{"id":2995,"date":"2025-07-22T15:06:37","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T15:06:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/doctoralresearcherdevelopmentprogramme\/?page_id=2995"},"modified":"2026-03-16T17:25:01","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T17:25:01","slug":"communication-engagement-and-impact","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/doctoralresearcherdevelopmentprogramme\/communication-engagement-and-impact\/","title":{"rendered":"Communication, Engagement and Impact"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Communication<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

How to construct your online profile<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Friday 20 February 2026<\/strong>, 10:30am-1pm, In person<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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BOOK IN INKPATH<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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In today\u2019s competitive academic environment, a strong and intentional online presence is no longer an option but essential for sustainable career development. This workshop will guide you through the essentials of building a unique online profile that authentically communicates who you are as a researcher, educator, and emerging expert. We will explore how various platforms such as LinkedIn, ORCID, Google Scholar, and websites can work together to showcase your scholarship, strengths, and values. Whether you are preparing for a conference, networking, job applications, or public engagement, this session will help you develop a comprehensive digital footprint. By the end of the workshop, you will understand how to strategically curate your visibility, present your research clearly, and maintain a professional online presence that supports your academic journey and creates opportunities for collaboration, recognition, and impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to write your first blog post<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Thursday 26 February 2026<\/strong>, 10:30am-1pm, In person<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Book in Inkpath<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Blogging is an important form of digital scholarship, allowing you to share your work, ideas, and reflections with a broader audience beyond traditional academic publications. This workshop introduces you to the art of writing engaging, accessible academic blog posts that showcase your expertise, authentic voice, and intellectual style. Whether you want to share early-stage research insights, reflect on your PhD journey, or translate complex ideas for public engagement, blogging can boost your visibility, confidence, and academic identity. The session will break down the structure of an effective blog post, explain how to hook and maintain readers\u2019 attention, and explore how reflective storytelling can support your writing and scholarly growth. By the end, you will have the basic knowledge to craft your first blog post and the skills to continue writing with clarity, purpose, and authenticity across digital platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to preserve your scholarship digitally for sustainable career development<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Thursday 12 March 2026<\/strong>, 10:30am-1pm, In person<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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BOOK IN INKPATH<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The body of work you produce\u2014articles, data, conference papers, blog posts, teaching materials, and presentations\u2014represents the foundation of your scholarly identity. Ensuring this work is preserved, accessible, and discoverable is essential for building a sustainable and impactful academic career. This workshop introduces key strategies for digitally archiving your scholarship in ways that enhance visibility, support open research practices, and protect your academic legacy. You will learn about trusted repositories, research data management, file-organizing systems, and long-term preservation tools that safeguard your outputs beyond the constraints of platforms or institutions. The session also explores how digital preservation contributes to inclusive scholarship, responsible academic citizenship, and sustainable employability. By the end of the workshop, you will have a clear plan for organizing, storing, and maintaining your scholarly contributions so they continue to support your development of a sustainable academic career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Academic Voice and Language<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Wednesday 03 December 2025, 13:00-14:30, Online<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Book in Inkpath<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Thursday 02 April 2026, 10:00-11:30, Online<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Book in Inkpath<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The workshop will be delivered in a friendly and interactive format so we will welcome your questions and contributions!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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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<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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The Confident Speaker<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Wednesday 15 October 2025, 10:00-16:00, In Person, Regent Street <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Book in Inkpath<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These interactive workshops take place in person. They provide tailored guidance and feedback for every participant and numbers are therefore limited to 30.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This workshop aligns with the Vitae Researcher Development Framework descriptors:
1.6 Adaptable; 4.1 Communication<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Effective PowerPoint Slides<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Tuesday 02 December 2025, 11:00-12:00, Online<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Book in Inkpath<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Wednesday 13 May 2026, 11:30am-12:30pm, Online<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Book in Inkpath<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This workshop aligns with the Vitae Researcher Development Framework descriptors:
2.4 Digital and Technological Capabilities; 4.1 Communication; 4.5 Teaching and Learning<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Academic English for Doctoral Researchers (8ALDS001<\/strong>)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The module will run twice in 2025-26.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Semester 2 referral deadline: 21st January 2026<\/strong>, 5pm<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is an accessible and inclusive module for all students who would benefit from extra support with expression in English at doctoral level.
<\/strong>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Semester 2 delivery:<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Week 1 – Tuesday 26 January 2026, 14:00-16:00, Online<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Week 2 – Tuesday 3 February 2026, 14:00-16:00, Online<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Week 3 – Tuesday 10 February 2025, 14:00-16:00, Online<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Week 4 – Tuesday 17 February 2026, 14:00-16:00, Online<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Week 5 – Tuesday 24 February 2026, 14:00-16:00, Online<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Week 6 – Tuesday 3 March 2026, 14:00-16:00, Online<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Week 7 – Tuesday 10 March 2026, 14:00-16:00, Online<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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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 <\/a>and email it to<\/strong> Richard Paterson<\/strong> (r.paterson@westminster.ac.uk<\/a>). Once you have been referred, you will be contacted to make sure that the module is right for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8ALDS001WReferral-2025-26-SEMESTER-2<\/a>Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Referrals from DoSs will need to reach Richard Paterson by 5pm, 21st January 2026.<\/strong> You will receive an email confirming your place on the module.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This training aligns with the Vitae Researcher Development Framework descriptors:
4.1 Communication; 4.2 Research Outputs<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Decolonising Academic Writing<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Thursday 5 March 2026, 13:00-16:00, In person, Regent St<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This workshop explores techniques that writers use to create electric prose that evokes place, sensory experience and tension. It looks at the role of narrative in the context of creative, performative, autoethnographic and academic pieces of writing. We reflect on how these techniques disrupt hegemonic modes of academic writing, examine hierarchies in which academic writing is published, and challenge ideas of who<\/em> gets to write, how <\/em>they get to write and what<\/em> they get to write about. Please read more on Decolonial Dialogues here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Book in Inkpath<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This workshop aligns with the Vitae Researcher Development Framework descriptors:
1.7 Reflexive; 2.5 Critical Thinking and Analysis; 4.1 Communication; 5.1 Research Culture<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research Outputs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Communicating and Disseminating your Research in\u2026<\/strong> (Essential Workshop)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This workshop is recommended for mid-stage doctoral students; however, doctoral researchers from the first year to the final year are welcome to attend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Communicating and Disseminating your Research in Arts, Media and Communication<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Wednesday 04 March, 17:00-19:00, Hybrid: Regent Street and online<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Book in Inkpath<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Communicating and Disseminating your Research in Business<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Tuesday 17 February 2026, 13:00-17:00, In Person, Marylebone.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Book in Inkpath<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Communicating and Disseminating your Research in Computer Science, Engineering and Life Sciences<\/strong> (STEMM)<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Wednesday 18 February 2026, 14:00-17:00, In Person, New Cavendish Street<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Book in Inkpath<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Communicating and Disseminating your Research in Social Sciences, Humanities and Architecture (SHAPE)<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Wednesday 18 February 2026, 10:00-13:00, In Person, Little Titchfield Street<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Book in Inkpath<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Turning Notes into Narrative: Starting Your Literature Review<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Wednesday 10 December 2025, 11:00-12:00, Online<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Book in Inkpath<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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You\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This concise and practical session will highlight key features of a literature review\u2014such as synthesising sources and developing a critical voice\u2014and introduce techniques to help you start writing the chapter and keep going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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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<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Writing Your Literature Review<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Wednesday 11 March 2026, 14:00-16:00, Online<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Book in Inkpath<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s unique \u2018voice\u2019 in the writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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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<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Engaging Conference Posters<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Thursday 04 December 2025, 11:00-12:00, Online.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Book in Inkpath<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Wedesday 13 May 2026, 10:00-11:00, Online.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Book in Inkpath<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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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<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Writing for Journals Series<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Week 1: Writing in Collaboration or Alone<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Wednesday 25 February 2026, 11:00-12:30, Online<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Book in Inkpath<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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