POSTGRADUATE SUPPORT PROGRAMME STUDENT DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT (SDS)

CONTENT Background 2016 Resources 2017 initiatives Longer-term initiatives Measuring Impact

BACKGROUND Postgraduate academic success appears to be a challenge in South African higher education. Factors that contribute to low academic success among postgraduate students include inadequate training and resources in the field of research and writing skills (DHET, 2013). As a result, the Minister of Higher Education has called for additional resources to enhance the postgraduate success rate (NPC, 2011, 2012). There is a need to improve postgraduate research studies and to provide effective resources to assist students. Currently, there are limited postgraduate support resources available to students (NPC 2011, 2012).

NEEDS ANALYSIS (PGF Forum 2015) Therefore, to achieve better student outcomes there is a need for more improvement and interventions for all students. Therefore, in 2015 SDS committed to start providing support resources to postgraduate students. SDS recognised the need to provide support resources which were tailor-made to postgraduate students NEEDS ANALYSIS (PGF Forum 2015) Research Skills Writing Skills Presentation Skills February 2016 we were given approval to start providing support resources to postgraduate students

2016 : Pilot of Postgraduate Support Programme 2016 Resources Available myTUTor Resources Research and Writing Workshops

myTUTor Resources Provide as many research and writing resources to all students: 11 Free, online, international courses: videos, resources, information, practical activities English Grammar and Style Questionnaire Design for Social Surveys How to Survive Your PhD Understanding Research Methods Qualitative Research Methods Quantitative Methods Inferential Statistics Basic Statistics Introduction to Research for Essay Writing How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper (Project-Centered Course) Advanced Writing

myTUTor Resources continued… Free, online TUT ethics videos made available Research Ethics Workshop Part 1 – Human Rights Research Ethics Workshop Part 2 – Human Dignity & Benefits Research Ethics Workshop Part 3 – Benefits & Harms Research Ethics Workshop Part 4 – Harms & Autonomy Research Ethics Workshop Part 5 – Informed Consent Research Ethics Workshop Part 6 – Vulnerability & Integrity Research Ethics Workshop Part 7 – TUT Research Ethics Committee

2. Research and Writing Workshops 6 x Research and Writing Workshops. 3 facilitated on Pretoria Campus (April, May & June) 3 facilitated on Sosh South Campus (July, 2 x August) The workshops are each 4 days long (1 day writing skills and 3 days research skills) The workshops are facilitated by experts in the field (PhD – Prof). The workshops are limited to 20 students for hands-on assistance. We have assisted about 80 postgraduate students so far. The workshops are voluntary and accessible to ALL postgraduate students (all Departments, all fields) We also have and will continue to accommodate disabled students to the best of our ability (1 physically and 2 visually disabled students have attended our workshops)

Research and Writing Workshop Research Themes Covered The academic method Project management The four phase research model Formulating a research problem Conceptualising a research design Research instruments and methods Sampling Research ethics Writing the research proposal Data analysis and displaying data Dissertation structure Article structure: IMRAD approach Guidelines on academic writing The role of the supervisor Managing the relationship

Research and Writing Workshop Writing Themes Covered Introduction to Writing Unpacking academic/ scientific writing Elements of writing Difference between speaking and writing Audience, purpose, tone, register, discourse Macro, Middle and Micro levels of writing structure The writing process Before writing During writing (cohesion, punctuation, expression) After writing Consolidating writing skills What the supervisors want Packaging Writing tips

+/- 80 Workshop Evaluations: Feedback “This workshop was practical and informative. I am now aware of how I need to approach my studies and what is necessary for achievement.” “The workshop was extremely helpful and informative. It gave me insight into my studies.” “Useful techniques were taught to approach each section of the research project.”

+/- 80 Workshop Evaluations: CHALLENGES Students have indicated that they require more assistance with: Workshops that provide more assistance with the postgraduate research process (bigger picture) Workshops that focus on specific aspects of the research process (methodology, references etc)

4-day Research and Writing Workshop (Proposal Development) 2017 INITIATIVES 4-day Research and Writing Workshop (Proposal Development) March (1 on Pretoria & 1 on Sosh South Campus) April (1 on Pretoria & 1 on Sosh South Campus) May (1 on Pretoria & 1 on Sosh South Campus) Focus is to equip students with the basic research and writing skills to formulate a proposal (bigger picture) Limited to 25 attendees per workshop 8:00 – 13:00 each day PPT and handouts are made available to all attendees and contact details of presenters made available.

1-day Specialised Lectures: Topic specific 2017 INITIATIVES 1-day Specialised Lectures: Topic specific (Each lecture is presented on both Pretoria & Sosh South Campus) July Advanced Writing Skills August Qualitative Research September Quantitative Research Focus is to equip students with advanced knowledge and skills in specific areas. Limited to 50 attendees per lecture 9:00 – 13:00 PPT and handouts are made available to all attendees and contact details of presenters made available.

Resources Made Available to Assist in Independent Student Learning 2017 INITIATIVES Resources Made Available to Assist in Independent Student Learning All workshops will be videotaped and made available on myTUTor so that it is accessible to all postgraduate students. Free online, international courses which focus on research and writing topics will also be made available on myTUTor. TUT research ethics videos will be made available on myTUTor. TUT postgraduate policies (eg Plagarism Policy) accessible on mytutor. Additional research and writing resources (books, links, activities) also made available on myTUTor

Longer-term Initiatives 1. General workbook (accessible via myTUTor): This workbook would provide an overview of the postgraduate research journey. All policies, resources etc (Bigger picture). The workbook would include sections on proposal writing, dissertation writing, ethics, plagiarism, references, writing skills (Unisa Benchmark). The workbook would include resources and practical tasks that can help students in their research process and promote independent learning.

Longer-term Initiatives 2. Workshop specific workbooks (also available via mytutor): detailed workbooks which focus on one area of the research process. Practical tasks, resources and links to be made available. Compiled by experts in the field. Topics: proposal development, methodology, ethics, plagiarism, writing skills, auditing work, article writing. Each workbook would assist students in their personal research journey

Longer-term Initiatives 3. Workshop development: Building Resilience Psychoeducational programme that assists postgraduate students to endure and persevere under difficult circumstances (Walker, 2015). Developing a programme that assists students to perform academically despite persistent and unpleasant circumstances (Hayes, 1993).

MEASURING IMPACT Continue to provide a needs analysis (January and July – students and faculty input) Workshop evaluations (12 workshops in 2017 – student input) Needs analysis and workshop feedback give us an indication of where the need is and therefore we can continue to provide and amend our service output to cater for the postgraduate student’s needs.

CONTACT US Lauren Leon LeonLM@tut.ac.za 012 382 5161 Thembeka Shange ShangeTGC@tut.ac.za 012 382 9513