Developing the next generation of researchers

Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria, 21-23 June 2016

This workshop, an initiative of Ebonyi State University being organised in collaboration with the ACU, will explore innovative approaches to academic mentoring and career development for emerging researchers.

In a period of fast-paced change and growth in higher education, early career researchers find themselves confronted with a wider array of challenges than ever before. With growing student numbers, greater competition for research funding, and ever more exacting demands from funders, a reflective and proactive approach to developing academic skills is becoming increasingly critical to a flourishing research career.

Over the course of three days, delegates will learn about international good practice in career and professional development planning for early career researchers. This will include looking at how best practice is being applied within Nigeria, and hearing first-hand from rising academic stars from across the country about how they are forging ahead in their research careers.

Programme

The workshop will cover:

• Good practice in academic mentorship
• Professional development planning 
• Research uptake – getting your research into use
• Becoming a mobile researcher
• Making effective research networks and collaborations 

You can view the draft programme here.

Who should attend?

• Early career academics wishing to learn techniques for developing themselves as researchers and research leaders
• Senior academics, research managers, directors of graduate schools, and anyone with a responsibility for academic staff development

Why participate?

Benefits for emerging researchers:

• Academics need a diverse skillset to become research leaders. As well as the knowledge and technical skills to be able to conduct research, they also need the ability to manage time and resources, and to communicate their knowledge effectively to a range of audiences, both expert and non-expert.
• This workshop is geared towards exploring how early career researchers can better manage their own professional development to become research leaders and effective mentors to other emerging researchers.
• First-hand accounts will empower academics to emulate the success enjoyed by talented peers.

Benefits for universities and senior researchers:

• If universities want to stay at the forefront of research, early investment needs to be made in strengthening academics’ abilities to be as effective as possible in developing themselves and others.
• Academic staff are the biggest asset that a university possesses. Investing in their development is an effective means to enhance university research capacity.
• Developing structures and processes that institutionalise the training of academics can instil a culture of professionalism in staff who will then go on to represent the institution. It can also ensure that staff maximise their use of time and resources.

Registration

A small registration fee will cover workshop materials, lunches, day refreshments, and transportation from designated hotels to the workshop venue.

The deadline for registrations is 15 June 2016.

Please note that delegates are responsible for making their own accommodation arrangements. Details of a range of hotels in Abakaliki are included here.