Past Training & Events – Global Challenges Doctoral Centre

Read about previous GCDC training and events below, and information about upcoming training and events can be viewed here.

July 2020

Effective Decision Making: This ½-day course aims to equip researchers with the leading theories on effective decision making and to enable them to apply them in their professional life. This course is suitable for all researchers wishing to improve their decision-making skills.

June 2020

Academic Leadership: This experiential one-day course aims to provide postgraduate researchers with the foundations and essentials of current leadership theory as well as focussing on their application within the research student context. You will explore the reasons behind the challenges of leadership, work through relevant case studies and reflect on your own personal leadership styles. We will identify the characteristics of effective leaders and then learn a critical history of leadership theories over the last century – particularly those that can easily be applied within a research group environment. We will cover how to be a focussed leader, how to lead with authenticity, and discuss pertinent case studies. There will also be an opportunity to discuss any specific situations you are currently dealing with.
Time Management: This course will help you to explore the research behind how to use our time better and develop a workable plan so that you can improve your use of time over the coming year. There are many competing pressures on researchers, coming both from inside and outside Universities, and PhD students frequently report being dissatisfied with how they are using their time. Some of the key skills this course will help you develop include being able to clearly choose and prioritise tasks, negotiate and communicate timescales, handle delay and surprise tasks, avoid unnecessary perfectionism, overcome procrastination, and of course how to meet important deadlines. We will use activities, seminars, reflection and discussion to enable you to make informed decisions about how to manage your time better during your studies at Kent.
Documentary as Visual Evidence: Social Injustice Behind Air Pollution and Pandemic Outbreak in China and India: Dr Lisa Lin (School of Arts) will lead a virtual discussion focusing on how to use media to engage researchers and stakeholders in a wider discussion on social injustice issues behind air pollution. Speaking from her experience leading a Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) project in China and India (more info on her GCRF-funded project here), Lisa hopes to get participants involved in the debate around these issues. Prior to the session, participants will be sent a link to view documentaries produced as a part of Lisa’s GCRF project, as these films will inform the discussion. This session is specifically aimed at GCDC students and researchers in the School of Arts, and the discussion will offer insights into how to use the media to bring about research impact in developing countries. A full session abstract can be read here.

February 2020: The Realities of Collaborating with DAC-list Partners (South East Asia focus): This presentation provided an overview of Prof Colin Robinson’s ongoing collaboration with groups in South East Asia as part of a UKRI GCRF project, and described some of the lessons learned, opportunities that emerged, and some areas that are relevant for GCDC students. The primary aim of the project is to use UK expertise in recombinant protein technology to assist groups in Thailand to produce animal vaccines and biotherapeutics (high-cost medicines) rather than being wholly reliant on expensive imports. However, the project has evolved to encompass related work with groups in Vietnam and Malaysia, and some of this work is being carried out by GCDC students.The session was interactive, and GCDC students were asked to contribute their own ideas for addressing these issues. The session was led by Prof Colin Robinson (Biosciences), PI on GCRF project ‘Establishment of biopharmaceutical and animal vaccine production capacity in Thailand and neighbouring South East Asian countries’.

January 2020 Training Session: Doing Fieldwork in Developing Countries: challenges and practicalities: Led by Dr Mark Hampton, this session drew on his fieldwork experience over the last 20 years in developing countries in South-East Asia, the Indian Ocean and the Caribbean. Mark is a Development Geographer and uses mainly qualitative type techniques to examine the socio-economic impacts of tourism on local communities. This session was practically-orientated and looked at approaching fieldwork, how to go about data collection, and using your time effectively in the field. Mark’s session finished at 12pm and was followed by an informative ‘mini session’ led by the Payments Team on navigating the overseas expense claim process for those preparing to do overseas fieldwork. The session was led by Dr Mark Hampton (SAC/KBS); Vicky Gatward Warner (Treasury Accountant); Emma Rowland (Payments Office Supervisor).

December GCDC Hangout: Climate Change as a Global Challenge (5 December 2019), led by GCDC deputy director, Dr Frank Grundig. The session kicked off with lunch and was followed by a presentation by GCDC deputy director, Dr Frank Grundig. Frank provided some background on his research, invited participants to introduce themselves and their research and gave a brief presentation on ‘Climate Change as a Global Challenge’. The presentation was followed by a discussion between participants, who came from a variety of disciplines.

GCDC Hangout: Philanthropy and the Sustainable Development Goals: what role for private donors? (13 November 2019) led by GCDC director, Dr Beth Breeze. Dr Beth Breeze, philanthropy academic and director of the Global Challenges Doctoral Centre at the University of Kent, led a discussion about the pros and cons of philanthropic individuals and institutions becoming involved in tackling global challenges. Should the resources of private donors be welcomed alongside public funding, or should we beware encouraging unelected wealthy elites to extend their power and influence on the global stage? Are some SDGs more or less suitable for private support, and what motivates rich donors to choose certain causes? Dr Breeze, author of ‘Richer Lives: why rich people give’ (2013) and ‘The Logic of Charity’ (2016) mapped out the contours of the debate and invited participants to share their perspectives.

2018-19

Introduction to GIS Mapping (May 2019) led by Dr Trude Sundberg. Combining physical and social data, this training session examined how to carry out basic GIS mapping. The workshop explored the basics of mapping via satellite-based remote sensing techniques, provided practice on how to classify and fetch data on landuse and land cover, and examined GIS database creation and mapping. Providing both theoretical and hands on practice using open source software, the session used water security data and WASH issues as a primary example.

Inclusive Community Driven Methodologies in Practice: Researching Vulnerable Populations (May 2019) led by Dr Trude Sundberg. Building on experiences carrying out interdisciplinary activist and community driven research using both qualitative and quantitative methods, this workshop gave practical examples of projects carried out in South and East Asia. Focusing on both the strengths and challenges of using these methods, the workshop aimed to equip participants with the skills to design and carry out their own projects.