Engaged Phd - Further Information

What is a MOOC?

A MOOC is a Massive Open Online Course. Although there has been access to free online courses for years, the quality and quantity of courses has changed. The MOOC phenomenon has changed the face of education and enabled motivated students worldwide to gain access to elite university content. They are free, non-degree courses hosted online with open unlimited global enrolment. While most are non-credit bearing, some are starting to offer optional certificates, enhanced learning services and credit options at additional costs. Students have been embracing them as a means towards gaining sophisticated skills and career progression opportunities. For further information please view the video below.

How do I find a MOOC?

If you google ‘MOOC’ and ‘your topic of interest’, the chances are you will get some interesting hits. Alternatively browse: http://www.mooc-list.com/initiatives-and-categories which is a site where there is compiled information on MOOCs on a wide range of topics. These MOOCs are offered by a range of universities and are “hosted” by different MOOC platform companies. MOOCs vary in their content and quality. Some have been given ratings or reviews, but this is not fully supported yet, so it requires some investigation on your part into whether it is worthwhile undertaking a particular MOOC. Some suggested ideas for possible MOOCs relevant to the Engaged PhD Pathways are listed in the table below. These are provided as a guide only and you are welcome to find other alternatives. Please seek the advice of your supervisor, the Research Degree Coordinator for your School or the Health Sciences Research Office before enrolling for a particular MOOC, or if you are unsure about the type of MOOC to take.

What do I look for in a MOOC?

Before enrolling in a MOOC, ask yourself:

• Is there a course syllabus, course description or list of learning outcomes provided? Does it meet your learning and skill development needs?
• Is the hosting university and/or lecturer one with a good reputation? Does the MOOC have a rating or reviews?
• What are the logistics? For example:
  • the length of the course; the workload requirements e.g. time commitments, assignment types
  • What are the software requirements e.g. video streaming, online conference facilities, specialised software?
  • What is the start date for the course during this year or next year?
• Are there pre-requisite knowledge or background requirements?
• Are there suggested or compulsory reading materials? If so, are these freely available online?

Some suggested ideas for possible MOOCs relevant to the Engaged PhD Pathways:

All MOOCs listed in the table were found on:  http://www.mooc-list.com/initiatives-and-categories but can be located on their host site through a google search.

• Non-award enrolment in UniSA undergraduate courses relevant to particular pathways may be negotiated for Engaged PhD students on a case by case basis. Participation in these courses, if possible, will be organised by the Division of Health Sciences Research Office. In these circumstances, students would attend the course but not be assessed and would receive no official credit from the University. If you have identified a course that you would like to take as part of the Engaged PhD program, please discuss this with the Division of Health Sciences Research Office.
  
  
• LEAP modules are offered by the eGradSchool for free to UniSA students. Positions are highly competitive and limited to 15 students per module on a first come first served basis. Access to positions is managed through the Graduate Research Centre.
  
  • As part of the Governance and Policy pathway students are able to select the LEAP module on Public Policy as a pathway course component option.
  • As part of the Global Outlook pathway students are able to select the LEAP module on Global Sustainability as a pathway course component option.
  • As part of the Research Enterprise pathway students are able to select the LEAP modules on Entrepreneurship or Research Commercialisation as pathway course component options. 

A variety of LEAP modules are offered in three rounds during the year:

• Semester 1: 29 April - 2 June 2017: Entrepreneurship, Global Sustainability, Leadership and Communication, Project Management, Research Commercialisation
• Semester 2: 19 August - 22 September 2017: Entrepreneurship, Project Management, Leadership and Communication, Research Commercialisation, Public Policy

Contact the UniSA's LEAP administrator to get further information and reserve a place.

Masterclasses focusing on particular topics will be delivered by researchers in the Division of Health Sciences as part of the Engaged PhD program.

Within the first year of their research higher degree studies, all students in the program will undertake masterclasses to improve their skills in:

• Finding funding for research
• Career development
• Analytical methodologies (quantitative and/or qualitative)
• Project management
• Communications
• Professional networking

Students will be advised as details of the 2017 schedule become available with many of these options being run through the Division of Health Sciences Research Week.

Please note that participation in the RESA 3MT workshop and Division 3MT Heats will count as the 'communication' requirement for Stage 1 of the program.

In Stage 1, all students in the Engaged PhD program will participate in workshops to improve their skills in the following topics: 

• Communication to different audiences
• Career planning and development
• Effective publishing techniques

These workshops will be delivered by the Learning and Teaching Unit (LTU) as part of UniSA’s UniSA’s Research Education Support Activities (RESA).

Students need to enrol in one RESA workshop in each category by mid-May of their first year of candidature and are encouraged to find workshops that align to skill development topics offered by RESA.

Please note that participation in the RESA 3MT workshop and Division 3MT Heats will count as the 'communication' requirement for Stage 1 of the program.

Students participating in the Engaged PhD program within the Division of Health Sciences will be supported to develop a Portfolio (Stage 3) which showcases the skills and experiences they acquire as they move through the program, undertake their chosen Engaged PhD pathway and complete their research higher degree.

Students can do this using the ePortfolio resource offered by UniSA or with other similar portfolio software if they prefer.

Students can track their activity through using the Engaged PhD Activity Record. You can download this here.

UniSA e-Portfolio

All students at UniSA have the ability to generate an ePortfolio.

The ePortfolio is an online personalised space for collecting and documenting academic, professional and life experiences with text, photo, video, music and multimedia. It can be used to build a resume; publish a blog; showcase achievements and academic knowledge; or simply network with friends and colleagues. Students can create a body of evidence reflecting their aspirations, achievements and learning experiences. It can then be reassembled for Web presentation to target audiences or the world. An ePortfolio can be an invaluable tool while undertaking your research higher degree at UniSA and after graduation to assist in your career development.

Develop your portfolio throughout your research higher degree

Similar to the process undertaken for planning and review of progress throughout your PhD, a critical analysis of your skills, activities and experiences can help you to begin to populate a portfolio. UniSA identifies seven Research Degree Graduate Qualities (RDGQ) that are important for you to acquire and demonstrate:

• Understand research based knowledge & methodologies for knowledge discovery 
• A willingness to continue to learn
• Effective problem solving and critical thinking skills
• The ability to work both collaboratively and autonomously
• A strong sense of social responsibility
• Excellent communication skills as a researcher
• An international perspective

More ideas about the types of skills, activities and experiences relevant to the RDGQ are available here.

In order to demonstrate RDGQ and populate your portfolio:

• Identify transferable skills and knowledge. Most of the RDGQ refer to skills and knowledge that move with you no matter what job you have or degree you study. In making study to career decisions it is these transferable skills and knowledge that will guide you. Consider your strengths! There are transferable skills  and employability skills assessment tools to help you to identify these on the UniSA career development website:
• Identify achievements, activities or outcomes within these qualities that have been assessed or verified with documentary evidence.
• Identify experiences that contribute to the development of particular RDGQ but for which there has been no formal assessment.

The experiences and achievements can be:

•  directly related to your courses and program of study
• related to extra curricula experiences you had while at University, such as involvement in clubs and societies

• related to life outside of University, such as involvement in community organisations.

Tailor your portfolio

As you build a portfolio, you are able to tailor how the individual components within it are viewed in order to present a profile of your skills, knowledge and experiences that is ‘fit for purpose’. During your PhD this may assist you when you apply for awards; scholarships; or placement and collaborative opportunities. Towards the end of your PhD, when you are preparing a resume and participating in employment interviews, it will be important that you present a concise portfolio view that demonstrates your relevant knowledge, experience and transferable skill strengths. These strengths represent your points of difference, and may provide competitive advantage over other candidates seeking the same position as you.

Undertaking work experience or a relevant community engagement activities is an essential component of Stage 3 of the Engaged PhD program. The choice of experience is specific to the chosen pathway. These may occur within UniSA (for example: paid teaching of undergraduates; or a volunteer internship with a UniSA business or governance unit); or externally (for example: volunteering with a Non Government Organisation or volunteer industry or government placement).

Students are encouraged to identify an appropriate work experience or community engagement activity early for Stage 3 in conjunction with their supervisors; and discuss these with the Dean: Research Education and the staff in the Division of Health Sciences Research Office.

UniSA Career Services

UniSA Career Services site provides guidance and information on career planning, job-seeking and preparing for the workforce to undergraduate students and recent UniSA graduates. These resources may be of help depending on your starting point, and are supplementary to the masterclasses undertaken as part of the program. 

 It offers:

• Career Development Tools to help you make the most of your study. Students can work through self-paced modules on:
  • Smarter Choices - about how you choose your study path and use your time at UniSA to explore your profession
  • Take Action - in your degree so that you develop your employability as you study
  • Get Connected - to employers, work experience, professionals and your graduate career

• Free appointments with career advisers
  
  
• Access to the UniSA Career Hub, where UniSA students and graduates can search for:
  • Employment opportunities
  • Upcoming events
  • Career resources
    
    
• Online guides and regular workshops on how to produce CVs and applications letters; search for employment and prepare for interviews.

UniSA RESA workshops

The UniSA Research Education Support Activities (RESA) also offer workshops in career planning:

• CV Writing for Research Position
• Building a Lifelong Research Career 
• You have survived the PhD; Establishing an academic career

Networking

At any given time, most available jobs don't appear in the newspaper or on job websites. One of the best avenues for exploring this 'hidden' job market is networking - using your friends, acquaintances and referrals. By meeting people, letting them see your face, and hearing what they have to say you are tapping into the hidden job market.

Networking involves meeting people and exchanging information to benefit you and the other parties. It means making contacts, collecting information, asking questions and maintaining your personal and professional relationships. Be positive and showing a willingness to learn; and importantly to reciprocate.

Networking can help you find a job, improve your communication skills, and increase your understanding of particular industries or organisations. Once you are an active member of the workforce, your networks will continue to help you achieve your personal and professional goals.

Learn more about networking here.

As a member of the Australian Technology Network, eGradSchool modules are available free to UniSA HDR students. Places in modules are advertised to all HDR students twice yearly, and are very competitive. These modules cover topics including:

Learning Employment Aptitudes Program (LEAP):

• Entrepreneurship
• Leadership and communication
• Research commercialisation
• Project management
• Public Policy
• Global Sustainability

Modules on Research Education (MORE):

• Ethics
• Risk Management
• Critical writing
• Critical and creative thinking
• Maximising your career

Library

The UniSA Library also offers a range of workshops as part of RESA to assist you to develop specific skills useful in a research career.

• Cite cycle: tracking citations
• Company and industry information
• EndNote essentials
• Finding research proposals and theses
• Managing your systematic review search results with EndNote
• Publishing with impact: where and how
• Publishing your research: don't lose your rights
• Systematic reviews: searching for the best evidence

Career Services

• CV, cover letters, interviews
• Career counselling and Career advisors
• Job hunting 
• Career workshops