Expression of Interest in training for an oral exam 2020/2021 |
What are oral exams?
The ANU has approved an oral exam pilot for HDR candidates. An oral exam would give candidates the chance to talk with their examiners, explain the work and answer questions.
We are looking for people who are interested in helping us develop a training program. This will be a co-design process where you will be both learner and developer - which will be good experience for those interested in getting experience in teaching and learning development as well as public speaking. People who participate fully in the program will get a reference they can put in their CV.
Only some people will be chosen to take part in the pilot, but we are opening up the training program to all HDR candidates because it will be of great value for anyone who wants to develop confidence in speaking about their research.
The training will be run by the ANU researcher development team and overseen by A/Prof Inger Mewburn (@thesiswhisperer). If you put your hand up to be involved in our pilot training program you will receive bespoke, personal development for your own needs and join in a community of support to help you become a more confident public speaker.
We expect this offer to be popular and we only have space for 24 people, so there will be a selection process in place. We will give priority to people who are close to submitting their thesis, but would like participation from a range of candidates in different disciplines and stages.
If you are selected for the program, you will be expected to take part in regular cohort catch ups and intensive workshops. We anticipate that you will need to commit about an hour each week for a period of up to six months - but because we are involving our participants in the development of the program, the exact format is yet to be devised.
We hope you are excited by this prospect of joining us in this journey and look forward to reading your expressions of interest.