Research Students
This group is slightly different from other DSA study groups because it does not focus on a particular topic. It provides a forum for PhD/MPhil students to share ideas and experiences of the research process in development studies.
See also our Opportunities for Students page for information on studentships, internships, volunteer opportunties, open days and other items of interest for Masters and PhD students.
To download the programme and booking form please click here.
DSA Annual PhD Students Methodology Training
Workshop
Venue: Dept of Geography, University of Liverpool.
Development
Studies Association of UK and Ireland (DSA)Annual Postgraduate Students
Workshop
Theme: Rigour and Originality in Advanced Development Studies
Research
Dates: Wednesday 14th to Friday 16th November 2007
Venue:
Department of Geography, Roxby Building, The University of Liverpool,
Liverpool.
The conference starts at 1.30 on 14th
November and closes at 4.30 pm on 16th Nov. 2007
Conference Buffet Dinner – Liverpool City Centre at 5pm on Wednesday
14th November
Participation
The
workshop is open to all postgraduate research and dissertation student
members of the DSA (PhD, DPhil, MPhil, MRes, MA, MSc etc.) involved in
development studies and other research which has a development focus. New
members are very welcome.[1]
Institutions and organisations are strongly encouraged to sponsor
student members to attend this workshop. The detailed programme is on
page 2&3.
Presentations
All
participants are encouraged to prepare a ‘poster’[2] about their thesis or
dissertation as a basis for a brief presentation. Third
and fourth year PhD/DPhil students are invited to present short
papers about their research for a presentation which will be discussed
leading to constructive feedback.
Registration
Fee
Participants
have to pay £70, which
covers training materials,
breakfast, lunch, coffee and biscuits for the three days and two
night’s accommodation (Wednesday
and Thursday night). Payment
should be in the form of cheques/
postal orders/ bankers draft (only) made payable to the
Department of Geography, The University of Liverpool. Payments
should be attached to completed application forms (see page 4) and sent
to: Dr.
Joseph Assan, Department of
Geography, The University of Liverpool, Roxby Building, Liverpool, L69
7ZT.
Accommodation
facilities are already booked by organisers so participants do
not need to arrange for their own individual accommodation.
Confirmation of qualification for participation can only be made
following submission of payment with completed application forms, and is
on a first come – first served basis. Registration
dead line is 30th October 2007.
Travel Bursaries
The
organisers have travel bursaries available to cover travel cost
(standard train and coach fares) of student participants resident
outside Merseyside. Maximum support payable to an individual participant
will be £30 upon submission
of full receipts.
All enquiries should be sent to Dr. Joseph Assan at: joeassan@liv.ac.uk
[1]
Note that UK-based postgraduate students qualify for
one-year’s free membership of the DSA
[2]
A ‘poster’ is a single page summary of the main features
of thesis and dissertation research.
Past events
Report on Research Students Workshop
Theme: Rigour and Originality on Advanced Development Studies Research
Dates: Wednesday 31st May and Thursday 1st June 2006
Convener: Dr. Joseph Assan - Department of Geography, The University
of Liverpool, Liverpool.
Participation
The workshop attracted 47 postgraduate research students and 9 experienced
academics involved in development research. An important feature of
the workshop which requires commendation is the high level of commitment
showed by the speakers as well as the exceptional quality of the papers.
Presentations
Another amazing feature of the workshop is the excellent quality of
posters which were presented by the student participants. Thirty participants
presented posters on the conceptual framework of their respective theses
and received constructive suggestions and feedback from both staff and
student participants.
Feedback
Feedback from participants (both students and staff) endorsed the excellent
quality of the programme and sessions and the enormous benefit that
the event has contributed to the development of their individual research
projects. Below are some of the comments received from the evaluation
of the event:
“Thank you for organising such a marvellous conference. The sessions I attended were pitched just right and I took away a lot from the 2 days. I have also recommended the event to a number of people in my department so you may end up with a load of Newcastle students next year if it continues next year” (Rory Padfield – PhD student, University of Newcastle).
“I enjoyed the DSA conference very much. It was great to meet so many people doing development research. You did a good job organising the conference, and keeping all of us students in order, and in the right place at the right time” (Ann LeMare – PhD student, University of Durham) .
“Thanks for a well run and very informative workshop. This
was the ideal intervention I need in my research and a number of issues
that I found pertinent were raised which I will be discussing with my
supervisor”.
(Kato Kimbugwe – PhD student, Aberyswyth).
“I hope you have been having a good rest after all your efforts with the workshop. I think it went really well and enjoyed it so much. Thank you so much for all your efforts. It was a great success”! (Dr. Katie Willis, Reader in Development Studies, Department of Geography, Royal Holloway University).
Recommendations
Considering the very high quality of the posters presented at the workshop
and successful student poster presentations at the last DSA conference,
it was agreed that the Research Students Study Group should organise
POSTER SESSION at the forthcoming annual conference of DSA. Also, it
was unanimously agreed that the study group should hold a similar workshop
in 2007, and preferably over three days.
Convenors
Joseph Assan (Email: joeassan@liverpool.ac.uk Tel: 0151 794 2869)
Workshop for Postgraduate Research and Dissertation
Students
Theme: How to generate research findings to inform theory, policy
and practice
Date: Thursday 26th and Friday 27th May 2005
Time: Thursday: 1.30pm - 5pm & Friday: 9.30 am – 4pm
Venue: Department of Geography, Roxby Building, The University of Liverpool,
Liverpool.
Over the last decade development studies has seen variation in focus and depth as we experience shifting boundaries in contemporary development and research. This has necessitated the need to rethink the way we conceptualise and research development. It has also become important to evolve new strategies that ensure the generation of strong empirical data which could form the basis for development of theory, policy and practice. It is in the light of these that the Research Students Study Group of the DSA and the Department of Geography, the University of Liverpool is organising this workshop.
Participation
The workshop is open to all postgraduate research and dissertation students
and academics involved in development research as well as NGOs and policy
workers whose activities involve research for implementation of some
development focus. Institutions and organisations are strongly encouraged
to sponsor members to participate and facilitate this workshop.
Presentations
Participants are encouraged to prepare posters on their theses and dissertations
for presentation and constructive suggestions and feedback.
Registration Fee
Participants are expected to pay £15 which covers lunch and coffee
and biscuits for the two days and overnight accommodation for one night
(Thursday night). Payment should be in the form of cheques made payable
to the Department of Geography, the University of Liverpool. Accommodation
facilities are limited, so room allocation will be made on a first come
first served basis. Interested persons are therefore encouraged to register
as soon as possible.
Completed registration
forms with payments should be sent to:
Joseph Assan
Department of Geography, Roxby Building
The University of Liverpool,
Liverpool, L69 3BX.
Registration dead line is 14th May 2005. Participants will be notified of their selection by email.
Feedback from the May 2005 Workshop
The workshop was attended by 45 students in total and proved extremely popular. Presentations were of a very high standard, as were the poster sessions. It would appear that many students left stimulated, informed and had made new links and friendships. Some comments below:
"This workshop provided a stimulating forum for discussion for students at various stages of their research. It would be nice to see the DSA support this in the future"
"It was the first time throughout my PhD Programme that I have had a really productive exchange with other students and researchers. I feel I found my peers!"
"The language of research is beginning to make sense!"
"If you are at the mid-point of your research programme, then this is the thing you are looking for"
"More of this kind of workshop will be very helpful to students"
"Been enthused and want more of DSA seminars. Well done!"
"fantastic! Extremely informative and useful, well organised"
"Provided many new insights for my research project"
Past Events
DSA/ESRC Advanced Training Postgraduate workshop in Development Studies
Abbey Community Centre, 34 Great Smith Street, Westminster, London 13th - 15th December 2004
Papers