National Research Conference - Career Development Institute

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National Research Conference for Careers Practitioners

This event is delivered virtually using Hopin, in partnership by the CDI, iCeGS, AGCAS and NICEC

Overview

The practitioner research conference is now an annual event. The last event took place on Tuesday 6 February 2024 and the theme was 'Practitioner Researchers Matter: The beginning, influence, and value of research'.

Many people see research as something undertaken by academics however, we want to inspire all career development practitioners to develop their confidence, undertake research and develop the evidence base. We want you to celebrate your research and to talk about how this has informed your own and others’ practice.

There were three sub-themes for the conference to help structure the programme. These were:

• Connecting research to practice
• Connecting research to planning and strategy
• The nuts and bolts of practical research.

2024 programme

Take a look back at our 2024 programme to gain an insight into what you can expect for our next conference.

Our programme is intended to be largely presented by practitioners, for practitioners and aims to encourage those who have an interest in and enthusiasm to undertake research but perhaps lack the confidence. The conference was held online, and we international colleagues to join us.

The online programme included:
• Two keynote presentations on research relevant to career development
• Two panels of practitioner researchers – representing research from the UK and internationally
• A range of seminars aligned to the conference themes: Connecting research to practice;
Connecting research to planning and strategy; and The nuts and bolts of practical research
• An online poster session*

10.00 – 10.10 Welcome

10.10 – 10.30 Keynote 1: Pete Robertson

10.40 – 11.30 National Panel chaired by Julia Yates

Helen Root
Keren Coney
Ifza Shakoor

11.30 - 11.45 Poster viewing

11.45 – 12.35 International Panel chaired by Tom Staunton

Rie Thomsen
Mercy Maina

12.45 – 13.30 Lunch

13.30 – 14.20 Parallel Seminars

14.30 – 15.20 Parallel Seminars

15.30 – 15.50 Keynote 2 Julia Yates and Lucy Ayliffe

15.50 – 16.10 Poster winner and closing remarks

Seminar programme

We had a great programme including national and international speakers, and an exciting seminar programme including the following speakers:

Sammy Everard: Working and researching with disabled beneficiaries to enhance best practice
Korin Grant: Climate change and career: Challenges and benefits to a green mindset approach
Donnalee Bell & Trina Stanford: Preventing the spin-cycle: In motion & momentum+ and the results of a randomised controlled trial
Tristram Hooley: Publishing your research
Emma Lennox: From curiosity to contribution: A beginners guide to getting started with research
Claire Toogood: Researching, developing, and sharing careers and employability case studies
Stephen Plimmer: Research: Opportunities for practice and practitioner
Aggi Doughty: Narrative career journeys

Poster Competition

The deadline for submitting the poster has now passed.

Career practitioners and students engaged in research of any type are invited to present a poster at this conference; the posters should, where possible, aim to link to the conference sub-themes. There are many benefits for a researcher in doing this:

Tell people about your research
Gain interest and feedback
Engage in useful discussion and maybe collaboration
Share your findings and prepare for wider dissemination

You can be at any stage of the research process, so your poster might cover anything from early plans for the methodology or literature review, right through to findings and analysis of a near-complete research project. The aim is to inform and inspire other potential practitioner researchers.

How to produce a research poster

Further information on producing a poster and presenting at the Conference
How to produce a research poster
How to create an accompanying video recording

If you would like a conversation with someone to help you to develop your poster, please contact Julia Yates at [email protected].

Prize

The winner will receive all of the following: a free place at a CDI Expert Training Session, AGCAS training session, NICEC event and from iCeGS a copy of a book relating to the career development sector.

The award winner will be announced during the closing session of the Conference.

*The poster session at the conference is a space for dialogue: for practitioner researchers to present a summary of their work, and for conference delegates to gain an overview of the variety of current or recent research projects.

Why attend?

Many people see research as something undertaken by academics, however, we want to inspire all career development practitioners to develop their confidence, undertake research, develop the evidence base and contribute to the professionalisation of the sector. We want you to celebrate your research and to talk about how this has informed your own and others' practice.

Audience

Career development practitioners working with young people and adults, including careers advisers, career consultants and coaches, careers leaders, and researchers.