Title: How to use the VU Doctoral Toolkit

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To bring together some of the crucial material and links you will need throughout your doctoral journey

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To provide you with a sense of overview by mapping out the doctoral process, thereby bringing clarity to what is required for success in Research outcomes as well as in your concomitant development as a Professional Researcher, ie:

- The goals and expectations of doctoral research at VU
- Expected Timeline and Milestones (Confirmation, Progress Reports, Submission)
- The nature and roles of the Supervisory Process, including the Agreement and record of contacts

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To help you identify the core and customised researcher development skills which you will need to a) successfully achieve your research goals and b) become an independent professional researcher, eg:

Core examples:

- research skills
- academic writing
- writing a literature review
- conference presentation skills

Customised examples:

- industry placements
- grant-seeking and fundraising
- leadership and entrepreneurial skills

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VU MyPlan: The core aspect of the VU Doctoral Toolkit is VU MyPlan – these aretrigger questions to give you and your supervisors an opportunity to regularly talk, reflect and plan in relation to:

1. the progress of your research
2. the identification of the researcher development skills you need at particular points of your journey

VU MyPlan is a self-assessment tool which provides a way of helping you to identify and customise which are the learning areas/skill developments which are most appropriate, given the following variable:

- you and your needs and career aspirations
- your particular research project
- the current stage of your research

Use VU MyPlan as a guide for you and your supervisor to regularly assess the progress of the research as well as your professional skill development needs and customise planning for productive outcomes. It will also facilitate your progress towards the milestones of Confirmation of Candidature, Progress Reports and of course submission!

VU MyPlan is designed to be used 4-5 times throughout your candidacy:

- right at the beginning of your journey
- pre- candidature confirmation
- the beginning of year 2
- the beginning of year 3
- the beginning of year 4 if you have required an extension to submit

NB: The use of VU MyPlan will differ slightly for PhD (Integrated) and Professional Doctorate Students who have a full year of coursework in Year 1. Refer to the Mapping your Degree module on this Doctoral Toolkit.

At each use of the VU MyPlan, you will be asked to nominate UP TO 3 AREAS OF Researcher Development Priority.

While this will vary, it is anticipated that attending to these 3 areas of researcher development will take about 10% of your time, or the equivalent of a day a fortnight for a full-time enrolment.

1b Pre- confirmation examples of needs identified:

- How to manage the literature review
- How to use EndNote to manage references
- How to feel more professionally connected

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VU MyPlan is supported by the articulation of core Researcher Development Skills and a Researcher Development Matrix to make your life easier in terms of thinking about what core skills and customised development areas are relevant for you as well as where and in what ways you might build the skills you've identified. So, for instance, in terms of the development areas identified above, you might use the Matrix to determine the following ‘answers’ to the above needs identified:

- Register for the GRC workshop of Writing the Literature Review and/or attend Demystify your Thesis
- Attend a library workshop/s on Endnote to build skills
- Find out what seminars are available in your area that you could attend to meet people and/or join (or establish with the support of the GRC) a community of practice with other graduate researchers.

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You will be required to demonstrate your skill development:

a.     at the formal milestones of confirmation, progress reporting (and pre-submission presentation), you will need to address what researcher development skills have been identified and how they have been addressed.

b. In your eportfolio.

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The eportfolio on this site is a space in which to record all aspects of your doctoral achievement and researcher development, both formal and informal – building a professional CV that will evolve alongside your candidature, giving you encouragement along the way and providing you with a record of your professional successes.