Programme
Below you’ll find the programme for the Festival. We’ve got a mixture of live, pre-recorded and asynchronous events throughout the week.
To register for a live event, please click on the registration link and enter your details. The confirmation email will include a link to join the Zoom meeting which you should follow at the relevant start time. To find out more about how we are running the conference and how to use Zoom please click here.
Most sessions have unlimited places available, but our more interactive sessions may have a cap on numbers. These will be available on a first come first served basis, and we will note below if the session is fully booked.
If you have any questions or need any help with registration please email graduateschool@westminster.ac.uk
Throughout the Festival
Day to Day Programme
Before the Conference
Before we start, take a few minutes to watch our short welcome videos from Dr Peter Bonfield (Vice-Chancellor, University of Westminster) Professor Leigh Wilson (Director, Graduate School). Watch Now.
10:00am – 12:30pm
Seven secrets of highly successful research students
What do research higher degree (RHD) students do to finish on time, to overcome isolation, doubt and writer’s block, and to enjoy the process? And just as importantly what do they do in order to spend guilt-free time with their family and friends and perhaps even have holidays? If this sounds appealing, then this session will be of particular use to you.
This workshop describes the key habits that our research and experience with thousands of students shows will make a difference to how quickly and easily you complete your RHD. Just as importantly, these habits can greatly reduce the stress and increase the pleasure involved in completing a RHD.
The workshop helps you to understand how to increase your effectiveness and outcomes in the following key areas:
- how you deal with your supervisor
- how you structure your study time
- your attitude (or lack thereof!) in relation to your research
- dealing with writer’s block or having difficulty writing
- getting the help you need when you are stuck
- juggling multiple commitments and never having enough time
- keeping on going when the going gets tough
1:00pm – 1:45pm
Festival Social ‘Refreshments Tent’
2:00pm – 3:30pm
Beyond Home and Exile
Maren Hahnfeld with Camille Waring
Film Live Screening and Q&A.
More information here.
4:30pm – 5:30pm
Whoretography: Deconstructing the sex worker self image.
Camille Waring
Live Film Screening and Q&A.
More information here.
11:00am –11:45am
Festival Social ‘Refreshments Tent’
6:00pm – 8:00pm
Journeys to the PhD: The Obstacles and How to Beat Them – Student Panel Discussion
We know that access to and a successful and positive experience of doctoral study is not equally available to all. Much recent research has shown that those from disadvantaged socio-economic groups, from minoritised ethnic groups, those with disabilities and others from non-traditional backgrounds are much less likely to enter doctoral programmes, to be funded and to successfully complete their PhD. The University of Westminster is very proud of the diversity of its doctoral student community, but we know that there is much more to be done in getting rid of barriers to access. In these interviews and panel, you will hear from a range of current doctoral students from backgrounds that are underrepresented in doctoral education — about their experiences, their routes to doctoral study, their advice and guidance for others thinking of doing a PhD, their challenges to the status quo in higher education.
‘Meet’ the participants here.
10:00am – 12:00pm
Telling the Story of Our Research – Roundtable Discussion with University of Westminster Doctoral Researchers
Exploring the challenges and benefits of communicating doctoral projects to a non-specialist audience. More information here.
1:00pm – 1:45pm
Festival Social ‘Refreshments Tent’
2:00pm – 3:30pm
Patterns of Migration
Claire Wang and Francesco Arese Visconti
Live Film Screening and Q&A.
More information here.
4:30pm – 6:00pm
In Conversation with…
Barbara Matas Moris and Marine Hugonnier with Camille Waring
Film Live Screening and Q&A.
More information here.
10:30am – 11:15am
Festival Social ‘Refreshments Tent’
1:30pm – 3:00pm
Territories of Sex Work
Camille Waring and Vali Mahlouji
Live Film Screening and Q&A.
More information here.
3:30pm – 5:00pm
3-Minute Thesis Competition: THE FINAL
Come along and show your support for this years 3MT finalists. More details here.
11:30am – 12:30pm
How Long is Ariadne’s thread?
Stav B with Dellores Laing
Live Film Screening and Q&A.
More information here.
4:00pm – 5:30pm
Festival Week Celebration
Including an announcement for the winner of the Great GS Bake-Off.
6:00pm – 7:00pm
In Conversation With Orna Rosenfeld
Dr Orna Rosenfeld is an award-winning urban strategist, author and global advisor on housing (See www.ornarosenfeld.com). In 2021 Orna won a prestigious Social Impact Award for her work on the advancement of affordable housing around the world and was presented with the honour at the Study UK Alumni Awards Europe hosted by the British Council. She works with international organizations and banks, governments and cities to help advance housing knowledge, policy and investment in pursuit of inclusive urban futures. In this conversation, she will talk to Mehrdad Borna, a current doctoral student in the School of Architecture and Cities, about using the period of doctoral study to put in place foundations for an exciting and influential postdoctoral career. A Q&A will follow their conversation.
