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- Career Advice Article
- Posted 8 years ago
Importance of research autonomy when employed in academia
One of the great advantages of performing your research within an academic setting rather than a commercial one is the degree of research autonomy which you posses. This means that you have the freedom to pursue the work which you think is interesting and worthwhile, and to pick the methods and research approaches which you find to be most suitable. In fact, having flexibility and freedom over your work was identified as one of the top advantages of working in an academic institution in our 2015 Academic Institutions Report. Clearly, this is an important issue which is one of the major differentiating factors between academia and industry.
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- Career Advice Article
- Posted 8 years ago
Tips for academics on how to deal with short-term contracts and job insecurity
One issue for those working in academia that can be difficult to deal with is the problem of job insecurity. It is common for postdocs or junior lectures to be employed on short-term contracts of a few months to a few years, meaning that they must secure a new job when their contract ends. Today we have some tips on how to manage this insecurity if you're working in academia.
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- Career Advice Article
- Posted 8 years ago
How to show the best of your study abroad on your resume
When you're been abroad for a semester or longer during your studies, you're bound to have picked up lots of new skills and knowledge that can help you to stand out when applying for a job or course of study. But in order to take advantage of this, you need to know how to convey your extra skills to potential employers or universities. So today we're offering advice on how to show off the best of your study abroad on your resume. You can use the following ideas as skills to highlight on applications, or find ways to include this information in your cover letter, letter of motivation, or to answer interview questions.
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- How to teach Article , Career Advice Article, Advice
- Posted 8 years ago
Teaching for varying class sizes
When you're teaching, it's important to find a way to engage with all of your students, to keep their interest and to make sure that they understand the information that you're conveying to them. However, the size of a class can make a huge difference to what teaching methods are most appropriate and effective.
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- Career Advice Article
- Posted 8 years ago
Top 6 Websites for Learning a Language
When you're looking to learn a new language, there are all sorts of websites which can help support your learning. Some have lists of vocabulary, interactive games, or practise scenarios which you can work on. Others can use your computer's speakers and microphone to help you with your listening and speaking. Below we're listing some of the most useful websites for learning a language.
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- Work Abroad Article
- Posted 8 years ago
Work visas for Australia (for academic & highly qualified professionals)
Australia is growing a reputation as a centre of academic excellence, with increasingly prominent universities both teaching and contributing to international research.
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- Career Advice Article
- Posted 8 years ago
How To Learn A New Language?
Studying a new language can be fun, exciting, and valuable for your career, and there are now more options than ever for how to learn. From casual to fully immersive, and from short-term to long-term, there are a plethora of options for language learning. Today we're discussing some of these options and the advantages and disadvantages of each.
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- Career Advice Article
- Posted 8 years ago
15 Must-Attend Conferences and Workshops 2015/2016: Social Sciences
With the summer behind us (at least for those in the northern hemisphere), now is the best time to start planning your academic calendar for the coming year. However, the number of conferences and workshops taking place in the next twelve months is enormous and may be overwhelming when it comes to choosing the best one(s) for you. In order to help you with this endeavour, we have put together a selection of conferences and workshops organized by national and international organizations, covering a wide range of topics in social sciences.
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- Career Advice Article
- Posted 8 years ago
Working as a researcher in a company vs university: Social Sciences
For graduates of the social sciences, there is a wide range of career possibilities open. For people who are curious, self-motivated, and capable of both good organisation and creative thinking, research can be an extremely rewarding career.
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- Career Advice Article
- Posted 8 years ago
For-profit universities: How to avoid "diploma mill" institutions
As an academic, you may feel somewhat insulated from the profit-driven business world. Certainly, academia has traditionally been regarded as an enclave separated from corporate concerns over profits; one which is supported by governments and individuals and focuses on teaching and research rather than on making money. However, with the huge growth of the education industry over the last few decades, institutions have necessarily become more corporate.
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- Work Abroad Article
- Posted 8 years ago
Work visas for the UK (for academic & highly qualified professionals)
If you are from outside of the EU, then you will need a visas to work in EU countries such as Britain.
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- Career Advice Article
- Posted 8 years ago
How to make the most of PhD journal clubs
A popular activity among PhD students, particularly for those in structured programs, is a journal club. This is a regular meeting at which PhD students gather together to read and discuss a journal paper from their field. These meetings can be a fun and educational addition to a PhD program, and today we're discussing how you can make the most of the opportunities presented by these meetings.
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- Career Advice Article
- Posted 8 years ago
Top 5 Digital Tools For Professors
If you're working as a professor, you likely have a large number of projects on the go and a lot of demands on your time. It can be hard to keep track of everything, but there are tools out there which can help you. If you have a smartphone or tablet, there are some great apps available which can make your work life a little easier:
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- Career Advice Article
- Posted 8 years ago
Open access: the case for making your research publicly available
Open access refers to materials which are publicly available without restrictions on access or reuse. To publish your research in open access means that anyone, including other researchers and the public, will be able to read your paper in its original form. In order to support this free access for users, journals which publish open-access charge a fee (often in the region of several thousand Euros) to the authors. But, this cost comes with advantages. Today we're looking at the case for making your research available in open access form.
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- Career Advice Article
- Posted 8 years ago
Supervision - tips for PhDs supervising bachelors or masters students for the first time
One part of the PhD process that students are not always aware of when they begin is their role in the supervision of bachelors or masters students.
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- Career Advice Article
- Posted 8 years ago
How To Apply For A PostDoc Grant or Fellowship
If you've completed your PhD and are looking for a postdoctoral position, career progression can be intimidating and stressful. To help guide you through this transition, we offer here a guide for finding and applying for postdoctoral funding. Although some departments advertise for postdoc positions involving researching, technical support or teaching which is needed by the group, if your research does not align exactly with the research priorities of a lab it may be hard to find an appropriate position. The best option for many researchers is to apply for a postdoc grant or fellowship.
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- Career Advice Article
- Posted 8 years ago
How To Find A PhD Supervisor
When planning to pursue a PhD, one of the most important decisions you must make is to choose a supervisor for your project. A supervisor supports you and advises you in your research, helps you with your career development (for example by introducing you to relevant people in your field and suggesting conferences that you should attend), and provides encouragement to you throughout your PhD. Your supervision will be the most important academic relationship of your PhD years, so it's vital to find someone who fits your research interests and personality well. Below we'll share some tips for helping you to find the best supervisor for your project. If you plan to start your PhD application this autumn, download our free guide "How to successfully apply to a PhD in Economics".
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- Work Abroad Article
- Posted 8 years ago
Best Countries to Work in as an Academic: Research Findings
For people looking for a job in the private sector, there are numerous sources of information about best places to work, like Fortune Best Companies or Best Places to Work by Glassdoor to name just two.
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- Work Abroad Article
- Posted 9 years ago
Teaching abroad: challenges and advice for teaching at a university in a foreign country
Each year, thousands of university teachers leave their native environments to go and teach and/or conduct academic research in a foreign country. Indeed, in this increasingly globalized world populated by a highly networked mobile workforce, there are seemingly unending possibilities, incentives and occasions to teach in a higher education institution in a foreign country. Gaining such experience is encouraged to the point where it is now even expected on your CV. Personally speaking, having taught on 3 continents, I can attest to the value of gaining such international experience. Even as a student in higher education, I fondly recall that my most interesting, passionate and captivating teachers were those who had benefited from a similarly international experience.
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- Career Advice Article
- Posted 9 years ago
Tips on Starting Work in a New Field for Your PhD or Postdoc
Starting out a new role as a PhD student or postdoc will often be demanding and involve a steep learning curve. This is especially true if you have moved into a new discipline or field than you have worked in previously. With different approaches to research, learning and assessment than that which you have experienced before, it can take some effort to adjust to a new setting. Below are some tips to ease this transition to help you make the most of your postdoc in a new field.
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