Upcoming events
CDT managers' Q&A session
Wednesday 22 January 2025, 13:00-14:00
The PRISM network is organising a one-hour online Q&A session for Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) managers and administrators. Please send us your questions by 7 January 2025, the panel will select and discuss the most prominent questions during the workshop. Join a group of experienced CDT managers to share resources, best practice, and previous experience. Members only event - join the network and email us for joining details.
Are you an experienced CDT manager and would like to be a panel member? Please contact us on: claudia.matz@nottingham.ac.uk
The PRISM network is organising a one-hour online Q&A session for Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) managers and administrators. Please send us your questions by 7 January 2025, the panel will select and discuss the most prominent questions during the workshop. Join a group of experienced CDT managers to share resources, best practice, and previous experience. Members only event - join the network and email us for joining details.
Are you an experienced CDT manager and would like to be a panel member? Please contact us on: claudia.matz@nottingham.ac.uk
Best practices for induction in CDTs: insights from the experts
Thursday 30 January 2025, 13:00-14:00
Join us for a one-hour online training session focused on effective Induction activities for Centre for Doctoral Training (CDTs). A panel of experienced CDT coordinators will share their approaches, highlight successful strategies, and discuss common challenges in designing Induction programs. Learn what works well—and what doesn’t—when it comes to welcoming new students and setting them up for success. There will be an opportunity for Q&A at the end, allowing you to get practical advice tailored to your needs. Members only event - join the network and email us for joining details.
Join us for a one-hour online training session focused on effective Induction activities for Centre for Doctoral Training (CDTs). A panel of experienced CDT coordinators will share their approaches, highlight successful strategies, and discuss common challenges in designing Induction programs. Learn what works well—and what doesn’t—when it comes to welcoming new students and setting them up for success. There will be an opportunity for Q&A at the end, allowing you to get practical advice tailored to your needs. Members only event - join the network and email us for joining details.
Getting off on the right foot: key tools and documents for setting up a project
February 2025: Date and time TBC
Setting up a new project can be a daunting task. Should you write a detailed project plan? Focus on a risk assessment? How to go about setting KPIs? Is a project handbook helpful? We'll be hearing about PRISMs' experience of using these tools on research projects, sharing links to practical models and examples, and also reflecting on what to do when the team is resistant to engaging. Members only event - join the network and email us for joining details.
Setting up a new project can be a daunting task. Should you write a detailed project plan? Focus on a risk assessment? How to go about setting KPIs? Is a project handbook helpful? We'll be hearing about PRISMs' experience of using these tools on research projects, sharing links to practical models and examples, and also reflecting on what to do when the team is resistant to engaging. Members only event - join the network and email us for joining details.
The REF and HiddenREF for PRISMs
March 2025: Date and time TBC
Mastering CDT Financial Management: A Practical Guide for PRISMs
Wednesday 30 April 2025, 13:00-14:00
Join us for a panel discussion which will focus on managing finances within a Centre for Doctoral Training, specifically designed for Centre managers, administrators and coordinators. This session will explore strategies for budgeting, financial planning, and resource management to help you effectively support your training grant. We will bring together a panel of experts to share their insights and to give practical solutions to common financial challenges, and provide opportunities for you to ask questions. This event will provide you with tools and knowledge optimise your funding and budgets, and maintain financial stability within your CDT.
Join us for a panel discussion which will focus on managing finances within a Centre for Doctoral Training, specifically designed for Centre managers, administrators and coordinators. This session will explore strategies for budgeting, financial planning, and resource management to help you effectively support your training grant. We will bring together a panel of experts to share their insights and to give practical solutions to common financial challenges, and provide opportunities for you to ask questions. This event will provide you with tools and knowledge optimise your funding and budgets, and maintain financial stability within your CDT.
AI for PRISMs
May 2025: Date and time TBC
Past events
Writing a better business case
Wednesday 4 December 2024, 09:30-11:00
Join us for a session, by City REDI at the University of Birmingham, which will focus on Green Book Business Cases. The session will provide an overview of the HM Treasury’s Green Book Five Case Model (Business Case), exploring how this can be useful management tool in the planning and appraisal of different projects/programmes in development. In this session you will hear from Green Book Better Case Practitioners who will use their experience and expertise to provide advice on how best to utilise the business case model in the development of projects/programmes. The session will provide you with the knowledge and tools to develop the best project/programme to tackle the challenges that you are facing.
Join us for a session, by City REDI at the University of Birmingham, which will focus on Green Book Business Cases. The session will provide an overview of the HM Treasury’s Green Book Five Case Model (Business Case), exploring how this can be useful management tool in the planning and appraisal of different projects/programmes in development. In this session you will hear from Green Book Better Case Practitioners who will use their experience and expertise to provide advice on how best to utilise the business case model in the development of projects/programmes. The session will provide you with the knowledge and tools to develop the best project/programme to tackle the challenges that you are facing.
Hosting and facilitating inclusive events
Tuesday 19 November 2024, 13:00-14:00
PRISM staff are involved in running a full spectrum of events across higher education institutions and more widely. They can be event managers, but frequently find themselves facilitating other people's events, and thus with less control over planning decisions. Find out from our PRISM network panel about their experiences of improving inclusivity, including influencing decisions on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, and tips for pushing these considerations to the fore during event planning and implementation.
PRISM staff are involved in running a full spectrum of events across higher education institutions and more widely. They can be event managers, but frequently find themselves facilitating other people's events, and thus with less control over planning decisions. Find out from our PRISM network panel about their experiences of improving inclusivity, including influencing decisions on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, and tips for pushing these considerations to the fore during event planning and implementation.
2nd annual PRISM conference
Thursday 14 November 2024, 9:30-16:30, York Guildhall and online
This year we focused on how to talk persuasively to other professions about the value of PRISM roles, and argue for providing PRISMs with the right contracts, career development, line management/mentoring and recognition. What is an effective argument with a funder, HR specialists, senior university leadership, or a PI? See the programme here
This year we focused on how to talk persuasively to other professions about the value of PRISM roles, and argue for providing PRISMs with the right contracts, career development, line management/mentoring and recognition. What is an effective argument with a funder, HR specialists, senior university leadership, or a PI? See the programme here
Welfare and wellbeing in relational work for PRISMs
Thursday 17 October 2024, 13:30 - 15:00 (90 minutes)
What is the impact on us PRISMs of the work that we do to build the relationships that underlie our own teams, to support the students in our CDTs and to build links with stakeholders of all kinds? Relational work is both beneficial and risky to individual wellbeing. A recent report commissioned by the University of Bath investigated the impact of relational work on professional services staff at UK universities. In this seminar, we’ll hear from Jude Fransman, an author of the report, about their findings, and discuss how this type of work impacts PRISMs. This is a really important discussion of a hard-to-articulate set of skills and burdens, that contribute directly to familiar PRISM issues of recognition, job satisfaction, gendered work and networking.
What is the impact on us PRISMs of the work that we do to build the relationships that underlie our own teams, to support the students in our CDTs and to build links with stakeholders of all kinds? Relational work is both beneficial and risky to individual wellbeing. A recent report commissioned by the University of Bath investigated the impact of relational work on professional services staff at UK universities. In this seminar, we’ll hear from Jude Fransman, an author of the report, about their findings, and discuss how this type of work impacts PRISMs. This is a really important discussion of a hard-to-articulate set of skills and burdens, that contribute directly to familiar PRISM issues of recognition, job satisfaction, gendered work and networking.
Networking and current PRISM issues
Wednesday 25 September 2024, 13:30-14:30
Rather than focus on a skill or theme this session, this month we did pure networking. Fellow PRISMs met and shared the work issues they think will be important for roles in 2024-5. What changes from funders, employers, government, the wider research sector and PRISMs will impact your work? What do you need from the Network? We crowdsourced some practical wisdom and PRISM perspective.
Rather than focus on a skill or theme this session, this month we did pure networking. Fellow PRISMs met and shared the work issues they think will be important for roles in 2024-5. What changes from funders, employers, government, the wider research sector and PRISMs will impact your work? What do you need from the Network? We crowdsourced some practical wisdom and PRISM perspective.
CDT managers' panel discussions
Wednesdays 3 and 10 July 2024, 13:30-14:30
The PRISM network organised two panel discussions focused on practical topics: how to deliver good EDI work in CDTs (3 July) and data collection and management for a CDT (10 July). Join a group of experienced CDT managers to share resources, best practice and previous experience. Watch the EDI session on YouTube
Watch the data management session on YouTube
Knowledge exchange for PRISMs
Wednesday, 26 June 2024, 13:30-15:00
Managing knowledge exchange (KE) and commercialisation between research at universities and industry partners is a key element of many PRISM roles. In this session, we will explore what KE is and how it fits into PRISM roles, as well as look at how KE careers work. We will provide some practical advice on where to start if you’re looking to improve what you already do, and explore where to get more training. The presenter is Tamsin Mann, Head of Policy & Governance at PraxisAuril, the UK’s professional association for knowledge exchange.
Video of session available to members only
Project management training for PRISMs, pros and cons
Wednesday, 22 May 2024, 13:00 - 15:00Is a formal certification in project management a good idea for a PRISM? Should you go for the classic type or for Agile? Should you get certified by APM or PRINCE2 or PMI? In this session, we will hear from several PRISMs about their choices, the investment in time and money required to get the certification, where it has been useful in HE and where it hasn’t. We will also talk to Newcastle University about what the implementation of these practices at scale might look like.
Watch the session on YouTube
PRISMs and research culture
Thursday 25 April 2024, 13.30-15.00The PRISM network was founded to campaign for a change in research culture surrounding PRISMs. But we in turn shape research culture in our own teams and institutions. How can we contribute to it in the best possible way? In this workshop we will map the ways PRISMs contribute to research culture – this will create a resource for members. The session will be led by Rika Nair of the Research Culture Enablers Network at the University of Warwick, and Isabella von Holstein, PRISM network lead.
How should team-led research work? The PRISM perspective
Thursday 21 March 2024, 13.30-15.00Thrive is a Research England-funded project at the University of Liverpool to develop a prototype team-led research model to inform AHRC’s Mission/Large Grant responsive mode funding call. It aims to transform research collaboration through promoting inclusive decision-making, fostering collective leadership, and supporting the development of all team members. The model will be piloted through a live funding call. But what would a team-led model, as opposed to a PI-led model, actually work? How could PRISMs support it, and how could PRISMs benefit from it, including advancing career progression, job security, and recognition?
In this workshop, Alys Kay, Senior Researcher Developer, explored how Thrive principles apply to PRISM roles. We will explore practical strategies for implementing Thrive principles in research management roles. Additionally, the workshop seeks to offer PRISM professionals insights into how the integration of Thrive principles can enrich research culture, encourage diversity in leadership, and ultimately contribute to the attainment of research excellence.
First PRISM network in person conference
Wednesday 29 November 2023, Henry Royce Institute, Manchester
See the conference page
See the conference page
PRISMs & Industry
Wednesday 25 October 2023 13:30-15:00Many PRISMs have previous experience working in industry or engage with industry through their roles. This can often be challenging from a HE perspective. Join us for a session hosted by PRISMs Iwona Spill and Matthew Finerty, who will speak about their experience working in industry and the transition and challenges of now working in Higher Education.
How should the contribution of PRISMs be assessed in REF2028?
23 August 2023
REF2028 is beginning to take shape. In some promising steps, the 4 UK funding bodies have decided to move further away from the assessment of individuals, and increase the weighting for “people, culture and environment”, which will be assessed via a questionnaire. They are asking for feedback on their initial decisions via a consultation. We met to assess the impact of the decisions they have taken so far on PRISMs.
The Technician Commitment: What can PRISMs learn from this?
21 June 2023Dr Simon Breeden was instrumental in developing the Technician Commitment, which ensures visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for technical skills and roles in higher education. Simon joined us to share the story of the Technician's Commitment and the Institute, including how it came about, what were the breakthrough moments, lessons learnt and how funding was secured.
Academic Communication Problems: Helping PRISMs communicate research
24 May 2023Communicating research can be a thorny issue, as you often have different stakeholders with different levels of interest, knowledge and motivation. Getting these groups to all communicate well is tricky. This workshop looked at some of the major issues that cause things to go wrong and provides thoughts and techniques to help keep everything on track.
Led by Duncan Yellowlees
Impact & Engagement for PRISMs
29 March 2023Measuring impact is a way to show that something is being achieved. Measuring research impact is quantifying the change or benefit in the real world due to such activities. This session will look at how we measure and assess research impact and how PRISMs can contribute to this process through activities such as identifying relevant quantifiable impact, providing advice on materials to strengthen impact, helping to develop impact case studies, sharing good practice and materials relating to impact & engagement.
Led by Dr Eve Cosgrave, Deputy Head of Faculty Research, University of Newcastle.
CDT knowledge exchange workshops
January/February 2023A 3-session series of knowledge exchange meetings dedicated to best practice sharing among (aspiring) managers of EPSRC Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs).
- Training / cohort building (23 January 2023)
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity / CDT culture (6 February 2023)
- Responsible Innovation / industry engagement & PGR career development (27 February 2023)
Writing a Business Case
23 January 2023
PRISM members have expressed an interest to learn more about constructing business cases. This session covered structure and language used in these documents, as well as tips and tricks for pitching your ideas. We invited people who want to learn about business case writing, and also people with experience in this area to join and share their experiences and best practice.
Led by Dr Rachel Sparks, PRISM committee member and Strategic Project Manager at Newcastle University.
PRISMs & the EPSRC CDT call 2022/23 - Knowledge exchange among (aspiring) Doctoral Training Centre Managers
23rd November 2022We hosted a session dedicated to best practice sharing and bid development discussions among CDT managers (and those who aim to become one) for the imminent CDT call.
Led by Dr Anja Roeding (University of Exeter) and Dr Susie Douglas (University of Bath), PRISM committee members
Showcase of PRISM champion work
5 October 2022How to go from 0 to effective senior management engagement and be a trailblazer for the PRISM initiative at your home institution.
Speakers: Debra Fearnshaw (Nottingham), Fleur Hughes (York), and Chloe Turner (Bath).
PRISMs & event management
May/June 2022A PRISM's day job will likely include 'event management' in some form or other - from consortium meetings to conference organisation and effective networking events for our key stakeholders. In this workshop series, we facilitated best practice exchange from an overarching snapshot of the community experience on event management, to more in-depth knowledge sharing on selected event types.
- Summer schools/conferences, led by Justina Heslop (University of Newcastle), 8 June 2022
- discussing an interesting stop/motion animation from the INPOMS Conference 2021
- Justina's slides on summer school & conference management
- Networking events, led by Fleur Hughes (University of York), 15 June 2022
- Consortium meetings, led by Alex Kersting (University of Cambridge), 29 June 2022
Last edited: 4 December 2024
Contact: Lydia Sandiford
Contact: Lydia Sandiford