August 17, 2020, by Lisa Chin
C0VID-19: Graduate School updates (17 August 2020)
Ref. UNM/GS/C0VID-19/34/17/08/20
C0VID-19: Graduate School updates (17 August 2020)
This is part 34 of a series of updates which provides latest news and information from the Graduate School amidst the ongoing C0VID-19 pandemic. Don’t forget you can get in touch with us via Facebook and Graduate School Blog or by email at graduateschool@nottingham.edu.my.
The University is regularly updating advice and general FAQs on C0VID-19 on its web page. See more
The Vice Provost (Research and Knowledge Exchange) is also contributing to a more detailed page with guidance for postgraduate research students and research staff. See more
Training and development update
Planning for the new academic term is underway
We are making good progress in planning our researcher training schedule for the next academic term, taking into consideration the return of ‘old normal’ whilst adapting to the ‘new normal’ amidst the ongoing C0VID-19 pandemic.
A substantial part prior to the planning was a review where we reflected on the evaluations and training needs of our postgraduate research students. One of the key reflections that emerged from the C0VID-19 situation was the increased attendance and engagement arising from the new and virtual learning environment, including wider participation in training and development courses which enabled discussions across disciplines. In addition, we were able to welcome off-campus based postgraduate research students to take full advantage of our virtualised provision of training and development courses, and subsequently build a stronger sense of community. The movement control order (MCO) period forced us to think how we communicate and stay connected with each other and this is one of the key learning we would like to continue developing, in line with our aim to cultivate a more supportive and inclusive culture for our postgraduate research community.
As we strive for a heightened sense of community and move towards open conversations in more inclusive forums, notably different this time, our postgraduate research community was involved at the earliest stage of our review and planning through a survey that was conducted in July and followed by a consultation session held on Thursday 6 August 2020. We were able to hear constructive feedback and suggestions from our postgraduate research students, and subsequently understand their training and development needs.
As a result, we are on track to publish our preliminary training schedule before the end of this month. In the meantime, please contact us via email to graduateschool@nottingham.edu.my if you have any enquiries on our training and development provision.
On our blog
Welcoming our new postgraduate research students
Our third virtual postgraduate induction for new postgraduate research students was held last Friday 7 August 2020.
We appreciate that this is a challenging time for all of our postgraduate research students, even more so for those who have just joined us.
This virtual postgraduate induction was a great avenue for newcomers to hear about how we at the Graduate School can support them with training and development opportunities and what funding opportunities are available to support their research mobility and interdisciplinary collaborations.
We hope that the information and guidance shared during the induction is useful to our new postgraduate research students. Once again, welcome on board to our community of world class scholars and outstanding postgraduate students!
On other blog
This, they, it, those, these – a revision strategy
Professor Pat Thomson from the School of Education, UoN, writes about one aspect of academic writing – check out those dangling pronouns: this, they, it, those, these…
“In reality, the singleton pronoun is screaming for some company. Without a noun, what we call the referent – the thing that the this, they, it, those and these refer to – the reader just has to guess what the writer means. The reader has to set up a bit of blind dating to get to the point.“
Islamic New Year greetings
Muharram Mubarak & Salam Maal Hijrah 1442 AH
Thursday 20 August 2020 is a public holiday as Muslims celebrate the beginning of the Islamic New Year. We would like to take this opportunity to wish all Muslims a Happy Muharram in advance. Best wishes for the New Year!
Next updates from us
Our next C0VID-19: Graduate School updates will be posted on Monday 24 August 2020
In the meantime, please continue to observe and follow the safety advice and precautionary measures by our local authorities and University.
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