Freshers week at Coventry

I attended the Welcome Day, Wednesday 27 September.  Most attendees were PhD students, both part time and full time.  There were also, fewer, MRes students, either full time, or like me, part time.  I could see there were lots of people working on health/engineering related qualifications, and only about 3 in the arts.  (The following day I met these two people, Jennifer who is doing women and domesticity, and is a writer/theorist, and Carole, who is a sculptor who teaches in the education/special needs/prison environments.)

The expectation is that part time students work: 24 hours per week; have 12 meetings with their Supervisor; and once per term meet with whole supervisory team.   You are meant to treat your studies like a job - so I am meant to 'work' 3.5 days a week.

Students are expected to make a significant original contribution to knowledge.  Consider different approaches that might be taken to your subject (possibly mention the research of your assessors!), then define your approach.  

Use this time to diversify your skills
Attend conferences, and prepare yourself to submit papers.
Write articles.

Each student has an entitlement to:

£125 Research allowance - equipment, stationery, software (not sure how I would use this)
£25 for inter-library loans.
200 printer credits.
£300 conference funding, for when your conference paper is accepted!
Bookable workspaces
22 working days holiday.

Look at one thesis in your subject area on the Coventry Uni website.  Maybe use Library - Curve; or British Library - E-thos.

Prepare yourself a 90 day plan:

- Define a question (Jill asked for one question plus 5 subsets).  j
- Create a plan - what are my methods; who are my candidates, refine techniques
- Build relationships with the team - one meeting a month with Jill, first meeting with Imogen; meet with Jennifer and Carole; publish my website to them, what else ....?

Key contacts for Post Graduate Researcher support:

Research Development & Capability Team.
- training and development of research skills.  Recap@Coventry.uk
Student Lifecycle Team.  ru.reg.co.uk

Faculty support:
Postgraduate tutor - pastoral/academic support - but not from your supervisory team.
Ethics

Coventry has dedicated weeks for learning events - writing week, conference week.

15-19 January 2017. Research Hootenany -
3 minute thesis competition.  What and why you are doing it in 3 minutes.
23-27 April 2018. Doctoral Capability and Development Conference 2018
Join the Coventry PhD community on FB.

Consult Global Researchers page for funding.
Join learned societies in your area.  These often have research funding opportunities.  (Like what?  The people running Feminism in London where I have my sampler on display; Eliza Gluckman at New Hall?)

Curriculum Framework meeting. Thursday 28 September. 2 years part time

Students need to define

1. Their literature review
2. Key Questions
    Objectives
    Methodologies and Ethical Approval
    Development Needs Analysis

Compulsory Module - M001 Writing Skills 10 credits.  (100 hours)
Gain additional 30 credits in 1st year.

10 - 20 PGR (Post Graduate Researcher) development credits.
10 - 20 Subject Specific Credits.
______
30 total.

Subject Specific Credits:

Consult the Module Information Directory (MID) to find appropriate subject modules.

Coventry University - portals - student
Login
Study at CU
Doctoral College
Prog Details and checklist
Mandatory Credits
MID
Masters Development courses.

Once I've found suitable module(s), check with the Module leader that they will accept me, then consult Jill, then complete the module choice form and email to RRU.  Modules come in 10, 15 and 20 credit units - but my course only accepts 10 credit blocks.  So I might need to go over if I pick 15 unit modules.

PGR Development credits

These can be conferences, mentoring, seminars, workshops etc.

- Agree actions with Supervisor
- Keep Log
- Write reflective piece
- Submit to RRU.reg@Coventry.

Alan Berry Building for modules.

How to run Supervisory meetings

4 weekly for PT students.  Student's responsibility to:

Book; agenda; provide to supervisors; minute; circulate to all supervisors; file (hard copy and e-file) - key points; actions; outcomes; DONM.

Personal and Research Development

1. Development Needs Analysis and Plan (DNA)
Complete yesterday's form

2. Activity Log
Conferences/Workshops/Seminars.

Create a draft Project Plan.  Use a Gantt chart.
Use the checklists - MSR 1.1, MSR 1.2, MSR 1.3

 Performance Review Panel (PRP)
Every 12 months.  Purpose - to decide whether you progress to next stage.
Panel of 2 - Independent subject expert and Independent chair.  Your Director of Studies will usually be present as an advisor.
15 minute presentation plus questions
End Aug-End September
Submit work in advance when instructed.

Katie Morrison - Arts Ethics administrator

5,000 word submission

Student portal
Moodle
My Course
Other modules
Research Students Website (RSW)
Outputs
Add submission - save changes.
To be submitted 10 days before PRP.

Phase 2  (Year 2?) Use Google Chrome (Not Internet Explorer)
Aims
Data Collection
Analysis
Write Paper
Present at Conferences
Final thesis.

Annual leave 11 days for PT. (Plus 3 day Christmas closedown and Bank Holidays.)

Use university email - they soon won't use your home email.

Arts Induction with Imogen Racz

Her Books:  Contemporary Crafts
Art & the Home: comfort, alienation and the everyday.

Currently working on Speaking off Diverse Practice:  British Art in the 1980s - 30 interviews with artists from the decade.

Use Visual Arts Research Centre.  VAR.

Visit Compton Verney?
Meet Gill Evans - ace specialist librarian.
David Sherriff - tech support; laptop provision aal875@coventry.ac.uk

Store work in many different places - laptop, memory sticks, hard copy.  Obviously this has been a problem before, and she does not want it again!!

Get student card validated for access for

PGR student room in ICE building; MF 128 in Maurice Foss; PGR student room in Graham Sutherland.