Research and scholarship are essential aspects of academic practice, alongside teaching, service, and community engagement. Every academic should aspire to be an excellent researcher.

Excellence in research involves a set of core capabilities that help academics maximise impact, advance knowledge, and contribute meaningfully to their fields. These include:

• Research supervision - Mentoring and training new researchers to complete high-quality research projects.
• Publishing - Producing high-impact, high-quality research outputs.
• Funding research - Identifying and obtaining funding to support research activities.
• Research project management - Planning, organising, and overseeing projects to ensure timely, productive, and successful completion.
• Collaboration - Building and sustaining strong collaborative relationships and alliances.
• Research leadership and management - Leading and managing productive, effective research teams.

These competencies align with the knowledge, behaviours, and attributes identified in the VITAE Researcher Development Framework as essential for career success in research.

Below is our current range of workshops to support your research and scholarly productivity. Some workshops are also open to Research Support Officers.  Our workshops run from September to July, offering a wide range of training opportunities throughout the academic year.

Academics are encouraged to consult the current training schedule and register for workshops of interest. If a workshop is not currently scheduled, please register your interest on the waiting list so we may notify you when it is offered again.

Workshops

Research Project Management & Publishing

• Introduction to HyDi, RefWorks & OAR@UM
• OAR@UM Workshop
• drUM - Data Repository
• Essentials of Research Data Management

• IBM SPSS: Introduction
• IBM SPSS: Intermediate
• IBM SPSS: Advanced

• Navigating the UM Research Ethics & Approval Processes
• Academic Research & Writing Using Generative AI
• Leveraging Generative AI for Data Analysis & Interpretation
• Enhancing your Digital Research Profile

Research Supervision

• Sustaining & Managing a Growing Cohort of Doctoral Students: Ph.D. Regulations & Procedures
• Postgraduate Research Supervision: Challenges & Styles
• Negotiating Professional Boundaries

Funding Research

• Applying for Research Funding - Introduction
• From Idea to Reality: Winning your Erasmus Project Proposal

Doctoral School Workshops for Academics*

• DOC6008 - Research Impact: Involving Stakeholders to Improve Funding success
• DOC6011 - Communicating Research to Diverse Audiences
• DOC6012 - Writing Winning Grant Applications
• DOC6027 - Getting Published: The Journal Article (Humanities, Education & Law)
• DOC6028 - Getting Published: The Journal Article (Social & Behavioural Sciences)
• DOC6029 - Getting Published: The Journal Article (Life Sciences & Medicine)
• DOC6030 - Getting Published: The Journal Article (Architecture & STEM)
• DOC6051 - An Introduction to NVivo for Qualitative Data Analysis

 *These workshops are open to academics, subject to seat availability.

 Other

• Agreements & Disclosures
• Patent Protection Strategies: Filing, Inventorship, Licensing, & Assignment Options

Wellness Workshops

• Nourish to Flourish: Cultivating Healthy & Sustainable Eating Habits
• Revitalise your Routine:  Simple Strategies for a Healthier Work-Life Balance

As OPAD expands its programmes to meet the evolving needs of UM academics, we welcome feedback and suggestions on how we can further strengthen our researcher development initiatives. Please send your suggestions to opad@um.edu.mt.