Huafeng Lu, a postgraduate researcher at Birmingham City University, describes her experience as a research assistant working on the That's Me! project.
“In 2024, I joined the That’sMe project as a Research Assistant in the Routes-Out team. As a Global Majority student, I resonate deeply with the challenges faced at every stage of the PhD journey. This project offers a unique platform to address these issues while working across various faculties at BCU. It has provided me with invaluable opportunities to connect with staff and researchers throughout the university, fostering a sense of community and encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration.
The Routes-Out team, in particular, has captured my attention due to my prior industry experience before my PhD journey. I have always been eager to understand how PhD research outcomes align with industry needs. Our team is dedicated to investigating the regional workforce's demands, and identifying the skills and knowledge that industries require from postgraduate researchers. Additionally, we focus on the experiences and barriers that Global Majority PGRs encounter when transitioning into the workforce. Ultimately, our goal is to pinpoint these obstacles and develop effective strategies to make the PhD journey more accessible and supportive for future students from diverse backgrounds.
In September 2024, I had the opportunity to cover one session in the M4C Summer School Program, which focused on the theme "How to Write a PhD Proposal." Collaborating with my colleague Abigail Shaw from the That’sMe team, I co-designed a design thinking workshop aimed at demystifying the process of writing a PhD proposal for new researchers.
The workshop was structured to be interactive and engaging. It began with students generating their research interests and posting them on Padlet, an online collaboration tool. They then formed groups with peers who had different research interests to collaboratively develop interdisciplinary research proposal structures within a limited time frame. This approach encouraged students to think outside their immediate academic areas and consider broader, cross-disciplinary perspectives.
Each group presented their proposals briefly, followed by feedback and discussions led by Abigail and me. This iterative process allowed students to refine their ideas and gain insights from their peers and facilitators. We wrapped up the workshop with a summary of the core concepts of the That’sMe project and a brief discussion on the importance of mental health and well-being in the PhD journey.
The session was very successful, providing a platform for students to introduce themselves, share their research interests, and actively engage in collaborative idea generation. One student’s feedback encapsulated the impact of the session: "The structuring a research proposal with Huafeng Lu and Abigail Shaw was my favourite session. I found it so useful to see the proposal broken down into different sections, which they explained in detail. I can definitely see myself using this template in the future."
The importance of understanding how to structure a PhD proposal cannot be overstated, as it is a crucial step for gaining entry into a PhD program. Beyond this, the workshop highlighted the value of interdisciplinary research, demonstrating how diverse academic interests can combine and evolve into comprehensive research proposals. This experience broadened the students' academic perspectives and enhanced their collaboration skills, which are essential for their future academic and professional careers.
Reflecting on my journey with the That’sMe project, I am proud to be part of an initiative that not only addresses critical challenges faced by Global Majority students but also actively works towards creating a more inclusive and supportive academic environment. The collaborative spirit, interdisciplinary approach, and focus on well-being that the project embodies are integral to fostering a thriving research community at BCU.”