Why researchers' communication skills matter

In an increasingly competitive and globalised market, researchers and the institutions they represent need to communicate their work effectively to an international audience. 

Researchers with strong communication skills are more likely to: 

  • publish in international journals. 
  • successfully promote their research and represent their institutions at conferences. 
  • gain funding from international bodies. 
  • effectively communicate with the wider public and policy makers.
  • build international collaborations to further their research. 

 In recognition of this need and building on our vision for prosperity through internationalised education, the British Council has developed the Researcher Connect online professional development course.

What is Researcher Connect?

Researcher Connect online provides participants with the insights, understanding and tools to communicate effectively, whatever the situation or context. The course has been delivered across the globe and participant feedback has consistently shown that the workshop enhances researchers’ communication skills, knowledge and ability. 

Researcher Connect online is offered as a series of modules, delivered through an online workshop format by experienced and quality-assured trainers. It is designed specifically for early career researchers, although certain aspects would also be of benefit to more experienced members of the research community.

Modules

Each workshop begins with the introductory "Foundation" module that builds awareness essential to all subsequent modules. There are seven further modules, each designed to address the development needs of the participant researchers. Each module speaks to an important aspect of the modern international research environment and has flexible content that allows our experienced trainers to adapt the course to the needs and experience of participants. 

Researcher Connect Modules

Empowers researchers to strategise and use social media to make their research more accessible, more highly cited and to achieve greater impact. 

Academic Collaboration

Assists researchers with approaching potential collaborators and builds their understanding of when and where collaboration may be most beneficial. Over 2 sessions, participants examine the essentials of academic writing, developing their own writing style through the acquisition of tactics, tools and relevant language techniques. 

Effective Proposals

Participants consider the use of audience-focused language and style, and the creation of logically connected inputs, outputs, goals and outcomes.

Presenting with Impact

Learners build critical awareness and reflective skills, and practice techniques for the use of voice, body language and presentation structure through creating and delivering their own oral presentations.

Trainer clinic

A final session building on everything covered during the previous modules. Participants will discuss the research landscape in their country and internationally and ask the trainers any follow up questions they have on the course content.

Eligibility Criteria for Workshop Series

The online programme targets early career researchers (i.e. PhD holders up to 5 years) and recent PhD graduates. The programme spans 8 days, from 7 October to 17 October 2024 (Monday to Thursday for two consecutive weeks). Each session runs from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM (Malaysia time).

The application criteria are:

  1. Meet English requirements of the programme (B2 level and above; B2 level is equivalent to IELTS 5.5-6.5/MUET Band 4.5/TOEFL 72-94) as the training will be delivered in English and require writing and speaking in English.
  2. Factor into their schedule for a two consecutive weeks of online training programme and commit to attend the full programme.
  3. Commit to one or two deliverables as a result of the training and deliver them, e.g., the research that is published, sharing sessions to wider researchers, research collaboration is established, etc.

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Brinda Chandran at MYKUL1Education@britishcouncil.org.
Share this