Master of Research Winter School 2022

Dr Marianne McAra

Last week, we kicked off the semester with Winter School to welcome our new Master of Research (M.Res) cohort. The M.Res programme offers a unique opportunity to design and undertake a research project, which is either practice-based or theoretical. Each student on the programme embarks on an interdisciplinary research inquiry that seeks to address contextually-located social and cultural challenges, which are driven and informed through engagement with communities.

Winter School provides the new students with research training and key skills to equip them to hit the ground running with their projects. Whilst exploring broader themes and live projects across the Innovation School’s research portfolio, the students also engaged in lectures, workshops and discussion groups with a focus on developing effective and compelling research questions; strategies on composing a literature review; mapping research contexts and knowledge landscapes; and exploring creative practice and the role of artefacts.

On Day 01, the new cohort were joined by retuning part-time students to present 3-minute videos to (re)introduce their project proposals. Following this, on Day 02 we were joined by faculty and graduates of the programme to share examples of current work (in the areas of craft, design and policy, health and wellbeing, the creative economy, and digital heritage); to reflect on the student experience; as well as to re-trace graduate journeys and destinations upon completing the M.Res programme. Later in the week, we were joined by PhD candidate Gamia Dewanggamanik and professional story-teller Dr Michael Williams to explore forms of life writing and the important role reflective practice can play in our work.

Following Winter School, the cohort will now engage in their independent and self-directed inquires with the support of their dedicated supervisory teams. The next research training will take place at Spring School and will explore research methodologies, theoretical frameworks and ethics.

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For more information on the Master of Research programme and how to apply, please visit: https://www.gsa.ac.uk/study/graduate-degrees/master-of-research/.
Or alternatively, please contact the Programme Leader Prof Lynn-Sayers McHattie: l.mchattie@gsa.ac.uk