Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) recently hosted its first-ever Postgraduate Summer School, a four-day event focused on equipping PhD students with the skills and support needed to create impactful research. The inaugural summer school, part of the CREATE-DkIT project, brought together researchers from across the institute for workshops on learning, collaboration, and personal development.
A Comprehensive Program of Workshops
The summer school featured eight dynamic workshops that blended academic rigor with practical, real-world skills. The program began with "Sustainable Thinking in Research," led by Paul Crewe from Development Perspectives, which challenged researchers to consider the global and social implications of their work.
Day two focused on research integrity and innovation. In "Spot the Trap," Suzanne Smith and Frank Brady provided attendees with tools to identify predatory journals and conferences. This was followed by "Thinking with AI," where Dr. JJ Quinlan demonstrated how artificial intelligence can ethically enhance research. The day concluded with a session on "Navigating the Postgraduate Journey: You Are Not Alone," which offered a safe space for open discussion on the challenges of postgraduate life, with representatives from the DkIT Student Union and other support services on hand.
The final day on campus included a lively 'fireside chat' on building professional networks, featuring a panel of experts from academia and industry. This was followed by a resilience-building workshop with Eileen Dunne of Carbon Coaching, who helped participants manage self-doubt and build emotional resilience. The day's events concluded with "The Power of Engaged Research," a session led by Orla Lynch that explored how to collaborate with stakeholders for maximum real-world impact.
Team Building and Future Plans
The summer school concluded with an off-site team-building event at Carlingford's Crystal Maze. Participants engaged in a series of mental and physical challenges designed to foster lateral thinking and communication skills.
Feedback from the attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with participants highlighting the value of cross-disciplinary networking and the new skills they acquired. This feedback is now being used to shape a new researcher training initiative and to plan the next DkIT Postgraduate Summer School in June 2026.
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