November 2003 - Graduate-research-list - University of Stirling Mailing Lists

QAA Focus Group - volunteers sought
by Wilma Ellis 19 Nov '03

19 Nov '03

The QAA's Enhancement Project Interview Team will be visiting Stirling on Tuesday December 9th to 1 investigate student needs and identify target areas for improved student support and 2 to determine the main issues in collecting student evaluation of and feedback on their learning experience. We are looking for one full-time Postgrad Research student and one part-time Postgrad Research student to volunteer to participate in a focus group from 10am - 12 noon on that day. This is an attempt to gain an overall picture of issues facing institutions, practitioners and students in relation to student support and student feedback. This is not an audit of institutional procedure and all information and opinions of volunteers will be anonymous. Students participating in the focus groups will each receive a book voucher to the value of £10 as a token of appreciation for their involvement in the research. Lunch will also be served from 12 noon. If you are interested in this opportunity to contribute your views on Learning Experiences and Student Needs, and would like more information, then please contact Ginny Saich at DAICE [vas1(a)stir.ac.uk] by Friday November 28th. Thank you Wilma Ellis Research Services Officer Planning and Research Office University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA Tel: 01786 466691 Fax: 01786 466688 E-mail: wilma.ellis(a)stir.ac.uk

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[Graduate-research-list] SGRS Seminar Reminder - Time Management - December2nd
by Wilma Ellis 19 Nov '03

19 Nov '03

Time Management Professor John Field, DAICE and Director of Stirling Graduate Research School 2nd December 2003, 2-4 pm Cottrell 2B133 Professor Field will lead an introductory session in which participants will explore factors which may contribute to difficulties in meeting goals or achieving deadlines on time, and suggest methods which may help people organise their time more effectively. The session is aimed at research students or junior research staff at any stage in their career, who have not previously attended a session on this topic. If you would like to sign up for this session please contact Wilma Ellis on (46) 6691 or by sending e-mail to the graduate-research-list(a)stir.ac.uk <mailto:graduate-research-list@stri.ac.uk> Wilma Ellis Research Services Officer Planning and Research Office University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA Tel: 01786 466691 Fax: 01786 466688 E-mail: wilma.ellis(a)stir.ac.uk

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PhD Society
by Wilma Ellis 14 Nov '03

14 Nov '03

> There will be a friendly and informal meeting of the PhD society on > Thursday 20th November, 7pm at the MacRobert foyer / cafe. This will be an > opportunity for existing members to make contact with new or returning PhD > students who feel they might be interested in becoming involved. > > As you may know the PhD society fulfills a valuable social function > for its otherwise isolated members. It is the only University society > exclusively for PhD students, it is not currently SUSA affiliated (so our > funds are entirely within our control), and we have a reasonable pot of > money to play with. These three facts alone make us uniquely placed to > meet the needs of our members. > > We all know that the success of any society is dependent upon an > active and interested membership. So, get involved and help to deliver the > kind of society you want. Why not come to the meeting and make a few new > friends outside your department or regular circle? Why not come and make > suggestions on the kind of events or activities you'd like to see > organised? One possibility we are considering is a subsidised trip into > town for a meal towards the end of this semester. Whether you have a > better idea, or like the sound of ours, come along to the meeting and let > us know. > > The society webpages are being brought up to date and we will have > our e-mailbox open again soon. Meanwhile, if you have any comments or > queries in advance of the gathering please ask (a.j.sneddon(a)stir.ac.uk) > If you are interested in the society but cannot come to the gathering > please let me know. Similarly, if you know people who may be interested > please help us by making sure they know about it too. > Andrew

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SAAP Invigilators
by Wilma Ellis 10 Nov '03

10 Nov '03

> SAAP Invigilators > > The University is looking to recruit PhD students (1st year preferred) to > oversee examinations for students receiving additional examination > arrangements from the Special Academic Arrangements Panel (SAAP). > Applicants should have a high proficiency in English, good communication > skills, a high level of organisation and an ability to keep calm in > pressurised situations. The examination period is 9th -22nd of December > and it is essential that you are able to fully commit to work during this > time. An induction/ training day will take place prior to the commencement > of the examinations which you will also need to attend. > > If you feel that you are a suitable candidate and would like to join the > team of SAAP invigilators you can contact me to arrange an interview, no > later than 17th November please. > > Rachel Lawlor > Senior SAAP Invigilator > ral1(a)stir.ac.uk > (01786) 473171 ext. 6203 > > >

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[Graduate-research-list] Joseph Rowntree Foundation Visits Stirling - Monday 10th November 2003
by Wilma Ellis 04 Nov '03

04 Nov '03

> ******PLEASE CIRCULATE*****PLEASE CIRCULATE*****PLEASE > CIRCULATE*****PLEASE CIRCULATE****** (if appropriate) > > Dear All, > > You may already have been forewarned about the next funding body visit > that has been organised by the Planning and Research Office. This is a > reminder that on Monday 10th November 2003, Miss Anne Harrop from the > Joseph Rowntree Foundation will be running an information session for > researchers from 12.30pm to 2.30pm in the Iris Murdoch Building Seminar > Rooms 1&2, and all researchers are very welcome to attend. The session > will look at funding opportunities with the Foundation, discuss the > Foundation's research priorities and review processes, and include tips on > what makes for a successful proposal. A sandwich lunch will be provided so > it is essential that you book a place if you are interested in coming > along. Contact Sylvia Barnes in the Planning & Research Office on ext 7041 > or email sb18(a)stir.ac.uk > > BACKGROUND ON JOSEPH ROWNTREE FOUNDATION > The Joseph Rowntree Foundation is one of the largest independent social > policy research and development charities in the UK. It supports a wide > programme of research and development projects in housing, social care and > social policy, allocating around £7 million a year to its R&D Programme. > Housing and deprivation are key central research themes for the > Foundation, funded through the Housing & Neighbourhoods Committee (HANC) > and the Poverty & Disadvantage Committee (PAD). However the Foundation > also has a series of time-limited committees that focus on particular > research programmes for a set length of time, the Drug & Alcohol Research > Committee being the first of such Single Programme Committees (SPCs). > Further SPC's are being considered on the following themes: Differences in > Parenting - the implications for supporting parents and promoting the > wellbeing of children; Independent Living - approaches to achieve choice > and control for disabled people, older people and other groups; Governance > for Public Services; and Refugees (Immigration and Inclusion). > For more info on their current research priorities, see > http://www.jrf.org.uk/funding/overview/overview.htm . Also, it is worth > taking a look at the current projects funded by the Foundation to get a > feel for the sorts of research they have recently supported (see > http://www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/wip/ and search under all programmes) > which has included research of relevance primarily to the departments of > Applied Social Sciences, but also bearing relevance to certain areas of > Education, Psychology, Management and Organisation, Marketing and > Economics. > The following is a guide to what sort of projects they would expect to > fund: > -If it is a new area of work they would support research projects which > would help to define or redefine problems or issues. > -If these are already clear, they would expect to fund projects assessing > `what works'. This could encompass evaluations of existing services or > demonstration projects testing new ideas; such projects would be expected > to incorporate a strong monitoring and evaluation component. > -If there is evidence, from these projects or elsewhere, of the success of > particular interventions, the Foundation would wish to support work aimed > at developing and extending this good practice. > The Foundation does not generally support: > -projects outside the topics within its current priorities; > -development projects which are not innovative; > -development projects from which no general lessons can be drawn; > -general appeals, for example, from national charities; > -core or revenue funding, including grants for buildings or equipment; > -conferences and other events, websites or publications unless they are > linked with work which the Foundation is already supporting; > -grants to replace withdrawn or expired statutory funding, or to make up > deficits already incurred; > -educational bursaries or sponsorship for individuals for research or > further education and training courses; > -grants or sponsorship for individuals in need; > Stirling University's record with JRF > So far, only the Department of Applied Social Sciences has been successful > in securing funds from the Foundation (£340,208 since 1998) however we > hope to extend this success to other departments who have been applying to > the Foundation unsuccessfully over the years, and will be looking for > plenty of tips from Anne Harrop during her visit. > Hope to see you there. > Best Wishes > Julia > ************************************************************************** > **** > Julia Campbell > Research Funding Officer (jobshare with Claire Jones) > Planning & Research Office > Room 3B1 Cottrell Building > Ext 6690 > Fax 6688 > Email: jec3(a)stir.ac.uk > Julia's hours of work: Tues all day, Wed am, Friday all day > Claire's hours of work: Mon all day, Wed pm, Thurs all day > ************************************************************************** > ** > >

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Essay prize for Postgraduate Students
by Wilma Ellis 04 Nov '03

04 Nov '03

The European University Association (EUA) announces a prize of E10,000 for the best essay on: 'The Interpretaion of the Magna Charta Universitatum and its Principles' Such principles outline the universities' fundamental values and rights, institutional autonomy and academic freedom, as they apply to teaching, research and services (www.magna-charta.org) Who can compete? - Doctoral students in any discipline from any University anywhere What is expected? - an essay of max 3000 words, written in Endglish, French or Italian on the relevance and importance of the Magna Charta for the university of today as a centre of innovation and creativity in the knowledge society. What is the prize? Apart from the E10,000 awarded by EUA, the Magna Charta Observatory will ensure the publication of the essay in English, French, Italian, Spanish and German. It will also negotiate the laureate's possible visit to signatory universities interested in the ideas developed for the award. Who are the assessors? The Board and Collegium of the Observatory of the Magna Charta Universitatum will act as the jury. How to apply? The text is to be sent, with a short CV, in two copies plus a floppy-disc, to: The Observatory of the Magna Charta Universitatum Via Val D'Aposa7, 40123 bologna, Italy - by registered mail by 31 May 2004 The Prize will be awarded in Bologna on 17 september 2004, during the annual meeting of the Magna Charta Universitatum. Wilma Ellis Research Services Officer Planning and Research Office University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA Tel: 01786 466691 Fax: 01786 466688 E-mail: wilma.ellis(a)stir.ac.uk

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[Graduate-research-list] Funding for Scottish Under-graduates or Post-graduates
by Wilma Ellis 03 Nov '03

03 Nov '03

The Trustees of The Sutherland Page Trust invite applications from Under-Graduates or Post-Graduates who have sucessfully completed the first year of their course, and who are attending a Scottish University. Applications will be considered individually, and the amount of an award will be at the discretion of the Trustee. However, the Trust funds are limited. Only students who were born in Scotland, or who have at least one parent born in Scotland, or who were resident in Scotland for at least three continuous years prior to entry to a Scottish university need apply. Appplication forms are available from the Student Information and Support Service Office (Cottrell room 4B48), and these should be returned - with the necessary documentation - to the SISS office by November 28th 2003 Wilma Ellis Research Services Officer Planning and Research Office University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA Tel: 01786 466691 Fax: 01786 466688 E-mail: wilma.ellis(a)stir.ac.uk

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