Last week, we had the pleasure of welcoming all cohorts from the School of Sport, Exercise, and Rehabilitation Sciences Professional Doctorate programme to campus for a day of collaboration and learning. The event was designed to bring together students from various stages of the programme, providing an opportunity to interact, share ideas, and present their research to both peers and staff within the school. Given that many students in this programme are not typically campus-based—some even residing abroad—this gathering offered a valuable chance to connect, discuss challenges, and celebrate progress along their doctoral journey.
The day began with an insightful presentation by Programme Lead, Professor Barry Drust, who provided an overview of how the programme has evolved over the years. This set the stage for students to reflect on the challenges they’ve encountered during their studies and how they’ve overcome them. Peer-to-peer discussion played a key role, allowing students to exchange advice and support one another—a vital aspect of the programme, especially since many students spend long periods working independently within their own professional environments, relying primarily on supervisor meetings for guidance.
One of the highlights of the event was the opportunity for students to showcase their research through infographics. These visual presentations gave fellow students and staff a deeper understanding of the wide-ranging topics being explored within the programme. What stood out was the diversity of research methodologies employed, demonstrating the programme’s distinctive approach to addressing complex questions. It was clear that these students are pushing the boundaries of knowledge, using innovative methods to find answers to questions that others might think are beyond reach.
In the end, the event was a success. Both those who attended and those who contributed their research remotely through infographics gained valuable insights. It is days like these which makes it a privilege to support and be part of these students’ academic journeys, and we are confident that the day will serve as a positive contribution as they continue towards their doctoral goals.
L.Anderson.4@bham.ac.uk