1. POSTGRADUATE SUPPORT PROGRAMME
STUDENT DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT (SDS)

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

3. 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).

4. 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

5. 2016 : Pilot of Postgraduate Support Programme
2016 Resources Available
myTUTor Resources
Research and Writing Workshops

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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)

9. 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

10. 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

13. +/- 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.”

14. +/- 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)

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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

18. 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.

19. 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

20. 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).

21. 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.

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