The University Graduate School fosters a research pedagogy which goes beyond sole reliance on the supervisor-student relationship. The supervision relationship has been the primary and often the only relationship a research student has developed during candidature and the skills and knowledges developed have been limited by the possibilities within that relationship. The UGS approach complements and extends the possibilities for research learning afforded by the supervisor-student relationship and the disciplinary context.  It focuses on the development of research learning communities, which are not limited by field of study or methodological approach, and which encourage the development of scholarly relationships from the sharing of knowledge and the practice of skills. This approach to research pedagogy assumes that there are generic skills which all researchers need to develop; that researchers and research students in particular wish to be part of a community; and that research students wish to be active participants in their own development as scholars. There are a number of innovative programs which lay a foundation for this research pedagogy, and which together, address the twin purposes of developing the generic skills of students and promoting participation in research learning communities: student workshops, conferences and on-line learning and support.

The program comprises four strands: research design and methodology (eg. data analysis, interviews, questionnaire design, use of focus groups, experimental methods); information retrieval and management (eg. managing bibliographies, searching electronic databases, managing information); managing the stages of candidature (eg. induction, examination, doctoral assessment, ethics application); and generic skills related to and understanding of the research environment and employment as a researcher (eg risk management, conference presentations, writing research articles, IP, commercialisation, project management). The programs which lay a foundation for this research pedagogy are:

The UTS Research Student Workshop program, for developing students' skills and participation in a cross-disciplinary research learning community. Workshop Notes, Notes Archive.

STAR (Skills To Advance your Research) - a web-based program of skills and know-how.

The UTS Research Student Conference - A cross-disciplinary conference for research students run jointly with the Student Services.  The 2008 Postgraduate Student Conference is on Friday 12 September, the venue is Training Rooms 1 and 2, Building 10, Level 6, 235 Jones Street, Ultimo. For more information see  Conference Kit, Program with Abstracts.

Learning Employment Aptitudes Program (LEAP), an initiative of the ATN universities designed to address employment related skills such as project management and intellectual property. LEAP Information

Modules Online for Research Education (MORE) The five modules in ATN MORE provide resources and information to help students improve the research skills that will be required during their candidature. MORE Information

The fIRST website, (for Improving Research Supervision Training) which is an online resource for research degree supervisors;

The UTS Supervisor Forums, which provide an opportunity for research degree supervisors to obtain information, explore ideas and share experiences with colleagues across the university. Supervisor Notes, Notes Archive

The Research Student Feedback Survey is currently being trialled to enable Principal Supervisors to get anonymous comments from past and current supervisees.

The ELSSA Centre provides academic and professional language support to UTS students and staff.  These services include a range of programs and workshops specifically developed to meet the needs of postgraduate research students.   For details, please see: http://www.elssa.uts.edu.au/programs/workshops.htm