NEW for 2021! Promoting research culture at BU and celebrating postgraduate researcher achievements, the Doctoral College are collating PGR student stories as PGRs complete their PhD, MRes, MPhil, EdD, EngD and DProf studies. These are a few recent inspiring stories, to be updated regularly from across the faculties. If you have a story to share after you receive your award, please get in touch doctoralcollege@bournemouth.ac.uk
Category / Doctoral College
Supervising Doctoral Studies: Views on new online Epigeum course wanted
We have been given the opportunity to trial a new edition of Epigeum’s Supervising Doctoral Studies. Epigeum provides online courses designed to help universities deliver their core activities. The course for supervisors has been developed in collaboration with a panel of expert advisors, authors, reviewers and partner institutions. Professor Stan Taylor, Honorary Professor of the School of Education at Durham University is one of the Advisory Board, who was instrumental in working with UKCGE on their Good Supervisory Practice Framework.
Epigeum say that their programme aims to offer:
“A comprehensive, flexible and engaging training in the core principles and practices of doctoral supervision to equip new and more experienced supervisors to support doctoral candidates’ development into independent researchers.”
The online programme is modular in approach, and recognises research supervision as a distinct academic practice. It has been designed to enable supervisors to guide a diverse range of PGRs towards successful and timely completion, by providing guidance in the most effective and up-to-date supervisory techniques. It uses video interviews, case studies, and thought-provoking scenarios and activities to highlight best practice and to encourage supervisors to reflect on their own approach.
We wish to get current supervisors’ views on this programme before 2 April 2021. Whatever your level of experience, if you would be interested in taking a look and telling us what you think, please contact Dr Julia Taylor or Dr Fiona Knight in the Doctoral College and we will send you the details on how to access it.
Doctoral College Newsletter | February 2021
The Doctoral College Newsletter provides termly information and updates to all those involved with postgraduate research at BU. The latest edition is now available to download here. Click on the web-links provided to learn more about the news, events and opportunities that may interest you.
If you would like to make a contribution to future newsletters, please contact the Doctoral College.
Women Entrepreneurs and Covid-19- Celebrating BU Global Entrepreneurship Week 2020
Women’s representation in entrepreneurship, the barriers women face in entrepreneurship is all well documented and well researched with robust evidence from around the world. From seeking access to external finance, to engaging in those critical business networks, managing the work-family interface- We have all heard and read about the many challenges women entrepreneurs have to navigate .
Women’s entrepreneurship in developing countries is particularly at risk, as women’s anticipated vulnerability is likely to be exacerbated due to the pandemic. Not only are women-led businesses amongst the hardest hit but more than 93% of women report having struggled with finding ways to support their businesses whilst managing their work and family commitments. Even before the pandemic women were already vulnerable spending five times more in childcare and over three times more in household chores than their male counterparts, experiencing an unemployment rate twice that of men (SME Finance Forum, 2020). There is a fear that this pandemic will turn back the clocks on women’s entrepreneurship because women bear the burden of unpaid caregiving including childcare, household responsibilities and elderly care .
With a staggering number of small businesses shutting down, there are disproportionate impacts on women business owners with a 25% drop in small business activity between February to Mid-April 2020 and a 16% drop in number of business ownership for active male and women business owners (Fairlie, 2020). And there is global attention to this as well which is very encouraging.
Hosted by BU Social Entrepreneurs Forum and supported by BU Women’s Academic Network on the 17th of November we led an international event with women entrepreneurs from Brazil, The UK, Oman and Iraq to share their experiences of leading and running a business in the midst of a global pandemic.
We heard from women entrepreneurs and their struggles and pathways to resolution in the face of having to manage the work and family commitments; we discussed issues around how external support in the form of women-centric funding bodies, incubation hubs, accelerators programmes can support more representation and increased success of women in entrepreneurship. What came out, very strongly, from the conversations, was the immense collective force of empowered women who are not just trailblazers but change makers and who, relentlessly, try to empower other women to take charge of their business interests and decisions!
With three parallel discussions in the event on women entrepreneurs and the care-giving role, we heard from the founder of The Mumpreneur Collective, Erin Thomas Wong, who discussed how motherhood was a springboard for her entrepreneurial actions and ambitions and in recognition of the multiple challenges and expectations that motherhood bestows on women she set up this organisation to provide support, mentoring opportunities and peer learning for mothers wanting to fulfil their entrepreneurial ambitions.Other women entrepreneurs, namely, Sarah Ali Choudhury, Forbes’s Curry Queen ; Aira Nascimento, Founder of Josephinas Colab, a social business of female entrepreneurs from the periphery and cultural space that rescues Afro-Brazilian and Indigenous culture in Campo Grande, Brazil; Maryam Al Amri, Founder of Youth Vision, Oman and Gabriela Anastacia, CEO of Gamarc Communications and Founder of (after motherhood) the social impact movement, Papo de Empreendedora [Female Entrepreneur Chat] discussed democratising access to entrepreneurship education for women and the support needed by mother entrepreneurs in the context of the pandemic.
Ranya Bakr, Iraq; Ludmila Hastenreiter, Founder and CEO of Empoderamente Contabil, Brazil and Bia Santos, Founder of Barkus Educational, Brazil led the discussions on access to finance and impediment that creates for women entrepreneurs particularly now in the context of the pandemic and prior to it. Emphasising the importance of financial education to create a fair and just society Bia Santos also highlighted the racial inequality that affects businesses like hers in the context of Brazil.
The issues around incubation hub and accelerator support focused on the needs of women entrepreneurs were discussed in the light of the pandemic with expert entrepreneurs including Adrienne Saunders, Founder of Yes You Can Training, UK; Shaima Murtadha Al- Lawati, Oman; Beatriz Carvalho, Founder of Mulheres de Frentes (Women in Front) and Dayse Valencia, an ASHOKA Social Entrepreneur Fellow and coordinator of projects at Rio based NGO, ASPLANDE, Brazil.
It was a particularly proud moment to celebrate two BUBS students, Ranya Bakr from Iraq, a Chevening Scholar, UNDP project lead, Founder of Storey an architectural firm and her work in Iraq developing incubation hubs for women. We also had the pleasure of listening to Maryam Al Amri from Oman, another BUBS student and Founder of Youth Vision supporting youth employment issues in the Arab world through her exemplary work.
This event was co-hosted with Jiselle Steele who supports women and micro entrepreneurs through her work in enterprise development across Brazil, UK and Sri Lanka and is a Senior Project Lead at _SocialStarters, a social enterprise started by Andrea Gamson, a BU Alumna and Top 100 Women in Social Enterprise who supports enterprise development and business consultation across many countries including the UK, Brazil, Kenya and Sri Lanka.
Ranya Bakr, BU Alumna from Iraq and Founder of Storey, an architectural firm.
Bia Santos, Founder of Barkus Education, Brazil
Maryam Al Amri, BU Student and Founder of Youth Vision, Oman
Erin Thomas Wong, Founder of Mumpreneur Collective, UK
So what is the value of showcase events? Academia affords us the opportunity to create impact through education, research and external engagement. Events such as these raise the profile of the organisation, bring together international audience ( this event welcomed guests from Singapore to Latin America), become part of a global resolution of a huge challenges, support UN SDGs, further BU2025 ambitions and most definitely, lead to research outputs and enhance the student experience. So showcase events may be hard work to put together but absolutely worth every second!
It is a proud moment for us at BUSEF to be celebrating our second BU GEW 2020. Watch the space for more things to come.
Refugee Entrepreneurship And Covid-19- BU Global Entrepreneurship Week 2020
Melanie Montinard, Mawon, Brazil
Camila Pinto, Migraflix, Brazil
Esther Yanya, South Sudanese Refugee Entrepreneur from Uganda
Noel Lilija, Microfinance Officer, CRESS UK, Arua, Uganda
Abdoulaye Fall, Self Funded Communities ACAF, Barcelona, Spain
Talal Al-Tinawi, Syrian Refugee Entrepreneur in Brazil
Debora Gonzaga Brassau Brazil
Sayma Ahmad, Co-Founder and Honorary Chair, Unity in Vision, Dorset UK
Globally, there are 65 million people forcibly displaced from their homes (WHO, 2019). Achieving legitimacy and acceptance and integration into the host community remains a challenge in most host countries with an increased inflow of displaced populations. What do refugees hope for? Safety, security, an ability to carve out a future for themselves and their loves ones and retaining the dignity of being a human being.
We recently concluded a study in Uganda,Brazil and Spain exploring how displaced populations seek and achieve legitimacy through the routes of entrepreneurship in collaboration with co-host Jiselle Steele. This study allowed us the opportunity to engage with displaced communities and individuals whose resilience, perseverance the the zeal to thrive, not just survive, showcases the true essence of the human spirit. Not only that, with the entrepreneurial offerings they created they are making huge community impacts to support others in the same circumstances as them- an empowerment pathway through entrepreneurship.
With the rapid developments in the pandemic sweeping our world, all the policy discussions around economic recovery has managed to not take into consideration the plight of the displaced populations engaged in business activities, mostly in the informal sectors.
This year, as part of the Global Entrepreneurship Week 2020, BU Social Entrepreneurs Forum (BUSEF), organised an event to celebrate the work of refugee entrepreneurs and support organisations that empower the displaced populations in integration and their entrepreneurial ambitions.
On the 18th of November, 2020, BUSEF brought together refugee entrepreneurs and support organisations from Uganda, Brazil, Spain and the UK. Esther Yanya, a 27- year old South Sudanese refugee, living in a displacement camp in Arua, Northern Uganda shared with us her harrowing story of walking across hundreds of miles with two very young children and arriving to no support, no food and so shelter. The work of Cress UK-led by Caroline Lamb (Founder and Chair or Trustees) and Noel Lilija, Project Lead at CRESS Arua, an aid organisation working to support refugees in medical care, education, agricultural training and microentrepreneurship- was the turning point in Esther Yanya’s life and now she not only leads a savings group based business in tailoring (She was wearing the most stunning dress similar to these Peaches Boutique white dresses for prom she crafted herself) but is also empowering other women in the displacement camp to achieve financial independence and a future for themselves.
Talal Al-Tinawi joined us from Brazil where he is a Syrian refugee and a gastronomy business owner. Having had to leave his mechanical engineering business in Damascus, Talal shared with us the role that society plays in integrating refugees like himself. The institutional barriers not withstanding, the role of social inclusion in allowing emotional security to refugees is something that is not well researched or discussed. Supported by Migraflix, Talal set up his gastronomy business, in the absence of being able to get employment.
What is quite extraordinary about both Talal and Esther is that, not withstanding their personal circumstances, they think of the community around them and how to support, how to empower. Talal has been working tirelessly to provide food to those vulnerable during this pandemic.
In addition to the refugee entrepreneurs, the event brought together Migraflix, Mawon, Brassau from Brazil and Cress UK with team from UK and Uganda, Self Funded Communities ACAF from Spain and Unity in Vision, Dorset, UK.
So what was the potential impact of an event such this? The obvious answer is of course, raising awareness and building the momentum in this conversation but also and critically, gaining increased visibility for the individuals who identify themselves and refugee entrepreneurs and the critical work that the support organisations do independent of and with very little state/institutional support.
Online mental health training resources for PGR students and supervisors
The wellbeing of students and the safeguarding of their mental health is a high priority for universities across the UK.
The HEFCE Catalyst Fund provided £1.5 million for 17 projects across the HE sector to improve support for the mental health and wellbeing of postgraduate research students. Across the sector, the 17 projects developed new practice for pastoral support and training materials for students, supervisors, and other staff.
At Bournemouth University, the Doctoral College collaborated with FHSS and Student Services on a project focussing on supporting PGRs through the transitions from UG/PGT to PGR and between each stages of their research degree.
Durham University focussed on “Online mental health training resources for PGR students and supervisors” and have made their training materials available for all HE institutions. We encourage all parties involved in postgraduate research to undertake the training modules found here.
The aims of the training are to:
- Identify and address mental health needs within the supervisory relationship to promote early intervention
- Recognise the specific role of supervisors in supporting mental health and wellbeing, and identify the limits of that relationship for resolving wider mental health difficulties
- Prevent the development or exacerbation of mental health symptoms by identifying the helpful and unhelpful relationship patterns that can emerge in supervision.
We would like to remind you of the University’s student wellbeing support, please do not hesitate to get in touch if you are looking for some support or are worried about a peer.
Doctoral College Newsletter | October 2020
The Doctoral College Newsletter provides termly information and updates to all those involved with postgraduate research at BU. The latest edition is now available to download here. Click on the web-links provided to learn more about the news, events and opportunities that may interest you.
If you would like to make a contribution to future newsletters, please contact the Doctoral College.
Launched: Researcher Development Programme 2020-21
I am delighted to share with you all that webinars as part of the 2020-21 Researcher Development Programme for Postgraduate Researchers are now available to book.
You can read an overview of changes on the latest RDP announcement.
If you are a PGR or Supervisor and unable to access the Researcher Development Programme on Brightspace, please let us know and we will get you added.
Doctoral College Newsletter | June 2020
The Doctoral College Newsletter provides termly information and updates to all those involved with postgraduate research at BU. The latest edition is now available to download here. Click on the web-links provided to learn more about the news, events and opportunities that may interest you.
If you would like to make a contribution to future newsletters, please contact the Doctoral College.
Looking through the lens of Covid-19 at student risk management practice in HE
Earlier this year the International Journal for Creative Media Research (IJCMR) published a journal article by Annie East, Deputy Head of Media Production Department at BU, on ways students make meaning of the risk assessment process on their undergraduate filmmaking degree. Based on Annie’s doctoral pilot study findings, this article, whilst written in a pre-covid19 environment, has 5 areas for consideration of health and safety going forward in a Covid-19 student fieldwork context. Below Annie considers how we conceive health, safety and risk before outlining 5 points.
What is safe? The social construction of safety
Safety is a subjective, constructed and socially derived notion. The Health And Safety Executive literature does not define what safety is, leaving companies and organisations to interpret or translate how that applies to their practices. Similarly risks are ‘selected’ and ‘risk is only what people choose to say it is.’ As for health, we follow current advice in how to understand what is ‘good health’.
To give more clarity we could consider the terms ‘health’ and ‘safety’ from within the industrial context in which they are being used. Since my research is about filmmaking (in an HE context), when we refer to safety at work we can consider a film set in a studio; a lighting electrician may fall off a ladder that isn’t secure and this is a result of non-safety, or ‘unsafe-ness’. When we talk about health we can view the same studio where a set designer is carrying heavy props and as a result of that act, potentially, over time, this will create health problems, linked to heavy lifting, for that person. Safety is therefore constructed by us with an immediacy, whether perceived as safe or unsafe, and health is constructed as more removed from the act, alluding to future constructs of ailment/s within the body (or mind).
So with a socially constructed definition of health and safety the linked article can be read, taking into account the added consideration of working practice and Covid19 outlined in 5 points below.
1. VR Elicitation
In the article I propose a new research method; VR elicitation. A two-tier practice of placing a 360-degree camera into fieldwork (in this case a student film shoot) and then viewing it back as a way of deepening reflective and reflexive practice for both educator and student through an immersive environment. In response to innovation around education during Covid-19, VR elicitation could be utilised to enhance, learning for students who may not be able to engage as fully with fieldwork. This would be through remote learning ‘in the round’ with peers and educators taking advantage of the immersive environment. Working with apps that can download onto smartphones and be slotted into a £30 VR visor.
Image 1: Student film shoot
Image 2: Re-immersion back into film shoot; VR elicitation
2. The paradox within HE
The article highlights the paradoxical nature of working in a tripartite environment; education that teaches industry practice whilst complying with HE rules. With the extra layer of Covid-19 risk management incorporated into our health and safety practices, it is worth fully understanding the paradox presented within the article.
3. Risk as imagined, risk as performed
Following David Borys, I conceived the risk assessment in two steps; risk as imagined (the writing of a risk assessment) and risk as performed (the performance of the risk assessment in action). The literature acknowledges a lack of emphasis on risk as performed in scholarly research discoveries or, if it does, it discovers performance as being different to that as imagined.
4. Working beyond bureaucracy in risk management
The article posits holistic ways to approach risk management that involves engaging HE students more thoroughly. Moving us away from purely bureaucratic tick box exercises of writing a risk assessment towards a shared ownership of risk management strategy or otherwise referred to as ‘institutional magic’ by Patrick Brown. This holism is essential now that we are dealing with an invisible risk.
5. VR elicitation study findings
The pilot study teases out some of the ways students inherently keep themselves safe and are examples of where the imagined is very different to the performance. This reminds us of the importance of developing shared ownership of managing risk rather than staying purely with top-down implementation that is tied to institutional and legal power structures.
Moving forward it will be interesting to see if the increased scrutiny on Covid-19 health & safety risk management within HE results in safer student practice on a film location (or other generic fieldwork) or whether increased scrutiny on Covid-19 results in a lowering of the other health & safety practice principles.
Full linked article here.
Contact: Annie East, Deputy Head Media Production Department, Faculty of Media and Communication. aeast@bournemouth.ac.uk
Doctorate via Centre of Excellence for Media Practice (CEMP).
FMC doctoral student Vianna Renaud published in the Journal of Comparative and International Education
It was with great pleasure that an article on my research was selected and published in the latest issue of the Journal of Comparative and 
International Education as part of the Graduate Student Research in Progress Supplement. Contributions were made by graduate students who are currently studying in a MA, Ed.D. or Ph.D. programme from across the globe. I was very proud to have represented Bournemouth University and the UK alongside Oxford University, the other highlighted British institution. It was wonderful showcasing the impact of peer to peer employability coaching and mentoring on student confidence and awareness. With such a positive result shown by my pilot project and fieldwork where FMC students were participants, I can not wait to investigate future implementation.
For further information:
Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarships – internal expression of interest
The Leverhulme have launched their Doctoral Scholarships scheme offering UK universities funding of 15 Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarships in a priority research area for that institution. As a university we may submit one application only and therefore the university will be coordinating expressions of interest from Academic Staff.
By 11th February 2020, those who are interested in making an application to the Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarships are invited to submit the following expression of interest – Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarships EOI to Alexandra Pekalski .
Further information about the scheme is available from the Leverhulme Trust. Applicants are advised to check the eligibility criteria very carefully.
Purpose of funding
The Leverhulme will fund 15 doctoral scholarships in a priority research area for that institution. Each award funds 15 Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarships at that institution, with 5 scholarships to be offered in each year of the first three years of the grant.
Each scholarship is for a fixed sum of £90,000 for each student for up to 48 months of full-time doctoral study. This covers:
- maintenance (at research council levels)
- tuition fees
Any remaining funds are to be used for the Leverhulme Scholar’s research and training expenses.
While the scholarships may be held by students of all nationalities, the Trust has a particular interest in supporting UK or EU students.
Process for selecting applications to be submitted
Should you be interested in applying, please note that your expression of interest application will be assessed by Doctoral Funding Panel. Further details of the assessment criteria can be found within the Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarships EOI . Candidates can expect feedback by 25th February 2019.
Timetable
| 21-01-2020 | RDS advertise Expression of Interest (EoI)competition for call |
| 11-02-2020 | EoI deadline (EoIs to be sent to RDS) |
| 13-02-2020 | Papers (applications) sent to Doctoral Funding panel (RDS to administer) |
| 20-02-2020 | Doctoral Funding panel meeting (virtual) |
| 25-02-2020 | Doctoral Funding panel decision and feedback disseminated to applicants |
| 25-02-2020 | RDS to contact Leverhulme to provide the Trust with the principal applicant’s name, departmental affiliation and email address. Access will then be granted to the Leverhulme Trust Grants Management System |
| March/April/May-2020 | Applicants develop proposals with the support of RDS and Doctoral College |
| 22-05-2020 | Application finalised for APF financial sign-off by UET |
| 05-06-2020 | Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarships Deadline |
If you have further questions or queries please contact Alexandra Pekalski (apekalski@bournemouth.ac.uk) and/or Lisa Andrews (andrewsl@bournemouth.ac.uk ). For queries relating to Doctoral colleague support please contact Fiona Knight (fknight@bournemouth.ac.uk) and/or Julia Taylor (jtaylor@bournemouthac.uk).
Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarships internal expression of interest
The Leverhulme have launched their Doctoral Scholarships scheme offering UK universities funding of 15 Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarships in a priority research area for that institution. As a university we may submit one application only and therefore the university will be coordinating expressions of interest from Academic Staff.
Those who are interested in making an application to the Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarships are invited to submit the following expression of interest – Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarships EOI to Alexandra Pekalski by 11th February 2020.
Further information about the scheme is available from the Leverhulme Trust. Applicants are advised to check the eligibility criteria very carefully.
Purpose of funding
The Leverhulme will fund 15 doctoral scholarships in a priority research area for that institution. Each award funds 15 Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarships at that institution, with 5 scholarships to be offered in each year of the first three years of the grant.
Each scholarship is for a fixed sum of £90,000 for each student for up to 48 months of full-time doctoral study. This covers:
- maintenance (at research council levels)
- tuition fees
Any remaining funds are to be used for the Leverhulme Scholar’s research and training expenses.
While the scholarships may be held by students of all nationalities, the Trust has a particular interest in supporting UK or EU students.
Process for selecting applications to be submitted
Should you be interested in applying, please note that your expression of interest application will be assessed by Doctoral Funding Panel. Further details of the assessment criteria can be found within the Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarships EOI . Candidates can expect feedback by 25th February 2019.
Timetable
| 21-01-2020 | RDS advertise Expression of Interest (EoI)competition for call |
| 11-02-2020 | EoI deadline (EoIs to be sent to RDS) |
| 13-02-2020 | Papers (applications) sent to Doctoral Funding panel (RDS to administer) |
| 20-02-2020 | Doctoral Funding panel meeting (virtual) |
| 25-02-2020 | Doctoral Funding panel decision and feedback disseminated to applicants |
| 25-02-2020 | RDS to contact Leverhulme to provide the Trust with the principal applicant’s name, departmental affiliation and email address. Access will then be granted to the Leverhulme Trust Grants Management System |
| March/April/May-2020 | Applicants develop proposals with the support of RDS and Doctoral College |
| 22-05-2020 | Application finalised for APF financial sign-off by UET |
| 05-06-2020 | Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarships Deadline |
If you have further questions or queries please contact Alexandra Pekalski (apekalski@bournemouth.ac.uk) and/or Lisa Andrews (andrewsl@bournemouth.ac.uk ). For queries relating to Doctoral colleague support please contact Fiona Knight (fknight@bournemouth.ac.uk) and/or Julia Taylor (jtaylor@bournemouthac.uk).
Join the first BU Public Engagement Network meeting Tues 28 Jan
You are invited to attend the first BU Public Engagement Network meeting, in FG04 from 1:30-2:30pm Tuesday 28 January. Please email publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk to be invited to the meeting, so we have an idea of numbers for catering.
This initial meeting will establish the network, which aims to provide opportunities for sharing experience and expertise, as well as networking opportunities for staff interested in public engagement with research.
The network will be for BU staff, though we hope to welcome external speakers in future.
Agenda
At this first meeting, we will hear from Dr Emma Kavanagh and Dr Adi Adams from the Sport department about their creative methods for public engagement; turning research into an exhibition at last year’s ESRC Festival of Social Science.
We’ll also introduce the public engagement team and explain the support available to you for public engagement and impact.
This will also be your opportunity to help define the direction of the network. We’ll discuss how to make the network work best for you, in terms of content and meeting arrangements, as well as what you want from a regular newsletter.
Please come along, network with colleagues, meet the public engagement team and enjoy drinks and snacks.
Contact publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk with any questions.
Reminder
We are re-running our public engagement training sessions this Spring, with ‘Getting started with public engagement with research‘ on 11 March, ‘High quality public engagement‘ on 29 April and ‘Evaluation: developing your approach‘ on 13 May.
Free workshop: Research Impact in the Arts and Humanities
Attendance is free – fully funded places are also available (inc accommodation, travel etc.)
The “I” Word: Research Impact in the Arts & Humanities
This one-day workshop aims to provide early-career researchers with the opportunity to explore creatively and practically the public engagement and participatory potential of their work, and to learn about the often complex relationship between such activities and the requirements of impact narratives.
The workshop is free, and it is open to doctoral and early-career researchers from across the arts and humanities. If you can fund travel, accommodation and subsistence then just register and attend. However, there are also twenty fully funded places available to those whose research broadly aligns with the project’s themes and/ or methods, including (but not limited to): women’s and gender studies; women and war; memory studies; histories of war and conflict; trauma studies; oral history; participatory arts; women’s writing. More details on registering and applying for funded places can be found on the Eventbrite page.
Thursday 9 January 2020 – 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Liverpool John Moores University
The deadline for applying for funded places is 13 December 2019
Find out more
2020 BU PhD and MRes Matched Funded Studentship Competition – Call for Proposals
The BU Matched Funded Studentship Competition, which has run annually since 2006, provides an important role in growing PGR numbers, building and strengthening of a greater number of external relationships, providing a stronger Fusion learning experience for our PGRs.
Call for submission of up to 46 matched funded PhD studentships is now open and has been split into three strands:
- PhD Studentship Strand 1 Allocative Matched Funding (up to 9 matched funded studentships)
- PhD Studentship Strand 2 Competitive Matched Funding (up to 31 matched funded studentships)
- PhD Studentship Strand 3 DTC Pump Priming (up to 6 matched funded studentships).
In addition, for the first time this year, BU is offering a limited number of MRes Studentship Competitive Matched Funding (up to 3 matched funded studentships).
Application Process
At this stage, academic staff are invited to submit proposals for matched funded Studentship projects which, if successful, will be advertised to recruit PhD candidates for a September 2020 start.
Full details, including the BU Studentship Allocative Process and Proposal Form, can be found on the Doctoral College Staff Intranet .
Submission Deadline:
Applications should be submitted to the Doctoral College via email to phdstudentshipcompetition@bournemouth.ac.uk no later than 5pm on Monday 13 January 2020.
If you have any questions about your application please speak with your Deputy Dean for Research and Professional Practice (DDRPP) or the Doctoral College Academic Managers: Dr Fiona Knight (for FST or FHSS enquiries) or Dr Julia Taylor (for FM or FMC enquiries).
Please ensure applications contain all relevant information (project proposal signed by Faculty DDRPP; letter of support from matched funder; due diligence form signed by Faculty DDRPP) as incomplete applications will not be considered.
BU’s Research Principles
Putting the BU Studentship Scheme into strategic context, under BU2025, the following funding Panels operate to prioritise applications for funding and make recommendations to the Research Performance and Management Committee (RPMC).
There are eight funding panels:
- HEIF Funding Panel
- GCRF Funding Panel
- Research Impact Funding Panel
- Doctoral Studentship Funding Panel
- ACORN Funding Panel
- Research Fellowships Funding Panel
- Charity Support Funding Panel
- SIA Funding Panel
Please see further announcements regarding each initiative.
These panels align with the BU2025 focus on research, including BU’s Research Principles. Specifically, but not exclusively, regarding the BU Studentship Funding Panel, please refer to:
Principle 1: encouraging the development of research team(s)
Principle 2: supporting research development, funding and impact that are both disciplinary and increasingly multi and inter-disciplinary as exemplified by the SIAs
Principle 3: focusing on the development of critical mass within the University, as per the honeycomb model
Principle 7: taking into account disciplinary norms when providing opportunities.
The Postgraduate Research Society- NOW Launched
The Postgraduate Research Society- NOW Launched
The Post- Graduate Society had a successful official launch on the 23rd of September 2019. This was the first of many educational and interactive events to be organized by the society to enhance postgraduate students experience. The event saw newly enrolled PGRs, MRes and current PGRs at different stages in their research project.
The society aims to create a post-graduate community within SUBU and BU for students to belong to a network of highly skilled postgraduate students who will seek to offer help to each other, either for personal and professional growth and development. The Postgraduate Society supported by SUBU and the Doctoral College will also host events and activities tailored for postgraduate students in order to provide both fun and academic engagement in BU.
We received some feedback from PGRs anticipating more events like this in the future. Please click here to let us know what kind of events you will prefer https://bournemouth.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/postgraduate-events
So why join us? Here are five reasons
- Network with fellow PGRs to create a Community Within SUBU and BU
- Belong to a group of highly skilled PGRs who will help in your Personal and Professional Growth and Development
- Participate in social and academic events and activities to learn and have fun!
- Make friends from different disciplines and ensure your voice is heard!
- Graduate in style knowing that you were part of a community that will always have your back.
To be a part of this community, all you need is to register. Registration is easy. Simply click ‘Join’ at https://www.subu.org.uk/organisation/pgrsoc/ There is a membership fee of £2 per year.
For any questions, please contact us at subupgrsoc@bournemouth.ac.uk
Pictures from Doctoral College PGR Induction, September 2019
PGR Society
Doctoral College Newsletter | October 2019
The Doctoral College Newsletter provides termly information and updates to all those involved with postgraduate research at BU. The latest edition is now available to download here. Click on the web-links provided to learn more about the news, events and opportunities that may interest you.
If you would like to make a contribution to future newsletters, please contact the Doctoral College.
BU staff can login below:
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Update on UKRO services
European research project exploring use of ‘virtual twins’ to better manage metabolic associated fatty liver disease
Research Information Network
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- Information handling in collaborative research: an exploration of five case studies
- Information literacy monitoring and evaluation
- Data centres: their use, value and impact
- Heading for the open road: costs and benefits of transitions in scholarly communications