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Specialist training modules

See below for current Midlands Graduate School specialist training module opportunities.

Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary in Research: Synthesising Disciplines for Innovative Research Projects

For more information or to register for this module, please contact module convener Professor Brown.

Mode of delivery & venue: Two Day Online Course 17 January 2025 and 21 January 2025.

Module is available to: Priority will be given to ESRC funded PhD students within the Midlands Graduate School. Other PhD students at 51Âþ»­ are also welcome to enrol. PhD students and ECRs at other MGS institutions may enrol of space permits.

Module description: This module will discuss the key features of interdisciplinary research, its history, and its current status in the UK and elsewhere, and examine funding and publishing opportunities for interdisciplinary research. We will consider the essential principles for successful interdisciplinarity both in team-based research and sole researcher projects. We will consider both how to incorporate interdisciplinarity into PhD projects - including conceptualisation, methods, analysis and interpretation, writing up - as well as the critical examination and evaluation of interdisciplinary projects.

The module will be delivered by the convenor based on his experience of UKRI funded interdisciplinary projects incorporating the arts and health sciences, as well as guest presenters with backgrounds in the creative disciplines and social sciences as well as the technical disciplines such as engineering, computing and information sciences. Presenters will bring different levels of experience, including recent PhD graduates through to seasoned researchers.

Assignment details: The module is non credit bearing but you will be asked to consolidate your learning through the following activity.

You will be asked to consider how you could foster greater interdisciplinarity in your PhD project or how what you have learned will shape your approach to interdisciplinarity in your PhD. You will be invited to deliver a short presentation to the group as whole about the role of inter- or trans-disciplinary work in your research project.

Learning outcomes: After participating in this module students will:

  1. Appreciate the value of interdisciplinary approaches to research design.
  2. Understand how different approaches can be applied to create interdisciplinary projects.
  3. Understand how the notion of ‘research’ itself may differ between different disciplines and subject areas.
  4. Be able to apply interdisciplinary approaches to their own research topic or problem.

Creative Participatory Research Methodologies

For more information or to register for this module, please contact module convener Professor Raghavan.

Mode of delivery & venue: Two Day Online Course 1 May and 2 May 2025

Module is available to: Priority will be given to ESRC funded PhD students within the Midlands Graduate School. Other PhD students at 51Âþ»­ are also welcome to enrol. PhD students and ECRs at other MGS institutions may enrol of space permits.

Module description: This module will explore the theory and applications of creative arts based participatory research methodologies in social science research. Creative arts-based methodologies involve integrating artistic practices as a way to explore, understand, and represent social phenomena.  Creative methodologies offer an alternative to traditional qualitative approaches by providing richer, more nuanced insights into individual and community experiences, identities and societal issues. This module will explore narrative storytelling, visual arts (photography, drawing and painting), photovoice, applied and community theatre, film and video, and digital storytelling. This module will critically explore the application of creative arts-based methodologies in real-world research and its impact on policy and practice.  

Assignment details: This is a non credit bearing module but students will be asked to consolidate their learning by participating in an activity designed to foster their understanding of integrating creative artistic practices into research, including into their own research project if appropriate.

Learning outcomes: This module will enable students to:

  1. Understand and apply the principles of creative arts-based research methodologies to social science research
  2. Critically evaluate the role of aesthetics, creativity, and artistic practice in co-creating knowledge
  3. Explore interdisciplinary approaches to research that blend creative arts-based methods with other academic fields.
  4. Reflect on the ethical and theoretical issues that arise in practice of creative arts-based research methodologies.