-- Main.warwooca - 30 Aug 2019

July 2019

Postgraduate Meeting

This months Postgraduate Meeting took place on the 30th July. Topics discussed included PhD social seminars, Open Day, Recycling & student access to CO437, Contracts and Vic Plus. Minutes can be viewed here (page unlinked).

The next postgraduate meeting has been booked in for 3pm, August 23rd in CO431 - an invitation will be sent out to everyone shortly.

Vic Plus

Vic Plus is a rewards programme to recognise volunteer work and experiential learning experiences in the community. Participation in the programe will be recognised on your academic transcript and there are usually prizes each year for participating (one year and SMS student won $3000). There are different ways to participate in the programme such as extra curricular activities (including volunteering at department events), personal & professional development workshops, personal reflection & e-portfolio building excersises.

If you are interested, you can sign up for the programme here.

Reserach Legislation Changes in Indonesia

While these changes are not 100% clear at this stage, it is important for anyone doing research in Indonesia to note that they must not receive approval from the Research, Technology and Higher Education Ministry. Failing to do so carries a possible fine of Rp 4 billion (US$287 418). There are also additional measures for research deemed high risk. If your proposal or research involve Indonesian subjects or Indonesian material, it might be worth exploring these changes more in depth. For more information check out this article.

Australian University Health Challenge

This is a health-focused initiative for staff and students across Australia and New Zealand. Twelve Universities will compete against each other to see which institution is the most physically active. Challenge yourself to increase your daily steps and physical activity through small yet significant behavioural changes. The challenge runs from the 19th of August to the 19th September. Sign up here.

There are plenty of events being held in support of this event and to help you get more active. Follow the Health Challenge on Facebook to see what is happening.

Scholarships

HOPE Foundation Scholarship for Research on Ageing

These scholarships, established in 2003 as The HOPE Foundation Scholarships, are intended to support University students in the early stages of their careers, conducting research into ageing. The HOPE Foundation wants to encourage research into ageing phenomena, because they believe that as the nation ages, many issues will arise that will have to be addressed in order to assist New Zealand Society to cope with the effects of our ageing population. In this way, the Foundation seeks to help prepare New Zealand for an ageing future.

In order to be elegible for this scholarship, student must:
  • Be enrolled in a Masters or Doctoral study
  • Can be studying within any discipline
  • Have their research related to ageing and its effects on individuals and society
Applications close on the 31st October at 4:30pm. If you would like to find out more check out the page here.

Tutoring Opportunity

Annie and her son Caleb Austing are looking for a tutor to help Caleb with his NCEA level 2 exams. He is seeking help with Physics and Maths (mainly Calculus and Alegebra). Caleb is based at a boarding school so will be back in Wellington over the secondary school holidays - 23rd September to 11 October. Annie is hoping to find a tutor who is availiable for a couple of days each week over this period. The position is paid.

If you are interested, please contact Annie on 021 634 994.

PGSA & Student Learning Workshops

Writing Introductions, Rachel Ruegg, Aug 6, 12pm-12:50pm KK001

These seminars are intended as a general introduction to all postgraduate levels. This seminar covers writing introductions to your thesis and is part of a 5 week series. No registrations are necessary.
PALS Improving your English, Aug 9, 10am-11:50am KK001

This is a weekly session held for students new to New Zealand or with english as a second language. These workshops are designed to familiarise you with the academic english requirements and help strengthen your language skillset for university. No registrations necessary.

FGR Workshops

Thesis Writing - "How to eat an elephant", Dr Deb Laurs, Aug 21, 10:30am-12pm LBLT118

This workshop is intended for all stages of the PhD writing journey. The workshop will cover aspects of thesis writing such as making claims, structuring the thesis, and writing for different audiences. Participants are strongly encouraged to bring a sample of their writing (1,000-5,000 words) to share. Sign up here.
Planning your PhD, Dr Maria Gardiner, Aug 28, 10am-1pm HU Council Chamber

A PhD is a major undertaking yet many never sit down and develop a plan for how they are going to fit it all in. This generally leads to missing deadlines, running overtime, regular crises and lots of stress. If you want to finish on time and enjoy the process along the way, then it is important to have a good plan. Many people find that they have way too much to fit into three years once they sit down and plan out their PhD. We think it is better to find this out at the start than half way through.

You need very specific skills and tools that you can use to plan your PhD. This workshop will introduce you to the PhD Planning Toolkit.

You will learn how to:
  • create your big picture thesis plan
  • unpack your thesis into logical parts
  • estimate times and schedule tasks
  • keep on track as you implement your plan
  • plan your writing
  • identify risks and deal with setbacks
Sign up here.
Making Time for Research, Dr Maria Gardiner, Aug 28, 2pm-5pm HU Council Chamber

Do you feel that you never have enough time to get to your research, particularly the writing part? And that other things demand all your time? This workshop shows you how to guarantee you spend high quality time on your research outputs. It covers prioritising, goal setting and managing competing demands in a university context. If you want to increase your research output without compromising your work/life balance, then this workshop is for you. Key aspects of this workshop have featured in the journal Nature.

This workshop will show you how to:
  • take control of your time
  • prioritise
  • stop procrastinating and stay motivated
  • avoid distractions
  • say NO (and understand why it is so hard to do so)
  • balance competing demands
  • manage email and paperwork
  • work the slightly less hard way
  • think more realistically about your research productivity
Sign up here.
Defeating Self Sabotage, Dr Maria Gardiner, Aug 29, 10am-1pm, HU Council Chamber

Do you find that despite your best efforts to 'work on your thesis' or get your research output going, it just doesn't seem to be happening? Does there always seem to be something more urgent, interesting or important to do? Perhaps you are self-sabotaging. If you think you procrastinate, are a perfectionist, don't say no often enough, are disorganised or are always 'busy', this workshop will help you to understand why your thesis or research isn't getting done and what you can do about it.

This workshop will help you understand some of the key self-sabotaging behaviours and what you can do about them.
  • procrastination, perfectionism, overcommitting, getting distracted
  • how to recognise if you are self-sabotaging
  • when is it just life getting in the way?
  • identifying what specifically is stopping you from getting your thesis finished/research completed
  • what you can do about it
  • what if you know you're doing it, but that still doesn't help?
Sign up here
Print version | Backlinks |