academic skills
These trainings are for those who want to develop or improve new academic skills. All workshops have strong emphasis on practical training. You will always receive a pdf with a summary of key points we covered in the training plus extra materials.
navigating academia
Starting university is exciting but also may be slightly scary. You will not only meet new people and learn but will need to navigate through new waters of who is who, what to engage in, how decisions you make in the first weeks and months will influence your university progress and maybe your future career.
As a first-generation student I had to deal with all these issues blindfolded. Could make better informed choices and enjoy academic life more if I had someone who would give me some pointers. In this training I want to be this person for you. We will talk about opportunities and challenges and how to make best of your time at the university.
I am not professionally attached to any of the traditional academic institutions, and I guarantee an honest student focused discussion.
study skills
Note taking, staying on top of your readings, managing your literature searchers, keeping assignments deadlines, revising effectively, succeeding in your studies and still having time to enjoy life outside of your studies. It is possible with the right approach and tools supporting your everyday work.
In this workshop effective ways of dealing with academic workload from the first day of your studies to the submission of your thesis. At the end of the workshop you will receive a set of planning and organising templates.
communication skills
Communication skills are at the core of studies and work. Good communication with your colleagues, lecturers, administrative staff at the university makes your academia life much easier. We will explore best ways to deal with e-mails, phone calls, social media and communicators.
During the workshop you will have a chance to look in depth at your own communication style, its strengths and areas for improvement.
critical thinking
Critical thinking is the most important skill you will develop throughout your studies. It helps you move from a passive consumer of information to a curious thinker. Critical thinking is the most powerful tool against misinformation.
You will learn how to critically appraise evidence, how to ask good questions and to challenge weak arguments. Supporting your arguments with the best quality of evidence will also strengthen your arguments. Developing these skills will take your assignments, research and final thesis to the top level.
using AI for learning and writing
Finding information has never been easier, you can ask an AI tool any question and get the answer in no time. Are you 100% sure that this is so easy? There are many AI tools promising easy access to all knowledge.
In this workshop we will discuss which tools are best for specific tasks and how to use them effectively and ethically. We will also discuss the pros and cons of using them.
creating presentations: oral presentation, poster, report
Creating good presentations is a skill you will need throughout your university and professional career. In this workshop you will learn how to prepare engaging presentations using a range of available tools. Depending on your needs we may cover all types of presentations with short ‘how to guide’ or focus on just one type of presentation in depth.
I will show you examples of great work and not so good too. I believe it is the best to learn on the mistakes of others (including my own).
academic writing in English: essays, reports, abstracts, journal articles
This workshop explores fundamentals of academic writing in English. Depending on what you want to focus on, we may discuss principles of good writing or focus on a specific format.
For this workshop, please bring a one-page sample of your writing on a topic of your choice which includes introduction, one paragraph elaborating on the topic and a closing paragraph. This is for you to work on, you will not need to share your writing with others.
academic writing in English: individual tutorials, writing review
This workshop is for you to receive individualised feedback on your academic writing. We will discuss structure, developing arguments, word choice and grammar. You will get guidance on how to improve your writing.
Please note you this workshop aims to help you with your academic writing, not to contribute to your assignment.
reading scientific papers
Reading and understanding scientific papers may be a challenge, especially at the beginning of your academic journey. In this workshop we will explore different types of papers (qualitative, quantitative, reviews, empirical studies reports and case studies). You will learn how to extract and use the information in your studies, assignments or refer in your papers and presentations. You will get data extraction and summary templates for the future use.
autistic student in academia
Being an autistic student comes with many unique challenges. Academic formal structures, unwritten rules, time organisation, new environments, all of this can make you feel overwhelmed and impact both your general university experience and academic outcomes.
In this workshop we will discuss the most common challenges faced by autistic students and explore practical solutions to deal with them. You will also get pointers to people and services you may seek support from.