New initiatives to support doctoral students

The Centre for the Study of Global Development (CSGD) is pleased to announce the launch of three new initiatives for the academic year 2023/24 to support and enhance the doctoral journeys of CSGD member students. The initiatives include research enhancement grants, an incubator programme and a writing circle programme.

The CSGD Research Enhancement Grant will offer students up to £250 to develop their research in innovative ways. This could include travel expenses to meet with experts whose expertise resonates with a particular element of their study, attendance at non-academic events related to their research, or activities related to dissemination and knowledge exchange.

The Incubator programme will connect doctoral students with academic-led opportunities to develop their research skills, build their CVs, and enhance research related to the Centre. The idea for the incubator grew from conversations with doctoral students who expressed a need for more opportunities to connect with research projects and activities outside of their doctorates, as well as supplementing their grants with paid work.

The third initiative, the CSGD Writing Circle, is an informal, peer-led space for doctoral students interested in getting published outputs from their doctorate. The Writing Circle is designed to provide practical and intellectual support and to explore and share academic writing skills.

Through these initiatives, the Centre aims to increase the visibility of doctoral students' work and facilitate long-term collaborations. For more information, contact the CSGD team (csgd@open.ac.uk).