Find out more about our internationally recognised training courses

NINE DTP runs a number of training courses each year, which are freely available to all DTP students –
whilst also attracting participants from around the world.

Here is a sample of our current training courses and activities; please do contact us should you have any comments or queries.

Writing Across Boundaries

Each year the Writing Across Boundaries Project runs an intensive, two-day, residential workshop for social science PhD students in the third year to explore analytical and practical approaches to writing. The course offers participants an opportunity to reflect on the writing process itself as a form of social science thinking.

The next Writing Across Boundaries workshop will take place on the 15th and 16th of April 2024 in the Lindisfarne Centre, Durham University. Full details, including how to book, can be found here.

You may be interested in reviewing this blog post, detailing the experiences of a previous participant.

Visual Methodologies

The focus of this training is on the use of visual methods to mediate interactions and build understandings within social science research. We will consider different types of visual prompts and the processes associated with them; how they can be used within data collection, analysis and presentation stages of the research process.

The two day training event involves contributions from a variety of researchers who use visual activities and methods, focusing explicitly on different aspects of data collection, ethics, synthesis, analysis and dissemination. These sessions will draw on diverse examples from presenters’ research, locating the process of ‘visually mediated encounters’, and the data generated, within visual research methodology and social science epistemology. This training will provide jargon free exemplars, both theoretical and practical, to engage and inspire participants from across the social sciences. There will be opportunities for participants to undertake practical application of the theory in workshop sessions using a variety of visual approaches to data generation, analysis and communication.

There will be a two day in-person workshop delivered by Dr Pam Woolner and colleagues at Newcastle University, 25 – 26 March 2024.

More information can be found here

Participatory Action Research

This two-day course is designed to develop understanding and skills in the theory and practice of participatory action research (PAR). PAR is increasingly popular, involving people affected by/interested in a research topic taking an active part in designing, carrying out and putting research into practice. The aim of PAR is to bring about change – for example, in people’s living conditions, service provision or public policy. Doctoral students taking a PAR approach face many challenges, including negotiating how to work with partner organisations, handling co-ownership of research findings relating to the thesis, and responsibilities for working for social change.

The course will cover key values, ethical/political issues, theorising and critiquing PAR, working with partner organisations to influence change, and participatory approaches to research design, process, analysis, dissemination and implementation. The course will be participatory, using small groups to focus on specific questions and evaluate learning. Community partners and academics will act as tutors. Ten places will be reserved for members of community organisations, enabling a process of mutual learning for doctoral students and community partners.

The objectives of the course are to:

  • Enable participants to develop critical understandings of the uses, advantages and limitations of PAR, and an ability to draw on a range of theoretical and practical insights.
  • Develop participants’ awareness of ethical and political challenges in PAR, particularly in community-university partnership working, and strategies for handling these.
  • Facilitate the development of participants’ confidence in working with the complexities of PAR within different disciplines and settings.
  • Offer participants the experience of learning and understanding through active participation during the course, particularly through the co-inquiry group model.
  • Develop participants’ understanding of the impacts that PAR may have, and processes for creating and capturing these.

The next course will run 6-7 June 2024 at the Teaching and Learning Centre, Durham University.

For more information or to apply for a place, please see: Participatory Action Research 2024

Doing International Fieldwork in Development Contexts

Module Summary:
• To bring postgraduate research students (PGRs) involved in fieldwork in developing countries and
emerging economies together to share learning and experience about conducting fieldwork in
these contexts
• To provide an opportunity for reflection on issues, e.g. conceptual, methodological, ethical,
cultural, etc.
• To encourage the interchange of ideas and advice between British and international students
• To provide necessary support, advice and guidance on conducting fieldwork overseas, e.g. funding,
networking and building links
• To develop appropriate research methodologies for fieldwork in developing countries and
emerging economies
• To provide a cross-institution and interdisciplinary forum for PGR training on conducting fieldwork
in developing countries and emerging economies

Sessions to include:
• An Introduction to International Fieldwork
• Theoretical and Methodological Debates
• Methodological issues
• Cultural considerations
• Ethical issues
• Research in different contexts (e.g. conflict areas, hostile and difficult environments)

Practical Challenges of Fieldwork in Different Geographical Contexts:
• A panel of postgraduate students and other scholars will give talks on carrying our fieldwork in
South Asia, South and/or Central America, Africa and Eastern Europe.
• A critical understanding of the ethical issues and practicalities of doing fieldwork in developing
countries and emerging economies;
• An appreciation of good practice in carrying out fieldwork in developing countries and emerging
economies;
• An ability to reflect and think critically about the conduct of research in developing countries.

Dates of next workshop : TBC

Cohort Development … & more

NINE DTP wants to provide you with opportunities to shape your own Doctoral training experience. We therefore not only offer all students the opportunity to provide suggestions for new training courses, but also actively encourage our scholars to create, develop, and lead events and activities of their own design.

We can provide support and funding for our scholars to run conferences, training sessions, and formal or informal events or gatherings that are designed to stimulate research, creativity, and discussion. The foci of these sessions can be the themed by subject, discipline, methodological theory or practice. They could also focus on items related to the wider research environment, for instance developing research impact and knowledge exchange activities, research ethics, or current research initiatives such as the Global Challenges Research Fund.

These events can provide participants with opportunities to engage in multi- or inter-disciplinary research activities, whilst working collaboratively in a supportive environment with their peers.

PLEASE NOTE: NINE DTP is particularly keen to encourage training and activities which relate to engagement with non-academic partners, and the development of transferable skills which can assist our scholars to succeed in both academic and non-academic endeavours.

If you have any ideas, comments, or suggestions about any activities that you would like to see included in the DTP calendar, or any events which you yourself might like to facilitate, please contact us.