TRAINING NEEDS ANALYSIS GUIDANCE NOTES FACULTY OF ARTS & HUMANITIES Below are notes of guidance to help you complete the TNA for the 4 shell modules that are compulsory for research students in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. These shell modules identify a range of skills and knowledge that we feel that you will need to acquire to complete your research degree successfully and to embark on a career of your choice. The TNA offers an opportunity to reflect on previous experience and identify training needs. While you are completing the TNA, you should bear in mind that a wide range of previous training may be relevant to grading your existing level of knowledge/experience. You do not need to limit yourself simply to what you have acquired in your University degrees, although for some of the specified skills/knowledge your Masters degree is likely to have provided the most relevant training. You will work with your supervisor(s) to identify training opportunities. You are not necessarily required to undertake formal training (e.g. in the form of modules) to acquire new knowledge/experience, and a range of more informal activities (e.g. attending events such as conferences or workshops) may be just as beneficial to you. There is no expectation that for each shell module that you must take separate or discreet training; a training opportunity, whether formal or informal, may help you to acquire the specified skills and knowledge for more than one of the shell modules. The Doctoral Development Programme is a flexible package of support to enhance your research degree, and we hope that you will take the opportunity to engage fully with its aims in order to make the most of your time as a research student at the University of Sheffield. Becoming an Effective Researcher This module is intended to ensure that you gain the skills and knowledge to equip you to get your research off to a good start, and to meet the requirements for successful up-grade from MPhil to PhD or submission of your MPhil. Thus, whatever your level of previous training it is anticipated that you will be proficient in all of the skills/knowledge specified (i.e. able to grade your knowledge/experience as 5) by the time of up-grade, which is usually at, or shortly after, the end of your first year (or part-time equivalent). For some students this will require a great deal of formal training, while others may well already be highly trained in undertaking research. Consider this module as providing a check-list of the minimum requirements for effective research. In the Comments/Training Needed? column you should indicate briefly what previous experience/training you have for each specified skill/knowledge set, and indicate if you feel training is needed. When you meet with your supervisor(s) you will then complete the final column, identifying the training that you will undertake. It is anticipated that in order to be able to grade your knowledge/experience at a 5 (i.e. I have extensive knowledge and experience of this and sufficient to undertake research effectively ) you will have gained experience and received relevant training at Masters level, although work experience may also be relevant. The minimum requirement for a grade 5 with respect to most of the skills identified (i.e. knowledge of research methods, preparing a research design, writing styles, advanced literature review, information retrieval, effective time management and plagiarism and how to avoid it) is the completion of a directly relevant Masters qualification
including a dissertation in the field of your research. If you have not completed a Masters, or your Masters did not include a dissertation, you will probably not be able to grade your knowledge/experience at 5 for those specified skills, and should accordingly grade yourself as 1-4. Nonetheless, if you believe you have relevant additional experience or training that justifies a grade 5 on the TNA then discuss this with your supervisor(s) Whatever your level of prior experience, upon the commencement of your research degree further training may still be relevant to developing your abilities in the skills/knowledge listed above. In particular, you should consult the library web pages to view the range of training that is on offer: http://www.librarydevelopment.group.shef.ac.uk/research.html. You should also make sure you are familiar with your department s requirements for up-grade, as these skills will be essential to successful up-grade, and your previous training at Masters level may not, on its own, be enough Ability to communicate orally in an effective manner is sometimes fostered during a Masters degree, and if you were required to give a presentation as part of your Masters assessment then you may well be highly proficient at oral communication and accordingly be able to grade your knowledge/experience at a 5. Nonetheless, you should note that the up-grade procedures from MPhil to PhD in most departments require you to give a presentation or discuss your work in front of the up-grade panel, so it is important to consider whether you need further training/experience to be able to undertake this up-grade requirement effectively The IT packages with which you will need to be familiar will be determined by the type of research that you are undertaking, but will minimally include Word Processing packages, email, Powerpoint, and the internet. More specialist software packages may be relevant and you will need to discuss your specific requirements with your supervisor(s) Health and Safety training will have been offered as part of your Masters degree (if you completed one), but the requirements for your doctoral research may be quite different. Your department will provide information on Health and Safety training required (e.g. Out of Hours training to enable you to work in your building beyond normal working hours and fire safety training, as well as any discipline-specific training required), which you should consider before grading your knowledge/experience on the TNA In assessing your understanding of research ethics and good research practice relevant to your research field, please note that research ethics are not simply concerned with issues relating to collecting data from human participants or handling human tissues, as is sometimes thought. Research ethics extends to matters such as the quality and integrity of research undertaken, personal conduct while undertaking research, the impact of your research on other individuals and the wider community, communication of research results, compliance with relevant professional codes and guidelines, etc. In completing the TNA with respect to research ethics you may find it relevant to consult the University web pages on research ethics: http://www.shef.ac.uk/ris/gov_ethics_grp/ The issues surrounding copyright are complex, and while training at Masters level may touch on these issues students should note that there are important differences in the application of copyright restrictions to, for example, publication in contrast to those that apply when writing for examination purposes (which includes the dissertation). Graduate research students need, in particular, to be aware of the copyright issues that are relevant to the submission of the EThesis, which is a requirement at the ends of their studies. Specific training in copyright for PGR students is strongly recommended whatever your previous levels of experience You will improve your capacity to get the best from your relationship with your supervisor if you are well prepared for your research, have consulted the information you were sent in advance
of starting your studies by the University and your department and have attended relevant induction events. If you have not previously studied at the University of Sheffield you may find that you need to attend not only your departmental induction events but also those offered by, for example, the library, or those geared towards international students. As you are completing your TNA with respect to get the best from the student-supervisor relationship make sure you consider all of the induction and initial training events that will get you off to the best possible start in your studies Finally, you and your supervisor may identify other activities that are deemed essential to ensuring that you become an effective researcher. Identify possible areas when you complete your TNA and then discuss them with your supervisor(s) at your first meeting Advanced Research and Career Skills The skills/knowledge identified as part of this module are likely to be developed in the second or third years of your research degree (or part-time equivalents). Accordingly students in Arts and Humanities will be registered onto this module once they have completed their up-grade from MPhil to PhD. Nonetheless, it is important to be aware of what is expected as there may be training opportunities available during your first year, which you will be able to document in your TNA for this module in years 2 and 3 (or part-time equivalents) In the Comments/Training Needed? column you should indicate briefly what previous experience/training you have for each specified skill/knowledge set, and indicate if you feel training is needed. When you meet with your supervisor(s) you will then complete the final column, identifying the training that you will undertake How you grade your level of knowledge/experience at the start of this module will partly depend on previous training/experience at Masters level and partly be informed by the range of activities undertaken and experiences gained in your first year (or part-time equivalent) of research. Your intended career destination will also be important to consider when completing your TNA and identifying your training needs. Accordingly, students with very different levels of previous experience/training may, nonetheless, legitimately grade themselves in the same way, since the grading depends to a considerable extent on the career destination for which they are aiming In your first year (or part-time equivalent) of research you should have honed your ability to keep up to date with new research developments in your field. However, further training/experiential learning may be required. Online resources may be useful (e.g. Google Reader, RSS feeds etc.), and attendance of conferences, workshops and other events at which research is disseminated may provide useful opportunities for enhancing your skills Presenting your research to others at conferences and workshops is an important element of doctoral research. Your intended career destination may inform the contexts in which you want to present your research, and these need not be limited purely to academic conferences/workshops (opportunities to present your research to the public, or to professionals in non-academic environments may be relevant to you). Identify your needs and aspirations on your TNA and work with your supervisor(s) to identify appropriate opportunities. Making the most from conferences/workshops requires you to attend conferences and workshops (!), and discovering the websites and publications in which they are advertised is essential. Training in networking and improving your ability to deliver research papers may also
be necessary depending on your previous training/experiences. Perhaps you would find it useful to involve yourself in organising your departmental seminar series or organising your own workshop. If so, identify it on your TNA and discuss it with your supervisor(s) One of the defining characteristics of a PhD is that you are producing work that is of publishable quality, although whether or not you should seek to prepare publications before submission of your thesis should be discussed with your supervisor. Preparing your research for publication may arise seamlessly from your research and the opportunities for publication may be obvious, but, on the other hand, you may need training in or advice on, for example, identifying appropriate opportunities for publication, formatting your paper for submission, identifying which aspects of your research are suitable for publication etc.. Use the TNA to identify your aspirations and the training/support you need to realise them An ability to write for different audiences and to create materials suitable for presentation online are increasingly useful skills in a wide variety of careers; training opportunities are offered, although, alternatively, you may decide to learn by giving it a go. Talk about the best strategy with your supervisor(s) Knowledge of advanced research ethics with respect to publication and dissemination of research results requires you to understand such issues as how you treat those involved in or affected by your research, the legal ramifications of your research, the definition of authorship, best practice in co-authored research, how to avoid conflicts of interest in publication and dissemination, appropriate forms of dissemination etc. At this stage of your research career it is essential that you understand copyright restrictions and requirements, both with respect to publication and also the submission of your thesis. Remember that you are required to submit a version of your thesis for online access. If you are unclear about the requirements make sure you seek out relevant guidance/training You will need to prepare yourself for the viva as you are approaching the point of submission. Training is offered both formally (e.g. training session with R&IS, or mock viva in your department) and informally (e.g. talk to your supervisor or head of graduate studies about what to expect) Preparation of a c.v. will be essential for securing a job, and your chances of embarking on a fulfilling career will be enhanced if you are well informed about the range of career opportunities for students with a PhD. Consult the web pages of the Careers Service for information on training and support available: http://www.shef.ac.uk/careers/ Finally, you and your supervisor may identify other activities that are deemed essential to ensuring that you complete your research successfully and embark on a career of your choice. Identify possible areas when you complete your TNA and then discuss them with your supervisor(s) Subject Specific Skills You will need to consult the online directory of modules to identify training opportunities within your own department, the Faculty and across the University If you wish to take a module outside of your own department you should endeavour to contact the module director to ensure that the module will be suitable for your needs and that there are places available for PGR students
If you think that there may be training opportunities available outside of the Unviersity, talk to your supervisor(s) about this You will not necessarily have to complete the assessments set for Masters students if you attend a Masters module. You should discuss with your supervisor and the module director an appropriate form of assessment. Assessment is not compulsory, but some form of written work may be a useful way of helping you to engage with the module and get the most from the training. Be clear at the start of the module what is required of you. If you agree to produce a piece of written work for the module director and/or your supervisor, agree a deadline and word limit and make sure you complete what has been agreed. Record on the TNA what assessment (if any) is required Broad Scholarship and Engagement Your PhD will undoubtedly be enhanced by taking the opportunities on offer to gain experience of scholarship across the range of Arts and Humanities disciplines. This may be achieved formally through a module or more informally through attendance at a seminar series in another department Teaching and demonstrating can enhance your c.v. and improve your employability, in a range of careers. They also offer important opportunities to disseminate your research and knowledge to students at an earlier stage of their career than you, and to improve your capacity to communicate ideas at a range of levels and support the learning of others. Support for teaching is also offered at a departmental and University level, and you should consider what is most appropriate for your needs. Please note that opportunities for teaching and demonstrating in departments may be limited and you should signal your interest in undertaking teaching at the earliest opportunity, although teaching opportunities may not be available immediately. Taking a training course in teaching will put you in a great position to take up a teaching opportunity when it arises Making academic research count in the wider community has become a pressing concern in recent years. Training opportunities are on offer at departmental, Faculty and University levels. More informal opportunities are also available; for example, you may want to volunteer to join in with outreach/knowledge exchange activities within the University You will undoubtedly enhance your employment prospects if you have experience of working both within and outside of academia. Depending on your career history before you commenced your PhD you may already have a wealth of experience, but if not you might want to consider undertaking some work experience, a work placement or work shadowing during your studies. Not that you will need to agree this with your supervisor so that any such undertaking does not disrupt your progress with your studies Finally, you and your supervisor may identify other activities that enhance your knowledge of broader scholarship and wider engagement. Identify possible areas when you complete your TNA and then discuss them with your supervisor(s)