Kick Off 2025 with Research Workshops in Feb

Welcome back thesis writers! The academic year is gearing up and AUT’s campuses are starting to buzz once again with research and postgraduate life. We hope you had a relaxing break – or, if your deadlines didn’t allow, that you made good progress and get a break soon!

2025 postgraduate workshops and events are starting now, and you can read on for a full list of workshops in February. But first, some highlights & updates.

To those who are newly-enrolled in a PG research programme: welcome! You are invited to come to our session during Orientation Week to learn about services for research students – that’s on Monday 24 Feb, 11am in WG404. If you’re starting a PhD, you should have received an invitation to a Doctoral Induction on Thursday 13 Feb. If you haven’t got your invitation – or have questions – please email red@aut.ac.nz.

We’re also pleased to announce that the Methodology Special Issue of Rangahau Aranga: AUT Graduate Review is now available. The (digital) pages are filled with accounts of how AUT PG students have adopted, adapted, and even originated their research methodologies. It’s especially relevant reading for anyone currently thinking about their own research design. Shout out to the talented authors, Te Mātāpuna AUT Library, and the fabulous student editorial team for putting together this excellent issue!

And another piece of positive news: confirmed AUT doctoral candidates can now have an online profile (similar to staff members) via our Research Elements system. This allows you to showcase your doctoral research to the world, prove your AUT affiliation, and craft your online presence as a scholar. To get help setting up your profile, come along to one of our sessions on Monday 17 Feb 10am-12noon, or Tuesday 18 Feb 1-3pm. We’ll have Research Elements experts on hand to help you build your profile, plus the first 200 students to register will receive a complimentary profile photo with a professional photographer to use in their Research Elements profile. Please note that you must be a confirmed doctoral candidate to access these sessions and build a profile.

Notebooks and pen

Postgraduate Research Workshops in February 2025

What?Where?When?
Thesis writing: Literature review sections
An overview of the structure of literature reviews within a thesis. Identifies typical functions and distinctive features of this section in relation to the whole research project. Participants analyse, discuss and relate text examples to their own writing, and explore how Copilot can assist with the research writing process. Systematic reviews are not covered.
OnlineMon 3 Feb, 12pm – 2:30pm
and
Tue 25 Feb, 5pm – 7:30pm
Getting started with library research
Designed for new AUT postgrads or those returning to study. Learn about the types of databases and/or search engines you may use in your literature research, and techniques for searching. This workshop will cover essential library information for postgraduates, including finding grey literature, ordering an interloan, and making an appointment with your Liaison Librarian.
OnlineTue 4 Feb, 5:30pm – 6:30pm
Introduction to mixed methods
This workshop will provide a foundational understanding of mixed methods research. Attendees will explore the key principles of mixed methods, including design strategies, implementation techniques, and methods of data interpretation. The workshop will focus on practical skills, demonstrating how to integrate different data types to address research questions effectively.
City campusWed 5 Feb, 9:30am – 12:30pm
Open Access without author payments: Read and publish options at AUT
Te Mātāpuna AUT Library & Learning Services has agreements with some publishers that enable AUT authors to publish open access in some journals without paying the Article Processing Charge. Find out the context of Read & Publish agreements; what they are; which publishers and journals are included; and what to watch out for when publishing under the agreements.
OnlineWed 5 Feb, 11:30am – 12:30pm
Thesis writing: Connecting your findings and literature review sections
Examines connections between a literature review and a findings/results section of a thesis or article. You will use your own work or chosen article to visually track where concepts are first introduced and then continue to be used for a sustained argument. Suited to research students who have already drafted their research findings and literature review. Please bring a device.
OnlineWed 5 Feb, 12pm – 2:30pm
Session 1: Systematic Literature Review (SLR) – curious!
Part one of a series of three workshops exploring systematic reviews. How is a systematic review different from a literature review? Why do people have different ideas on what a SLR actually is? This workshop outlines key differences between types of literature reviews and involves activities to help you decide which one is right for you.
OnlineTue 11 Feb, 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Confirmation of Candidature: Q&A Forum
This forum is an opportunity for doctoral students to ask questions about aspects of the confirmation of candidature. Please note, you must watch the ‘Confirmation of Candidature: Processes’ and ‘Confirmation of Candidature: Presenting Well’ videos available on the PG_Me organisation on Canvas prior to attending.
OnlineWed 12 Feb, 1pm – 1:45pm
Session 3: Systematic Literature Review (SLR) – Writing the Introduction and Method
Provides an overview of the structure of introduction and method sections for a systematic literature review. Identifies typical functions and distinctive features of these sections. Participants analyse and discuss text examples and relate these to their own writing or reading.
City campusWed 12 Feb, 2pm – 4pm
Generating content for online researcher profiles
Focuses on thinking through who you are as a researcher for the purpose of generating and refining content for research profiles. Engage in practical activities to identify and reflect on what you research, how and why you research it, and who is in your research network. Bring a device and be prepared to log in to AUT’s Microsoft 365 during the workshop.
OnlineWed 12 Feb, 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Thesis writing: Discussions
Discusses writing strategies and choices for bringing in past research to support your own arguments. Participants will practice precise language that changes the extent to which you may agree or disagree with the views of others. We also explore how Copilot can assist with the research writing process. Bring your device, plus an article you have read recently and a sample of your own writing.
OnlineThu 13 Feb, 12pm – 2:30pm
Getting started with writing
Focuses on strategies to help researchers digest reading in preparation for writing about what you’ve read. Try freewriting and mapping concepts as strategies to get words on the page and then create more structured writing. We will also explore how Copilot can assist with the research writing process. Bring your device and an article you have read recently.
OnlineThu 13 Feb, 5pm – 7:30pm
Copilot writing lab: Using GenAI for Discussion sections
Explores how we can use Copilot for aspects of the research writing process. We begin by summarising important knowledge about Discussion sections and then introduce a ‘choice map’ to outline the types of tasks we could ask Copilot to perform. Together we will craft and refine prompts and continuously critique responses. Bring your own reading and writing as we dynamically use Copilot for drafting and reflecting on research writing.
OnlineMon 17 Feb, 12pm – 1:30pm
Set up your doctoral Research Elements profile
Research Elements is a public directory of academic staff and confirmed doctoral candidates at AUT. It enables both internal and public audiences, within Aotearoa and internationally, to connect with AUT researchers. Come along to learn how to set up your Research Elements profile – including listing your research interests and publications, generating a CV, and more. Please note this workshop is intended for confirmed doctoral candidates who have not yet submitted for examination.
City campusMon 17 Feb, 10am – 12pm
and
Tue 18 Feb, 1pm – 3pm
Thesis writing: Introductions
An overview of the structure of an Introduction section of a thesis. Identifies typical functions and distinctive features of this section in relation to the whole research project. Participants analyse and discuss text examples and relate these to their own writing. We also apply knowledge from the workshop to explore how Copilot can assist with the research writing process. Bring your device!
OnlineWed 19 Feb, 5pm – 7:30pm
Thesis writing: Using literature to support your view
Discusses writing strategies and reasons for bringing in past research to support your own arguments. Participants will practice precise language that changes the extent to which you may agree or disagree with the views of others. We also apply knowledge from the workshop to explore how Copilot can assist with the research writing process. Bring an article you have read recently and a sample of your own writing.
OnlineThu 20 Feb, 5pm – 7:30pm
Thesis formatting: Introduction
This workshop provides an introduction to Microsoft Word for academic writing. Learn formatting, editing and file management skills so that you are ready to start your thesis writing with confidence. This workshop provides an overview of MS Word for academic purposes, and is designed to answer your questions and clear up your confusion.
City campusSat 22 Feb, 9am – 12pm
Thesis writing: Conclusions
An overview of the structure of a Conclusion section of a thesis. Identifies typical functions and distinctive features of this section in relation to the whole research project. Participants analyse and discuss text examples and relate these to their own writing. We also apply knowledge from the workshop to explore how Copilot can assist with the research writing process. Bring your device!
City campusMon 24 Feb, 12pm – 2:30pm
Thesis writing: Connecting sections and chapters
Explores how we can organise research writing so that our readers clearly see how sections within a chapter and different chapters connect. Participants will use the principle of ‘writing in layers’ to critically examine their own reading and writing samples. We also apply knowledge from the workshop to explore how Copilot can assist with the research writing process. Bring your device and a research article that you think has a nice flow.
OnlineWed 26 Feb, 5pm – 7:30pm
Qualitative analysis for beginners
This workshop provides a focused introduction to qualitative data analysis, and will cover the key stages in the process such as data preparation, coding, and identifying patterns in your data. It is interspersed with practical tips and aims to leave attendees feeling more confident in approaching this vital—but inevitably messy—stage of the research cycle.
City campusThu 27 Feb, 9:30am – 12:30pm
Doctoral oral examination: Q&A forum
This forum is an opportunity to ask questions about aspects of the doctoral oral examination. Please note, you must watch the ‘Doctoral Oral Examination: Processes’ and ‘Doctoral Oral Examination: Presenting Well’ videos available on the PG_Me organisation on Canvas prior to attending.
OnlineThu 27 Feb, 1pm – 1:45pm
Thesis writing: Understanding thesis structure
Discusses how the different parts of a thesis connect to each other. We will analyse examples and practice using language to clearly show how existing knowledge connects to new research, to what others may do with it in the future, and where that information gets organised across a thesis. We also apply knowledge from the workshop to explore how Copilot can assist with the research writing process. Bring your device, plus an article you have read recently and a sample of your own writing.
OnlineThu 27 Feb, 5pm – 7:30pm
Qualitative writing for beginners
This training course covers tips and tricks for writing up qualitative research, as well as techniques for getting started and keeping going. A demonstration of the writing process is also provided. There will be guidance on representation of the researcher’s voice, which can be a challenge for those new to qualitative approaches. Practical ideas for working with NVivo outputs, and effective use of verbatim extracts will also be covered.
City campusFri 28 Feb, 9:30am – 12:30pm
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