having a back up plan

Training Organisation: how2glu

Delivery: Online, one 1.5 hour session

Programme Description:

This 1.5-hour participative workshop from how2glu will help you to identify key outcomes and objectives of your research and map out realistic and achievable alternative routes to achieving them. In this way you will be able to interrogate options and create a ‘back up plan’ should you need one in the future.

Our focus will be on how you could re-plan activities that will achieve those intended outcomes and explore problem-solving skills and flexible approaches that will help you adapt to change.

We will work through a number of glucardTM brainstorming, planning, problem-solving and optioneering tools which you will be able to refine, adapt and review for use throughout your PhD. Dr Sabina Strachan will graphically illustrate concepts and demonstrate tools by sharing live visualisations.

We will use real examples and processes that are accessible, visual and hands on and mindful of the present context. The format will enable small group/pair discussion and peer learning and include a breakout session to try out two of the tools.

The workshop will help free your creative thinking by getting draft strategies down on paper, give you practical tools and tangible examples, and grow your capabilities and confidence to take actions forward.

About how2glu / Dr Sabina Strachan:

- Sabina is a partnership developer, collaboration expert and entrepreneur who founded how2glu in 2018, a consultancy and training provider that helps people work together better to achieve greater impacts (www.how2glu.com). She is a strategist and expert problem solver, who has worked with strategic stakeholders for over 20 years.

- Recent projects include reviewing a Newcastle University/third sector partnership, business development for Lincoln University and industry engagement training for the University of Glasgow, culture strategy development for Glasgow and Sheffield, advice on organisational resilience for a range of cultural organisations in across the UK, partnership working coaching for post-doc fellows, and a variety of training such as ‘project manager essentials’ and ‘how to freelance’ for several DTPs such as Northern Bridge and SGSAH. how2glu is also developing innovative skills-related digital products, working with partners from the HE, public and private sectors.

- Sabina was previously a University of Glasgow research developer and headed up the Scotland office of an international research & management creative economy consultancy. She is on the board of student engagement and autism mentorship charities, a business advisor for cultural and heritage organisations, a graphic facilitator, and coach. Sabina studied architecture and architectural history and was awarded a PhD from the University of Edinburgh.

Learning Outcomes:

- Understand the key role project outcomes have in project design and developing alternative options.

- Understand which skills relate to developing a back up plan, identify your strengths and areas for development.

- Learn how to define outcomes of your research and map outputs and activities.

- Practice how to use your existing planned activities to ‘unstick’ and brainstorm alternative options.

- Learn ways to develop, refine and assess alternative options and make informed decisions.