RDF Domain D: Engagement, influence and impact
The fourth domain of the RDF consists of working with others (D1), communication and dissemination (D2) and engagement and impact (D3).
Together, these sub-domains help you refine knowledge and skills essential to working positively and professionally with others and maximising the impact of your postgraduate research.
During your postgraduate research, Vitae have highlighted particular skills within the sub-domains that may be relevant including: team working (D1); communication methods (D2); society and culture (D3).
To learn more about the RDF domains, visit the Vitae website.
GRADskills offers a suite of workshops that are tailored specifically to postgraduate students and are organised according to each domain of the RDF.
In addition to these workshops, as a postgraduate you are entitled to participate in the Professional Skills Curriculum (PSC) which is a programme of workshops designed to build students’ employability skills. Particular skills within the RDF will be addressed in the PSC workshops.
Working with others (D1)
Within Working with Others (D1), the RDF highlights eight key skills:
- Collegiality
- Team working
- People management
- Supervision
- Mentoring
- Influence and leadership
- Collaboration
- Equality and diversity
If you are looking to develop in this area, you may consider some of the following workshops:
Influencing skills:
- Influencing skills: How to handle challenging conversations to achieve your goals
People management:
- PSC – Coaching
- PSC – Managing change
- PSC – Cultural appreciation: group work
- Influencing skills: How to handle challenging conversations to achieve your goals
- Leadership and teamwork for researchers
Public engagement:
- Practical public engagement
A full list of workshops can be found in the GRADskills programme in PDMS.
Communication and dissemination (D2)
Within Communication and Dissemination (D2), the RDF highlights three key skills:
- Communication methods
- Communication media
- Publication
If you are looking to develop in this area, you may consider some of the following workshops:
Academic writing and publication:
- Publish or perish: academic publishing in a nutshell
- Microsoft Word: Producing a thesis or dissertation
- This is what I do: communicating research concisely
- Grant writing: writing for success
Bibliographic software:
- Endnote & Endnote Web: an introduction
Presenting research:
- Posters and graphical abstracts: How to present your science visually
- Practical public engagement
- Funny research: Bright Club stand-up comedy workshop
- PSC – Make a movie on your mobile (Basic and Advanced)
- PSC – Making podcasts
- Pitch perfect: public speaking, networking and engaging
- Speak up for success: voice coaching for everyone
- Build a research website in under 3 hours
- Conference planning for postgraduates
A full list of workshops can be found in the GRADskills programme in PDMS.
Engagement and impact (D3)
Within Engagement and Impact (D3), the RDF highlights six key skills:
- Teaching
- Public engagement
- Enterprise
- Policy
- Society and culture
- Global citizenship
If you are looking to develop in this area, you may consider some of the following workshops:
Career:
- From PhD to postdoc: making the transition
Creative engagement:
- Build a research website in under three hours
- PSC – Make a movie on your device (Basic and Advanced)
- Funny research: Bright Club stand-up comedy workshop
A full list of workshops can be found in the GRADskills programme in PDMS.
To learn more about the other domains:
- Domain A: Knowledge and intellectual abilities
- Domain B: Personal effectiveness
- Domain C: Research knowledge and organisation
- Domain D: Engagement, influence and impact
Return to GRADskills’ RDF homepage