips for working effectively during your first week and throughout the first year.
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YOUTUBE ►► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCslssS3vIVx2okk6g5d9D4g
TWITTER ►► https://twitter.com/iProgress_CC
INSTAGRAM ►► https://www.instagram.com/iprogress_official/
WEBSITE ►► https://iprogress-cc.com/
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Chapters:
00:00 - The current state of PhD funding and availability
08:44 - Developing your PhD mindset in the first week
24:33 - Planning your first year as a PhD student
Resources: Our PhD Notion Template: xxxxxxxxx
Get your planner: https://iprogress-cc.com/resources-shop/
Our tips for starting your PhD effectively on day one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50H9rtiHXV0
Cal Newport's "Deep Work" book: https://amzn.to/3QkPH71
Cal Newport's "A World Without Email" book: https://amzn.to/3Rnp5TW
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CRIB NOTES
- Welcomes & Scope of podcast episode
- Topic 1 - The current state of PhDs
- Increased number of self-funded PhD students over the last few years
- Compared to 2017–18, there has been a decline in providers’ own funds, overseas government funding and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding as a major source of tuition fees.
- There was a significant increase in the number of self-funded entrants in 2020–21, which is mainly attributed to the growth from China.
- The uncertainty of the UK’s participation in Horizon Europe impacts both access to the prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action doctoral training networks and PhD students funded through Horizon Europe projects.
- Because of this, there are a lot of students who have invested their own money in their PhDs and so for them, being able to complete in a timely manner is of importance.
- Topic 2 - Tips for starting off effectively in your first week
- Enroll in all workshops available
- Set up meeting with supervision team and establish a contract of working
- Fully acquaint yourself with campus
- Find your quiet spot
- Find your place to learn
- Meet the librarians and support staff
- Attend any welcome events possible to find your tribe
- Topic 3 - Tips for starting off effectively during your first year
- Plan a publication
- Gain a thorough grounding through regular writing
- Develop templates to avoid 'productive procrastination'
- Closing remarks
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Music by AlphaGaming | HarrisHeller
Welcome back to the #iProgress Podcast
JOIN US ON DISCORD: https://discord.gg/Ru5mt8PYpM
In this episode, your hosts - Dr. Dean Fido and Dr. Craig Harper - talk you through the things that they wish they'd known when starting their undergraduate degrees. They discuss the importance of effective workflows and time management, as well as the value of looking at feedback over grades.
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YOUTUBE ►► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCslssS3vIVx2okk6g5d9D4g
TWITTER ►► https://twitter.com/iProgress_CC
INSTAGRAM ►► https://www.instagram.com/iprogress_official/
WEBSITE ►► https://iprogress-cc.com/
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Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
00:56 - Maximize Your Ways of Working
17:02 - Saying Yes to New Opportunities
23:36 - Making the Most of Feedback
Resources
Our Notion Template
Video walkthrough: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WedvIlAFMc
Get your planner: https://iprogress-cc.com/resources-shop/
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CRIB NOTES:
Topic 1 - Learning Techniques
-Using years 1 and 2 of the degree to try different methods of learning and essay writing
-Block study vs. studying as opportunities arise.
Topic 2 - Saying Yes to New Experiences
-It can be difficult to always have a direction you want to take your life during University, and as such, opening yourself up to as many experiences as possible can be an advantage after completing the degree.
-This can extend outside of sports and committees to research opportunities and volunteering opportunities
-Academics are limited for time to conduct research and would be grateful for assistance; also holds students in good stead for third year projects.
Topic 3 - Utilizing Feedback
-Movement towards detailed, comprehensive, and individualized feedback for all students at all stages of study
-But the feedback is not always capitalised on to its full capacity, or taken into consideration across various modes of study.
-Reaching out to markers to explore and better understand feedback
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Music by AlphaGaming | HarrisHeller
Welcome back to the #iProgress Podcast
JOIN US ON DISCORD: https://discord.gg/Ru5mt8PYpM
In this episode, your hosts - Dr. Dean Fido and Dr. Craig Harper - talk about the onging trend of 'leaving academia', and give some reflections on this process. They discuss possible causes of the academic exodus, and why people might wish to remain in higher education.
YOUTUBE ►► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCslssS3vIVx2okk6g5d9D4g
TWITTER ►► https://twitter.com/iProgress_CC
INSTAGRAM ►► https://www.instagram.com/iprogress_official/
WEBSITE ►► https://iprogress-cc.com/
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Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
01:21 - Academia vs. 'Industry'
09:42 - Why Are People Leaving Academia?
29:30 - Social Media Discussions and the Effect on ECRs
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Topic 1 - What is Industry?
-Allows academics to bring about impact through taking ideas to market (though commericalisation is increasing).
-Increase applications for real life and provides opportunities and support for those with great ideas.
Topic 2 - Reasons for Leaving
-Mental Health
-Leads on from Ep 002 discussion of academics feeling burnt out by the vast scope of their current duties with seemingly little support to help them understand their remit.
-Where the remit is there, the culture promotes unhealthy working hours, working during annual leave, and returning from leave to all the work missed whilst away (just shifting workload instead of having time off).
-Expression
-Is academia the best place for everybody to do their best work?
-Competing roles, growing focus on student numbers
-Pay
-Academia is likely to pay less than many industry roles, especially after enduring years of low pay as a PhD student.
Topic 3 - Impact on ECRs and aspiring academics
-Dampens motivation for those part-way through their PhD programme
-Could cultivate toxicity in Universities
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Music by AlphaGaming | HarrisHeller
Welcome back to the #iProgress Podcast
JOIN US ON DISCORD: https://discord.gg/Ru5mt8PYpM
In this episode, your hosts - Dr. Dean Fido and Dr. Craig Harper - talk you through the growing amount of poor mental health in academia and how PhD students and Early Career Researchers are feeling this the most. They discuss possible causes as well as ways to start to protect yourself and the need for cultural change.
YOUTUBE ►► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCslssS3vIVx2okk6g5d9D4g
TWITTER ►► https://twitter.com/iProgress_CC
INSTAGRAM ►► https://www.instagram.com/iprogress_official/
WEBSITE ►► https://iprogress-cc.com/
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Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
01:00 - Prevalence of Poor Mental Health
12:19 - Potential Causes
28:06 - Overcoming Poor Mental Health
RESOURCES: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/how-say-no-and-do-it-successfully
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Topic 1 - Scope of Mental Health
- A recent online survey with 2,279 participants from 26 countries and 234 institutions reported that graduate students are more than six times as likely to experience depression and anxiety as compared to the general population (Evans et al., 2018).
- 3,659 Ph.D. students from Belgium indicate that the prevalence of psychiatric disorders is higher among academics than the general highly educated population (Levecque et al., 2017).
- The journal Nature runs a global annual survey for doctoral researchers. The survey had over 6,000 respondents in 2019 and featured a question exploring mental health. Thirty-six percent of the survey participants said that they had sought help for anxiety or depression caused by their PhD studies
Topic 2 - Potential Causes
- PhD students under-prepared for entering into the role; often undertake inductions which don’t represent role, and are expected to learn on the job
- This trails into the academic role of ECRs who are expected to juggle teaching, finishing off their PhDs, and amplifying their own research portfolio - on top of administration duties.
- Failing to say no - or not being in the position to avoid taking on new duties because of how you might be viewed. Hidden duties that don’t get mapped onto workload plans, which bleeds into spending time working in the evenings.
Topic 3 - How to Overcome
- Altering the working environment and culture of academia
- Del Carpio also raises a point that is highlighted in the 2019 Nature survey – long hours culture: "I’ve encountered people who still hold on to models of academia where you can only be successful by working long hours and weekends. I’ve even been told by a faculty member at my university that if I’m not willing to do so, I need to find a different career."
- Thoroughly preparing PhD students for the gradient in learning as they move into their post-grad positions
- Skills workshops, speakers, mentors and coaches
- Learning to work effectively from home but having resources on campus
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Music by AlphaGaming | HarrisHeller
Welcome to the iProgress Podcast.
In this launch episode, your hosts - Dr. Dean Fido and Dr. Craig Harper - talk you through the aims of the show and iProgress as a new community of learners and young professionals. They touch upon the current deficits in current training and education approaches, and how developing a sense of community and shared resources can plug some of these gaps.