Communication, Engagement and Impact
Communication
Academic Voice and Language
Wednesday 03 December 2025, 13:00-14:30, Online
Thursday 02 April 2026, 10:00-11:30, Online
What is a good academic writing style for your PhD? How can your writing add value and achieve depth while being clear and accessible? How can your writing be formal and sophisticated without sounding too dry and mechanical? What are the right levels of abstraction and concreteness? This session will discuss these and other questions on academic language and voice.
The workshop will be delivered in a friendly and interactive format so we will welcome your questions and contributions!
This workshop aligns with the Vitae Researcher Development Framework descriptors:
1.2 Strategic; 2.5 Critical Thinking and Analysis; 4.1 Communication; 4.2 Research Outputs
The Confident Speaker
Wednesday 15 October 2025, 10:00-16:00, In Person, Regent Street
Academics can make as great an impact from what they say as what they write, whether it be through teaching, conferences or job presentations. Public speaking is therefore a crucial skill for doctoral researchers and early-career academics. Working with a skilled actor and an academic, this workshop takes participants through the process of how to write and deliver a speech. In the first part of the workshop you will cover how to structure a speech, the use of appropriate language and imagery, audio-visual aids, and how to master the Q&A. Later in the day we will focus on your performance. Drawing on acting techniques, participants discover how to improve their diction, resonance, range and articulation, as well as exploring relaxation and breathing techniques to calm nerves.
These interactive workshops take place in person. They provide tailored guidance and feedback for every participant and numbers are therefore limited to 30.
This workshop aligns with the Vitae Researcher Development Framework descriptors:
1.6 Adaptable; 4.1 Communication
Effective PowerPoint Slides
Tuesday 02 December 2025, 11:00-12:00, Online
Friday 22 May 2026, 13:00-14:00, Online
In this online session, we explore how to create effective PowerPoint slides to support your message and enhance your overall presentation. We will consider the use of storyboarding, headlines and images, and approaches to enhance the readability, clarity, and professionalism of your slides.
This workshop aligns with the Vitae Researcher Development Framework descriptors:
2.4 Digital and Technological Capabilities; 4.1 Communication; 4.5 Teaching and Learning
Academic English for Doctoral Researchers (8ALDS001)
The module will run twice in 2025-26.
Semester 2 referral deadline: 21st January 2026, 5pm.
This is an accessible and inclusive module for all students who would benefit from extra support with expression in English at doctoral level.
The module is delivered in the form of seven taught group sessions followed by three individual tutorials. The latter will be based on your own written work.
Semester 2 delivery:
Week 1 – Tuesday 26 January 2026, 14:00-16:00, Online
Week 2 – Tuesday 3 February 2026, 14:00-16:00, Online
Week 3 – Tuesday 10 February 2025, 14:00-16:00, Online
Week 4 – Tuesday 17 February 2026, 14:00-16:00, Online
Week 5 – Tuesday 24 February 2026, 14:00-16:00, Online
Week 6 – Tuesday 3 March 2026, 14:00-16:00, Online
Week 7 – Tuesday 10 March 2026, 14:00-16:00, Online
If you would like to register for the module in semester 2, you will need to be referred by your Director of Studies. Your Director of Studies will need to complete the referral form and email it to Richard Paterson (r.paterson@westminster.ac.uk). Once you have been referred, you will be contacted to make sure that the module is right for you.
Referrals from DoSs will need to reach Richard Paterson by 5pm, 21st January 2026. You will receive an email confirming your place on the module.
This training aligns with the Vitae Researcher Development Framework descriptors:
4.1 Communication; 4.2 Research Outputs
Research Outputs
Communicating and Disseminating your Research in… (Essential Workshop)
Expectations around the communication of research vary from discipline to discipline. The following workshops consider the particular strategies and methods for clear and successful communication of research findings appropriate to specific disciplinary areas. These will cover, for example, the delivery of conference papers, the use of social media, and public engagement. This workshop is suitable for any stage of your doctoral studies. For those whose work is interdisciplinary, it may be useful to attend more than one workshop.
This workshop is recommended for mid-stage doctoral students; however, doctoral researchers from the first year to the final year are welcome to attend.
Communicating and Disseminating your Research in Arts, Media and Communication
Wednesday 04 March, 17:00-19:00, Hybrid: Regent Street and online
Communicating and Disseminating your Research in Business
Tuesday 17 February 2026, 13:00-17:00, In Person, Marylebone.
Communicating and Disseminating your Research in Computer Science, Engineering and Life Sciences (STEMM)
Wednesday 18 February 2026, 14:00-17:00, In Person, New Cavendish Street
Communicating and Disseminating your Research in Social Sciences, Humanities and Architecture (SHAPE)
Wednesday 18 February 2026, 10:00-13:00, In Person, Little Titchfield Street
This workshop aligns with the Vitae Researcher Development Framework descriptors:
4.1 Communication; 4.2 Research Outputs; 4.3 Knowledge Exchange and Public Engagement; 4.4 Research Translation and Commercialisation
Turning Notes into Narrative: Starting Your Literature Review
Wednesday 10 December 2025, 11:00-12:00, Online.
You’ve accumulated a wealth of reading material, annotated countless articles, and built a solid foundation of notes. Now comes the challenge: turning all that into a literature review.
Often the first major chapter of a PhD thesis, the literature review frames your research by showing how your work builds on what others have done, exposing gaps, and where it fits into the wider field.
This concise and practical session will highlight key features of a literature review—such as synthesising sources and developing a critical voice—and introduce techniques to help you start writing the chapter and keep going.
This workshop aligns with the Vitae Researcher Development Framework descriptors:
1.8 Motivated; 2.5 Critical Thinking and Analysis; 4.1 Communication; 4.2 Research Outputs
Writing Your Literature Review
Wednesday 11 March 2026, 14:00-16:00, Online
The main purpose of a literature review is to situate new research (to be described in detail later), within the existing body (or bodies) of published knowledge. This requires the author to first undertake an analysis of all the relevant earlier and current research. This analysis is concerned with first describing the established knowledge, and then with identifying and articulating the earlier and current debates, inconsistencies, and tensions in the published work.
The analysis is followed by a synthesis, in which the new research is integrated creatively with the existing knowledge. This requires the development of arguments for justifying the new research undertaking, in terms of its contribution to progress in the field. Given that there are no precedents for the new research being described, this necessitates a greater presence of the author’s unique ‘voice’ in the writing.
Whilst the literature review in journal papers may be relatively brief in some academic disciplines, in a thesis it is always a more comprehensive undertaking. This requires the researcher to work continuously, in terms of planning and writing the review. Initially this may begin as an annotated bibliography, but later on it takes the form of an outline review that will be revised, edited and updated continuously as the research progresses.
This on-line presentation will describe how to write a literature review in five stages, and examples will be shown of reviews from different disciplines. In addition it will provide information and examples of some of the pitfalls that have been observed in reviews from the perspective of the reader (i.e. examiner/peer reviewer).
This training aligns with the Vitae Researcher Development Framework descriptors:
1.2 Strategic; 2.5 Critical Thinking and Analysis; 4.1 Communication; 4.2 Research Outputs
Engaging Conference Posters
Thursday 04 December 2025, 11:00-12:00, Online.
Friday 22 May 2026, 11:00-12:00, Online.
A poster can be an enjoyable and quick way to communicate your research project and network at conferences. This online session will take you through the key features of engaging conference posters from design and content to their presentation. Starting with an abstract we will identify the structure for a conference poster, then explore the features in PowerPoint that will help create a poster template. Finally, we will review conference poster examples to further consider best practices.
This workshop aligns with the Vitae Researcher Development Framework descriptors:
2.4 Digital and Technological Capabilities; 2.6 Creativity and Innovation; 4.1 Communication; 4.2 Research Outputs
Writing for Journals Series
These online workshops are for doctoral researchers who want to develop a strategic approach to their publishing. Three workshops explore benefits and challenges associated with developing a more strategic approach to publishing. They include a series of activities, guided reflection, discussion, and advice to help participants’ develop a writing and publication strategy which reflects their personal and career objectives. Workshop 1 will consider the benefits and pitfalls associated with writing in collaboration. Workshops 2 and 3 will explore approaches identifying and selecting appropriate journals and then delving deeper into the conventions and existing debates within those journals. As they are connected, we recommend attending all workshops in the series.
Week 1: Writing in Collaboration or Alone
Wednesday 25 February 2026, 11:00-12:30, Online
- How do we write?
- Exploring norms in different subject areas/specialisms
- Discussing the advantages and disadvantages of writing with supervisors or colleagues
- Collaborative writing – approaches to setting out the rules/norms
This workshop aligns with the Vitae Researcher Development Framework descriptors:
1.5 Collaborative; 4.1 Communication; 4.2 Research Outputs; 5.4 Supervision and People Management
Week 2: Targeting and Researching your Journal
Wednesday 04 March 2026, 11:00-12:30, Online
- Understanding journal ranking
- Thinking about your research strategy – what are your personal objectives? What other factors are relevant?
- Starting to explore journals and select a shortlist.
This workshop aligns with the Vitae Researcher Development Framework descriptors:
1.2 Strategic; 2.3 Information and Data Literacy; 4.1 Communication; 4.2 Research Outputs
Week 3: Developing your Message and a Preliminary Structure for your Article
Wednesday 11 March 2026, 11:00-12:30, Online
- Selecting your journal
- Exploring the conventions of that journal
- Starting to design a paper specifically for that journal
- Reflections and feedback
This workshop series aligns with the Vitae Researcher Development Framework descriptors:
1.2 Strategic; 4.1 Communication; 4.2 Research Outputs
Further Support with Writing
Writing retreats and further workshops to support your writing practice can be found in the section Wellbeing, Writing and Thriving
Knowledge Exchange and Public Engagement
How to Engage with the Press: Insights from an Investigative Journalist
Postponed – Term 2 date to be confirmed.
Delivered by strategic communications trainer and advisor, Namir Shabibi, this session will cover engagement with the press, including impact-creation and responding to hostile media.
Shabibi, an academic at Westminster, will also discuss practical examples, with templates of how to pitch stories, how to conduct yourself in different interview scenarios, what to expect from an editorial process, and how to manage your public profile, especially when dealing with disparate audiences. He will also cover what to do in the event of being monitored or contacted by hostile press, and what to expect. The training session will conclude with a Q&A to discuss challenges you have faced.
This workshop aligns with the Vitae Researcher Development Framework descriptors:
1.2 Strategic; 1.6 Adaptable; 4.1 Communication; 4.3 Knowledge Exchange and Public Engagement
DIY Video Creation and Presenting on Camera
Tuesday 09 June 2026, 10:00-17:00, In Person, Regent Street.
This workshop starts off with some examples of video content created by academics and sparks a discussion about its uses, advantages and challenges. The facilitators will gauge everybody’s video skill level and experience at the start of the session, so that the content is pitched at the appropriate level.
The workshop then dives deep into a Filmmaking 101 session where you are given an insight into the basics of filmmaking (rule of thirds and framing, three point lighting, sound, the 180 degree rule etc), filmmaking terminology, camera techniques, equipment (at affordable prices), the social media channels to carry your content, storyboarding, stock libraries, copyright and attribution rules, outdoor filming rules, editing and how to leverage the medium to communicate the right kind of message to the relevant audience. It also covers presenting skills with a camera and the nuanced differences needed from conventional public speaking.
Various cameras and filmmaking equipment are physically laid out too, so that you can see some affordable kit available to you on the market and to be able to ask questions around their uses.
The workshop is packed with ideas and first-hand experiences to help attendees become more conscientious and able storytellers of the moving picture.
The session is deliberately practical in the second half and culminates with attendees filming short videos with their smart phones in a team on a chosen topic (usually a short precis / abstract of their research). The facilitator then chooses one ‘film’ to edit live in front of the group so that students develop insight into the editing process and understand how component parts such as graphics, music, titles, sound effects etc. can elevate the content.
This workshop aligns with the Vitae Researcher Development Framework descriptors:
2.4 Digital and technological Capabilities; 2.6 Creativity and Innovation; 4.1 Communication; 4.3 Knowledge Exchange and Public Engagement
Research Exchange and Commercialisation
session and time tbc