Great communication skills are so important, whether you're working in the labs and libraries of academia, the boardrooms of industry or building a business from the ground up.

To help you enhance your communication skills, the School of Graduate Studies and the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and Research Training are once again offering an interactive workshop to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, in partnership with Hamilton's Theatre Aquarius.

IMPROV-ing Your Presentation Skills Workshop provides a fun and unique way to learn effective skills - from improvisational theatre pros!

Led by members of The National Theatre of the World, the improv troupe that entertained more than 1,000 graduate students on Grad Student Day 2011, participants will learn new ways to develop

• listening skills
• spontaneity
• focus
• a sense of play
• acceptance
• trust
• teamwork skills

When: Four sessions to choose from

May 28

• 11 am - 12 noon (Introduction to Improvisation)
• 1 - 2 pm (Advanced Improvisation)

May 29

• 11 am - 12 noon (Introduction to Improvisation)
• 1 - 2 pm (Advanced Improvisation)

Where: Theatre Aquarius, Dofasco Centre for the Arts
190 King William Street, Hamilton ON L8R 1A8

Who: Graduate Students and Postdocs at McMaster University

Registration/Tickets:

• $12 per workshop  or
• $20 to attend 2 workshops - Intro and Advanced

To order tickets and pay by credit card:
Call the Theatre Aquarius Box Office 905-522-7529 or Toll Free 1-800-465-7529

Instructions:

• Call the Theatre Aquarius Box Office to purchase your ticket(s) by telephone at 905-522-7529 or Toll Free 1-800-465-7529
• Payment method – a valid credit card is required
• Cancellation – no refunds will be issued for tickets purchased. If you can't attend, you may transfer your ticket to another eligible participant (current graduate student or PDF)
• Arrange your own transportation to the theatre (metered parking is available on the street for vehicles, also accessible by public transit)

Travelling by bus? Check out the HSR website for the most convenient bus route.

Suggestions:

• Dress in comfortable clothing and non-slip shoes as the workshop activities involve moving around.
• If you are taking part in the morning and afternoon workshops, bring your lunch or enjoy lunch at one of the many delicious restaurants near Theatre Aquarius!
• Check out the Downtown Restaurant Guide.

For more information or questions about accessibility, please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 905 525 9140 x23710.

Added Bonus:

People who purchase tickets to the IMPROV-ing Your Presentation Skills workshop can receive a discount on current Theatre Aquarius productions:

• Monstrous Invisible: $18 per ticket with no handling fee (this is a 10% discount off the regular price).
  • More about Monstrous Invisible »
• Time Stands Still: $25 Copper seats for most performances or 15% discount on tickets from Bronze pricing through Gold pricing. Waived handling fee of $4.
  • Info about Time Stands Still »

   

  
  
  

April 30, 2013

A comprehensive report released today offers new insights into worries of graduate students and how universities can better help them find meaningful work.

The report, entitled Beyond Labs and Libraries: Career Pathways for Doctoral Students, comes at a time when more and more students are pursuing graduate studies—generating potentially significant benefits to the economy – with fewer academic positions available.

In short, the once-standard path to academia has changed dramatically forcing universities to adapt.

For the study, researchers from McMaster University, York University, and Mitacs, a not-for-profit organization which offers research and training programs for academics which connect them with industry, questioned 12 focus groups representing students from a broad range of disciplines, each at a different stage of their academic path.

During confidential sessions, participants voiced concerns about the job market, funding cuts, high concentrations of graduate students within the Greater Toronto Area, the perception among potential employers that PhD's are overqualified, and the availability of career guidance at their respective institutions, among other perceived problems.

But while there are challenges facing students, universities recognize the changing landscape and are implementing new programs to prepare them to be competitive, says Allison Sekuler, Associate Vice-President and Dean of Graduate Studies at McMaster University, Chair of the Ontario Council of Graduate Studies, and lead author on the study.

"The results from our study are not specific to any one institution – they are consistent with concerns from students across Canada and internationally. Our goal is to raise awareness of these concerns across institutions, and to provide some recommendations for Universities to address those concerns," says Sekuler.

"We've been proactive in increasing professional development opportunities here at McMaster, by partnering with Mitacs and others internally and externally. But there is always more we can do, and sharing ideas and approaches across institutions is the best way to ensure all graduate students will succeed regardless of their career paths."

Take for example the recent 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, which challenged graduate students to hone their communication skills for a first-ever province-wide competition. Competitors had to distill years of research into a powerful, concise presentation – without technical jargon – and make it interesting for a lay audience, in what amounts to the dress rehearsal for a job interview.

"Our goal is to help students transform the academic and professional skills they learn during their graduate training into successful and productive careers," says Barbara Crow, interim Dean and Associate Vice President of Graduate Studies at York University. "This report outlines more than 30 specific recommendations to ensure that universities and programs better address their needs."

"Mitacs is pleased to partner with McMaster, York and other Canadian universities to support efforts to provide their graduate students with professional development opportunities, complementing the exceptional research and education occurring on their campuses," said Robert Annan, study co-author and Vice-President, Research and Policy for Mitacs.

The report was prepared for the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario. For a complete copy of the report »