On March 4th, we kicked off with a hybrid PG Orientation and Welcome event, giving new postgrads a comprehensive introduction to University life.

The programme of the day included the following presentations from these speakers:

• Beginning the postgraduate journey: Welcome to Wits Program Director & Dean of 足球竞彩app排名s Affairs, Mr Jerome September
• New horizons for research Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation, Professor Lynn Morris
• 足球竞彩app排名s’ Voices Postgraduate Association Chairperson, Mr Okuhle Mafrika
• Future thought leaders for a world in crisis. An expert panel discussion Co-sponsored by the: Global Alliance of Liberal Arts Universities (GALA)
• Wits libraries: PG research support frameworks, Dr Daisy Selematsela
• Internationalisation and student support, Ms Gita Patel
• 1-stop postgrad shop in the Great Hall Foyer
• Drama for Life performance ‘You think adulting is hard: Mastering your postgraduate journey’
• Research with Impact and Innovation at Wits, Dr Adam Pantanowitz
• Research Funding Literacy, Dr Yolanda Davids
• Closing comments, Prof. Garth Stevens, DVC People Development and Culture

The first day closed with a cocktail event on the concourse where postgraduate students could network and socialise.

March 5th featured a CARTA-led research training for Masters and PhD students, aimed at enhancing research quality and capacity. Building on last year's successful pilot, this full-day workshop is now a key part of our orientation. CARTA institutionalization (iCARTA) works to enhance partner universities' capacities to integrate CARTA interventions for quality research and training. The Wits School of Public Health (WSPH) is a CARTA partner institution. 

Sessions:

Introductory Exercise: After an introductory session, students were grouped by discipline for the next sessions.

Philosophy of Knowledge: In disciplinary groups, students brainstormed on flip charts about knowledge production in their fields, introducing epistemology, ontology, and research methodology. Group dynamics varied, but all were engaged and serious, with facilitators providing guidance.

Disciplinary Perspectives on Poverty: 足球竞彩app排名s applied their disciplinary knowledge to research poverty, emphasizing the importance of systematic literature searches.

Effective Literature Search: An experienced librarian guided students in formulating search strategies and using credible search engines. 

Group Work on Conceptualizing Research: Disciplinary groups used literature search methods to conceptualize poverty research, with high engagement even during lunch breaks.

Multi-level Framework for Analyzing Poverty: Participants were mixed across disciplines to explore poverty factors at various levels. Experienced and novice facilitators worked together. The exercise increased awareness of the multi-faceted nature of research questions and perspectives.

Faculties hosted their orientation programmes on March 6th, tailoring the experience to their students.

Postgraduate Support Transitioning Programme

The Programme addresses the challenges faced by postgraduate students during their transition from academia to the professional world and into academic fields. By providing comprehensive support and resources, we work with our graduates to navigate this phase.  

• Skills development workshops
• Career workshops
• PG networking opportunities
• Faculty-specific postgraduate information sessions