MUPRA news ...

Call for MUPRA nomination

Nomination close: Sunday, 15 August 2010.
Click here for more detail.

Help for PhD candidates

A new website for HDRs had videos and scenarios for many different problems which arise during candidature. Designed for international students, but relevant to domestic PhD candidates as well, it discusses topics such as “Having two supervisors”, “Approaching the supervisor”, “Giving and receiving feedback”, “Whose doctorate is it?” and “Being international versus domestic”. The roles in the videos are played by actors but the scenarios are based on research undertaken with many research candidates including some from MQ. It won’t give you all the answers but will help to formulate the questions! Really worth a look: http://www.altcexchange.edu.au/content/videos.

Per diems re-introduced

Per-diems are being re-introduced for students and staff on University business (including conferences). Per diems are a daily dollar allowance to cover food and incidental expenses. The daily amount varies from place to place. One of the advantages is that per diems do not have to be substantiated with receipts. Training for admin staff starts in late July. See your Faculty HDR manager for more details:
http://www.announcements.mq.edu.au/others/per_diem_allowances.

Australia’s research future

The Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research has issued a paper which identifies a number of challenges and opportunities for the research workforce over the next 10 years. It proposes a set of priorities – is this your future? Check here: http://www.apo.org.au/research/meeting-australias-research-workforce-needs.

Academic literacy workshops for coursework students

Free workshops start on Monday, 16 August in W5C, room 232. You must register beforehand. Organised by the Linguistics Department, you only need to attend the sessions that interest you and fit your timetable. Click here for more information and to enrol.

Faculty contacts for research students

With the introduction of the four faculties earlier this year, each now has an associate dean HDR and a higher degree research manager. In case you don't know who these people are in your faculty, MUPRA has compiled a table with their names and contact details. click here.

Postgraduate Student Representative List

Postgraduate student representatives will help you have your voice to be heard at the university. Click here for the contact details.

New campus second-hand book shop...

click here for details.

* All M.Q. postgraduates are welcome to attend MUPRA events *

Coming in Semester 2    August: Meet the examiners.    September: Thesis by publication.    October: Using technology in research.    November: Life after completion: what’s next?   Semester 1     24 March: Time: 1-2 pm Writing an abstract Click the link for the overheads, example abstract 1 and example abstract 2.   05 May: Time: 1-2 pm The art of conference presentations. Click here to download the overheads.   26 May: Time: 3-5:30 pm The seven secrets of highly successful HDR students A special practical seminar focusing on building a productive relationship with your supervisor, structuring your study and writing time, feeling positive about your research, overcoming writer's block, juggling multiple commitments, keeping going when the going is tough. Facilitator: Maria Gardner, Flinders University.   23 June: Time: 1-2 pm Getting published. Click here to download the overheads.

As with any institution this size, there is more going on at Macquarie than one person could ever possibly hope to keep track of (unless that’s your job and you live in the Vice-Chancellor’s abode). That’s why we have a representative association, MUPRA, to help make sense of it all. Our role on campus is to seek ways to involve and connect the postgraduate community, whether through discussing issues affecting our study, by providing opportunities for socializing, or simply by helping you navigate through the bureaucracy.

Helene Mountford
MUPRA President