Postgrad Network
Funded Research Degree Opportunities at Cardiff University
Cardiff School of Social Sciences have 11 ESRC funded PhD Studentships available for the 2010/11 academic year. More details in this attachment.
Potential applicants are invited to contact:
Vicky Parkin (ParkinVA@cardiff.ac.uk), Graduate Studies Office, Tel: 029 20 874972.
Initial applications due by Friday 29th January 2010.
Call for Postgraduates, Social Policy Association (SPA) Conference,
5-7 July 2010, University of Lincoln
This year, the SPA conference will include events for postgraduates.
We invite postgraduates to attend the conference and to participate in a range of events. You can:
- develop a poster presentation,
- present your research in a symposium
- get together with peers to submit a proposal for a symposium
- take part in a teaching and learning workshop,
- come along to networking events with your peers and established scholars.
Attending the conference will provide you with a range of opportunities:
- Introduce yourself to the social policy community
Perhaps this is the first time you have attended a conference, or maybe you want to share your research experiences and findings with an academic community. This will provide great experience for your development as an academic, and you can gain feedback from delegates.
This is a chance to meet with your peers, develop supportive networks and find out about future opportunities. A drinks reception for all delegates enables you to meet your peers and more established scholars.
This is a chance to attend an established academic conference that attracts both international and domestic scholars. You will have the opportunity to attend a range of presentations by researchers and academics.
You can also attend a workshop to find out about postgraduate experiences of teaching social policy as well as some of the resources which are available to postgraduate teachers. This will be especially useful if you are thinking about teaching, or want to find out about learning resources.
Fuller details in this PDF.
SLSA Postgraduate Conference 2010
University of Bristol: 21–22 January
The SLSA 2010 postgraduate conference will take place at Burwalls, University of Bristol. Everything, including accommodation, is on-site.
There will be sessions on:
- getting published
- developing academic careers
- giving conference papers
- supervising supervisors
- and others.
All session will be hosted by leading socio-legal academics.
Attendance is free (although please see below regarding the deposit) and there will be a drinks reception and dinner on the 21 January which are also free as they are sponsored by the SLSA. To book a place, you will need to go to http://www.kent.ac.uk/nslsa/content/view/169/144/#pg2010 and,
(a) complete the application form and email it to Dave Cowan and Shirley Knights (e-mail address on the form);
and (b) although attendance at the conference is free, you will need to send a cheque for £45, made out to the "Socio-legal Studies Association", to Dave Cowan (at School of Law, Wills Memorial Building, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1RJ), enclosing a covering note with your cheque, stating it is the deposit for the conference, and giving your name, institution and email address. The cheque will act as the deposit for your attendance, and will be returned to you when you arrive at the conference.
If you have any queries about the conference, please feel free to get in touch with Dave Cowan.
** CALL FOR PAPERS **
ICSP Study Day
International and comparative perspectives on
social policy and economic crisis
07-08 September, 2009: University of Sheffield
A decade on from the ‘Asian’ financial crisis of 1997, the world economy entered into what has been called unchartered territory with the spread of a financial crisis from the US housing loans system outwards to other financial sectors and countries. This has taken place against the backdrop of existing global economic relations and is compounded by other global crises in food and fuel, that have hit the poorest the hardest in all countries. While the richest countries debate ideas of domestic and global ‘new deals’, the coping strategies of the poorer and the poorest countries are taking many different directions which have direct implications for social policy. In the wake of these developments, this study day, organised by the International and Comparative Social Policy special interest group of the UK’s Social Policy Association, aims to discuss:
- Analyses of the impacts of the global economic crisis on social welfare;
- Responses to the crisis with a particular focus on the international and comparative social policy dimensions and implications of these;
- The role of local and national government as well as of world-regional associations and international organisations in responding to the crisis;
The study day will run lunchtime to lunchtime over the 7th-8th September and will include keynote speakers (Dr. Armando Barrientos, Brooks World Poverty Institute, University of Manchester, Prof. Bob Deacon, Professor of International Social Policy, University of Sheffield and Prof. Michael Hill, University of Brighton/Queen Mary College University of London) as well as presentations by attendees. Drawing on presentations at the Study Day, the ICSP group plan to publish an edited collection with a reputable publisher.
If you wish to present a paper or ideas/work in progress for discussion, please send a title and short abstract of no more than 150 words to icsp@sheffield.ac.uk by 24th August 2009. All abstracts should clearly indicate the author and full contact details. As this is a study day, full papers will not be required before the event.
Places are limited to 30 persons. With support from the UK Social Policy Association, the study day (including accommodation) is free and open to all but registration is required. Assistance with travel costs is available for a limited number of postgraduate students. Registration forms can be requested via email from Zoë Irving z.m.irving@sheffield.ac.uk Any queries can be directed to the organisers, Zoë Irving or Nicola Yeates n.yeates@open.ac.uk
Early Careers Forum Free Inaugural Event
Avenues of Support: What is out there for EC sociologists?
Tuesday 28th July 2009, 5.30-8pm
British Library (Conference Centre), Euston Road, London Tea/coffee/soft drinks reception 7.15-8pm. The evening will consist of four presentations covering various avenues of support for early career sociologists.
Speakers:
Professor John Scott (University of Plymouth). Professor Scott is currently a pdf assessor for the ESRC and a member of the Leverhulme advisory panel. He will discuss what makes for a good/poor research grant application and offer his 'top tips' for approaching the application process.
Dr Ian Fairweather (C-SAP) Dr Fairweather is the academic co-ordinator for C-SAP (Centre for Sociology, Anthropology and Politics)and he will outline the forms of support offered by C-SAP in respect to teaching and learning and the funding opportunities available through this organisation.
Jude England (British Library) Jude is the Head of Social Science Collections and Research at the British Library and she will showcase the tailored-support provided by this institution.
Dr Nicola Gale (University of Birmingham) Dr Gale is a member of the ECF and she will discuss her experience of applying for an ESRC PDF, and of the career trajectory she subsequently followed. Dr Gale will offer a candid reflection of her experiences.
Each will speak for approximately 15 minutes and there will be time for a lengthy Q&A session afterwards. The evening will conclude with a tea/coffee/soft drinks reception at the Library, in order to give everyone a chance to mingle and meet fellow ECF members.
The details are as follows:
Date: Tuesday 28th July 2009
Location: British Library (Conference Centre)
Time: 5.30-8pm
Registration: opens at 5pm
Presentations: 5.30-6.30pm
Q/A session: 6.30-7.15pm
Drinks reception: 7.15-8pm
Places for this event are FREE to BSA members. Non-BSA members are encouraged and welcome to attend for a fee of £10. If you are not a BSA member, membership starts from £31. Find out more about joining the BSA.
To reserve your place for this event, please complete a Booking Form and return it to us by fax to +44 (0)191 383 0782 or by post to The British Sociological Association, Bailey Suite, Palatine House, Belmont Business Park, Durham DH1 1TW, alternatively you could call the BSA office on +44 (0)191 383 0839.
See http://www.britsoc.co.uk/ECForum/ECFLaunch.htm for further details
Social Policy Association Postgraduate Conference, Edinburgh 2nd July 2009
Social Policy Futures: research experiences, practices and developments
The event will run between 9.00am and 4.30pm in seminar rooms 1 and 2 at the Chrystal Macmillan Building, Edinburgh University, see http://www.ed.ac.uk/maps/buildings/chrystal-macmillan-building for a map
9.00am – 9.30am |
Registration, coffee |
9.30am – 9.45am |
Welcome, SPA representative, Rachael Dobson
SWAP representative, Rebecca Johnson |
9.45am – 11.00am |
Paper session one
Informal networks and ‘Identities’
Social Policy, Service user involvement and ‘voices’ |
11.00am – 11.15am |
Refreshments and comfort break |
11.15am – 12.00pm |
Themed Session: Resources for Social Policy Postgraduates
Research Methods
Dr Sean Moley, ESRC National Centre for Research Methods. This session will outline the resources provided by the Centre for Research Methods including some of the innovative methods being developed (http://www.ncrm.ac.uk/)
Dr. Jane Wellens – co-investigator on the ESRC-funded ‘Training Researchers in Online Research Methods’ (TRI-ORM) project and prior to that was part of the team which developed the ‘Exploring Online Research Methods’ web resource (http://www.geog.le.ac.uk/orm) funded by ESRC’s Research Methods Programme.
Resources for postgraduates who teach
Dr. Rebecca Johnson, Subject Centre for Social Policy and Social Work. Learning and teaching materials for social policy educators. (http://www.swap.ac.uk) |
12.00pm-1.15pm |
Paper session two
Social Policy and ‘practice’
Governance; machinations of democratic systems |
1.15pm – 2.00pm |
Lunch |
2.00pm-3.00pm |
Panel led discussion –what does the research behaviour of today’s young scholars tell us?
Presentation 1: Dr. Joanna Newman Head of Higher Education, The British Library. ‘Spotlight on 'Generation Y'’. A major new study into the information seeking and research behaviour of young scholars `
Presentation 2: Dr. Jane Wellens and Dr. Julia Meek, ‘Developing online research method training packages for the social science community – what do students want?’
TWITTER: delegates are invited to twitter their responses throughout.
Discussion: open floor discussion of what students see the future of research methods to be |
3.00– 3.15pm |
Refreshment and comfort break |
3.15pm – 4.15pm |
Paper session 3
Social Policy, ‘Race’ and Inequalities
Governance; machinations of democratic systems |
4.15pm-4.30pm |
Participatory plenary: sharing the issues [Rachael Dobson] |
Click here for details of speakers and timings within the parallel paper sessions.
Postgraduate Network for East Asian Studies Conference 2009 (BRIDGE) 'Public Policy in East Asia' 14th-15th July [ University of Bristol ]
** Call for papers **
We invite postgraduates at any stage of their PhD and scholars at the early stage of their career to join us for our inaugural conference. This is a cross-disciplinary conference which welcomes participation from all fields of study: if your research is connected to any area of East Asia, this conference is for you.
The main theme is 'Public Policy in East Asia'. This theme aims to provide a framework through which to challenge our perspectives and build on our understanding of East Asia, by critically examining and questioning public policy, the successes, failures and gaps therein.
We welcome proposals for papers on our main theme, whilst we will consider the inclusion of other interesting presentations which contribute to East Asian studies. For your reference, papers which we have considered so far include such diverse topics as: Development of higher education in China; Japan's aging policy; Shanghai's foreign settlements; The digital divide in China; Chinese NGOs and welfare provision.
Papers will be selected for presentation and discussion, and we will provide subsidies for all those presenting (one subsidised place per presentation) in order to facilitate PhD students to take this opportunity to present their work to scholars and peers.
We invite you to submit an abstract of (200-300) words by 8th June 2009 using the form provided on our website below:
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/ceas/bridge/conf.shtml
All successful speakers selected will be notified by 12th June 2009.
We also invite panel proposals which should include a title and description of the panel's objective (200-300 words) together with abstracts for three (or four) papers and the details of convener and panel members.
For more information about the conference and an introduction to BRIDGE, please visit:
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/ceas/bridge/conf.shtml
Please do not hesitate to email us if you have any queries at:
bridge-admin@bristol.ac.uk
Thanks
Bridge Network
Research Events and Seminars
Innovation in Social Research: Methodology, Experience and Practice
29 September 2009 | 9.30 am - 5.00 pm | One day event, Beech Grove House, University of Leeds
'Innovation in Social Research' is a one day conference for postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers. It will focus on 'innovation' in social research methods. Leading academics will present ideas of 'innovation' in different methodological contexts, and delegates will explore what it means to be 'innovative' in social research practice. Here is the programme and other details.
This will involve moving beyond, whilst still drawing on, traditional ideas around social research methods. The aim will be to consider how 'classic' methodologies can be put to fresh use for current empirical practice.
The event will offer a training opportunity for all who are interested in critical engagement in research methodology and in research practice. Presentations, workshops and a plenary session will enable delegates to think critically about innovation in method and in practice. Delegates will learn to consider innovative methodologies for their current and future social research practice.
Dr. Kahryn Hughes will introduce the day with a critical and reflective analysis of 'innovation' in social research methodologies.
This will be followed by presentations on methodologies at the cutting edge of current social research. Leading academics Professor Bren Neale (longitudinal methods) and Dr Jon Prosser (visual methods) will discuss how and why innovation in social research methods has supported their work.
Further presentations will explore experience and practice in social research. Dr Sharon Elley will explore emotional dimensions of conducting research as a PhD student. Professor Peter Dwyer will reflect on innovation in involving users in research.
Presentations will be complemented by practical group-based workshops where delegates will explore specific issues and, where relevant, share insights from their own research and experience. The workshops will provide opportunity for delegates to critically evaluate broad themes around 'innovation':
- What is 'innovation' in social research methodologies?
- How could the pursuit of 'innovation' hinder or support social research practice?
- How might a 'visionary' approach apply to delegates' current or future empirical social research work?
- How can methodological 'innovation' provide meaning for substantive findings?
- What practical challenges does 'innovation' present for day to day research work?
Delegates will be asked to sign up to a workshop prior to the event.
Please see the booking form for details. The cost of the event is £15.
The cost includes tea, coffee and lunch.
Please complete an online booking form to register your attendance and workshop preference. The booking form can be found at, http://www.sociology.leeds.ac.uk/research/events/innovation-social-research/
Travel Expenses
Social Policy Association members can claim travel expenses of up to £40 per person, available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please see registration form for details. To become a member visit the Social Policy Association website.
Directions
Map showing directions to Beechgrove House, http://lssi.leeds.ac.uk/graphics/lssi_campus_map.pdf
Directions to Leeds, http://www.leeds.ac.uk/visitors/getting_here.htm
Queries
If you have any queries regarding the academic content of the event, please email r.dobson00@leeds.ac.uk
For information regarding administrative details, please email Marie Johnson, m.b.johnson@leeds.ac.uk
Social Policy Association Postgraduate Conference, Edinburgh 2nd July 2009
Social Policy Futures: research experiences, practices and developments
This one day event will provide an opportunity for social policy postgraduates to:
- present their own research to peers in social policy
- reflect on current and developing research methodologies
- discuss the information seeking and research behaviour and experiences of young scholars such as themselves
- network with other social policy postgraduate researchers
- take away ideas and resources for learning and teaching
Those who wish to present at the event are to email a short abstract (200 words) outlining their presentation by May 1st 2009. Presenters must be new or existing SPA members. We welcome social policy postgraduates at all stages of their research, from MA and PhD students, to postdoctoral researchers. Please email abstracts to Rachael Dobson r.dobson00@leeds.ac.uk and Meredith Beaumont lqxmb7@nottingham.ac.uk.It is not expected that abstracts will reflect completed research, but will show evidence of work in progress.
More details of the event are shown here (PDF). To register for the event, please complete this registration form (MS-Word) and forward to Rachael Dobson r.dobson00@leeds.ac.uk.
** NEWS - see review of the 2008 PG SPA event in Edinburgh on the Postgraduate Weblog page. **
** NEWS - see new call for papers in the
Postgraduate Weblog page. **
Welcome to the SPA Postgraduate Network homepage, where you will find details of SPA activities dedicated to postgraduate researchers. If you’re a postgraduate student and you’re not currently a member of the SPA then now is the time to have a look at all the benefits of membership. Membership for postgraduates only costs £18 per year and for that you receive free copies of the Journal of Social Policy and Social Policy and Society, the annual Social Policy Review, a discount on the annual SPA Conference and SPA Postgraduate Workshop, and a range of other benefits. This represents amazing value for money for postgraduates so why not join the SPA today.
The SPA run regular Postgraduate Conferences and Postgraduate Workshops tailored to support the needs of postgraduate students. On the postgraduate webpages currently there are reviews of the 2nd Postgraduate Conference which took place in July 2007 and the 2nd postgrad workshop on social policy in developing and transitional economies held in December 2007.
The Postgraduate Conference brings together 15-20 postgraduate each year presenting and discussing across a range of social policy themes and issues. It is an excellent way to gain experience of presenting in a more informal environment and to meet and network with fellow postgraduate students. Postgraduate students are of course also encouraged to attend and present at the annual SPA Conference. The SPA have also recently begun a Postgraduate Workshop Series in order to bring together smaller groups of postgraduate students from across the UK who have a shared research focus. The 1st Postgraduate Workshop took place in Oxford in March 2007 and focussed on exploring issues around lone parenthood. It was a great success and we are looking for themes for future workshops in 2008: contact adam.whitworth@socres.ox.ac.uk if you are part of a group or network with ideas for a workshop theme.
To help you get in touch with other postgraduates working on similar topics there is a Postgraduate Members page on which you can search for other postgraduates either by topic area, name or organisation. Members can log-in to the members area to update, change or extend the information on them in this directory. There is also a Postgraduate Weblog page
The SPA have developed a strategy to help meet the needs of postgraduate researchers in the UK and we welcome your thoughts and ideas about what more we can do in the future as this strategy expands. If you’re full of ideas we’d love to hear from you! Contact the SPA’s Postgraduate Representative adam.whitworth@socres.ox.ac.uk