Building your network and developing and delivering presentations
Recommended for any year of your PHD time with MAINZ
| Intensive 3 day workshop Exercise based learning 16 participants maximum |
6th, 7th and 8th of May 2015 |
What you will learn
• what networking is and what the benefits are
• what makes an effective presentation
• what makes a successful conference session
What you will be able to do after the workshop
• network more efficiently and productively
• represent yourself clearly at conferences
• identify and prepare for the most appropriate conferences
• write a good session proposal
• prepare a presentation
• manage a session
• do all of the above with confidence and style!
What makes networking and presenting important?
Networking skills are important because they are the basis for productive relations. While we are able to communicate through many technologies, face-to-face interaction is like no other in building a successful relationship. Conferences are excellent opportunities for extending our networks but we need to know how to do it!
Presentation skills are essential for researchers to present their work clearly and professionally to a broad range of audiences. Presenting at a conference is a golden opportunity to present not only our work but also ourselves. A well delivered presentation can open up new career pathways or enable new connections , not only because of the quality of the content but also thanks to a strong process for delivery. While many people are confident about their work they often tremble at the thought of speaking in front of a large audience. Presentation skills are to be mastered and enjoyed!
The major topics during the Workshop will be
• Networking at a conference
• Identifying the most appropriate conference
• Submitting a conference proposal
• Preparing a presentation
• Delivering a successful presentation
• Managing a conference session
How you will be working during the Workshop
This participative “hands-on” workshop runs over 3 days taking participants through a series of simulations for networking, preparing for a conference, submitting a proposal, preparing and delivering a presentation in a supportive and friendly environment.
It starts with a networking event in which participants will be able to experiment different approaches to networking, refine their own personal style and become more comfortable with networking in large groups. They will also identify potential colleagues with whom they would like to submit a proposal for a conference session on the third day.
The next stage looks at different techniques for identifying and preparing for conferences as well as how to submit a well-designed session proposal to the conference organisers.
The second day concentrates on developing presentation skills and also enables the participants to put together a presentation based on their session proposal.
The third day simulates a small conference in which the different sessions take place and feedback is provided to the participants on the content and delivery of their presentation.
Who should attend
This workshop is designed for postgraduate research students from all disciplines with little or no prior experience of participating in conferences and who would like to improve their networking and presentation skills. It will help build confidence and overcome in two areas that are often described as daunting experiences by those who are required to perform them.
MAINZ recommendation:
Within your time at MAINZ! Best in the 2nd year of your doctorate!
Your trainer
Dr. Fiona Hunter is an independent Higher Education Consultant, trainer and researcher. She is also Research Associate at the Centre for Higher Education Internationalisation (CHEI) at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (UCSC) in Milan, Italy, where she teaches on the PhD programme. She is Co-Editor of the Journal of Studies for International Education and Chair of the Board of Directors at Education Credential Evaluation (ECE) Inc. in the United States.
She has previous experience in university management and language teaching at universities in France and Italy and also worked in business for a number of years. She has attended many conferences globally where she has made presentations and run workshops on a broad range of topics. Active conference participation has enabled her to build up a sizeable international network from which she has gained both personally and professionally.