With April almost upon us (already!) we move solidly into autumn. Some might say this is the ideal season to work on a thesis: it’s perfect coffee-weather, the multi-coloured leaves provide a gorgeous desk view, and a warm library is rather inviting as a workspace.
If you would like an even cosier and more picturesque writing space, consider applying to the May PG Writers’ Retreat at Vaughan Park Retreat Centre. You can find lots of details on the retreat experience at our recent Thesislink post. Applications close on Friday 4 April, so be sure to get yours in if you haven’t already.
Also on the calendar this April there is a cluster of public holidays:
- Good Friday on the 18th
- Easter Monday on the 21st
- Easter Tuesday (a university holiday) on the 22nd
- ANZAC Day on the 25th
We hope you have a chance to disconnect from work and enjoy some quiet, rest, and reflection on those days. If you are working on your thesis throughout, the PG study rooms will generally be open by swipe card access, but unserviced, on those days.
Outside of those days, we have a great selection of PG workshops this month. You may have noticed that a lot of these workshops reference Copilot lately. As Artificial Intelligence becomes more advanced and more ubiquitous, there is more attention in our workshops to how you can responsibly use AI tools in your research. There is also guidance in the PG Handbook about what kinds of AI use are acceptable (from p.82).
Keep reading for details of all the PG workshops in April.
Postgraduate Research Workshops in April 2025
| What? | Where? | When? |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Online | Tue 1 Apr, 5:00pm – 7:30pm |
| Identifying, writing and refining a research question Tailored to BEL Faculty postgraduates, this workshop will take you through an advanced literature searching process, helping you to identify research questions on your topic, making use of business databases and journals articles and explore techniques for formulating and refining your research questions | Online | Tue 1 Apr, 5:30pm – 7:00pm |
| Copilot writing lab: Using GenAI for research significance We begin by summarising important knowledge about arguing for the significance of your workshop 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 research writing. | City campus | Wed 2 Apr, 10:00am – 11:30am |
| Developing a systematic search strategy to find literature – for postgrads and staff This Library workshop will take you through a systematic literature searching process: developing a search strategy; using different search techniques; and best practices for recording and managing results. | Online | Wed 2 Apr, 12:00pm – 1:30pm and Mon 7 Apr, 5:30pm – 7:00pm |
| Introduction to research data management (Part 1) This introductory workshop covers the basics of what is research data, its lifecycle and what it takes to have good data management. Writing a Research Data management plan (DMP) enables you to be able to describe your data and detail the appropriate storage, access, publication and sharing of it, along with any legal, ethical and funder requirements. This workshop introduces you to the world of research data, and what you should consider when planning your research project. | Online | Wed 2 Apr, 5:30pm – 6:30pm |
| 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! | Online | Thu 3 Apr, 5:00pm – 7:30pm |
| Session 1: Systematic Literature Review (SLR) – curious! Fully booked; waitlist available 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. | Online | Tue 8 Apr, 12:00pm – 2:00pm |
| Thesis writing: Literature reviews 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. | Online | Tue 8 Apr, 5:00pm – 7:30pm |
| BEL: 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. | Online | Tue 8 Apr, 5:30pm – 7:00pm |
| Understanding Format 3 at AUT: Q&A Forum This forum is an opportunity to ask questions about aspects of Format 3 (‘practice-oriented research’). Please note, you must watch the relevant video available on the PG_Me organisation on Canvas prior to attending. | Online | Wed 9 Apr, 10:00am – 10:30am |
| Getting Started with the DMP tool (Research Data Management Part 2) Learn about AUT’s data management tool, working through the requirements step-by-step. The session is a great opportunity to start your first data management plan, continue a current one or just to have a play and learn about the tool, and the process for collecting, organising, storing and preserving your research data. We recommend attending the Introduction to research data management (Part 1) workshop first, but it is not required. | City campus | Wed 9 Apr, 12:30pm – 2:00pm |
| Session 2: Systematic Literature Review (SLR) – A deep dive into search techniques Building on the content covered in session one, this workshop will take you through an advanced literature searching process. Learn how to develop a search strategy, how to search databases in a systematic way, where to locate existing systematic reviews, how to create alerts and learn best practices for recording and managing results. This is an interactive session. | Online | Wed 9 Apr, 5:30pm – 7:00pm |
| 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 research writing. | Online | Thu 10 Apr, 5:00pm – 6:30pm |
| 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. | Online | Thu 10 Apr, 5:30pm – 7:30pm |
| Writing clear and persuasive arguments Considers fundamental differences between writing descriptively and persuasively. Participants will look closely at why some arguments are easy to follow. 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 where you are either writing about past literature or discussing your research findings. | Online | Mon 14 Apr, 12:00pm – 2:30pm |
| Thesis writing: Connecting sections and chapters Explores how we can organise research writing so that our readers clearly see how paragraphs and sections connect. Participants will use the principle of ‘writing in layers’ to critically examine their own reading and writing samples. This principle can be applied to writing theses, dissertations, book chapters, and journal articles. We also apply knowledge from the workshop to explore how Copilot can assist with the research writing process. | City campus | Tue 15 Apr, 10:00am – 12:30pm |
| Research impact – the importance of visibility and profiles This workshop covers the importance of managing research profiles and IDs. It introduces the Research Health Check form and how to use it to enhance and update profiles, increasing research visibility and impact. | Online | Tue 15 Apr, 12:00pm – 1:30pm |
| Thesis writing: Highlighting research significance Explores where and how you can make your research findings stand out. Participants will consider ‘what matters’ and ‘who cares’ and where this information goes. Bring an article you have read recently and a sample of your own writing. Suited to PG research students who already have their research findings. | Online | Tue 15 Apr, 5:00pm – 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. | Online | Wed 16 Apr, 10:00am – 10:45am |
| Thesis writing: Connecting results and literature review sections Examines connections between findings/results and literature review sections of a thesis or journal article. Participants will use their own work or chosen article to track how the review of literature prepares the reader for the research findings. This ‘reader’s perspective’ will also include examining language to organize or separate findings/results. We also apply knowledge from the workshop to explore how Copilot can assist with the research writing process. | Online | Wed 16 Apr, 5:00pm – 7:30pm |
| 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. | Online | Mon 28 Apr, 10:00am – 12:00pm |
| 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. | Online | Tue 29 Apr, 10:00am – 12:00pm |
| 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. | Online | Tue 29 Apr, 1:00pm – 3:00pm |
| BEL: Language for Literature Reviews Provides 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 and discuss text examples and relate these to their own writing. Systematic reviews are not covered in this workshop. | Online | Tue 29 Apr, 5:30pm – 7:00pm |
| 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! | Online | Wed 30 Apr, 5:00pm – 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. | Online | Wed 30 Apr, 5:30pm – 6:30pm |
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