Queensland research initiative to enhance employability of HDR graduates 

International PhD students from eight universities across Queensland are set to come together in Brisbanefor aninitiative to enhance the experience and employability of researchers of the future.

The‘Equipping Queensland International Postgraduate’(EQUIP) ResearchersConference will take place from 9am to 5pm at Customs House on Monday, July 30, followed by a‘Connecting Queensland’s Researchers’networking function (5pm-7pm).

• Register for Connecting Queensland’s Researchers function

Invited alumni and guests from industry organisations, businesses, national companies and government bodies will attend the evening function, which will be formally opened by the Honourable Kate Jones MP, Minister for Innovation and Tourism Industry Development, and Minister for the Commonwealth Games.

TheEQUIP ResearchersConferenceis an initiative of the graduate research schools anddepartmentsof the Queensland Universities consortium. Led by Griffith University the consortium includes University of Queensland (UQ), James Cook University (JCU), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Central Queensland University (CQU), University of Southern Queensland (USQ), Bond University and University of the Sunshine Coast (USC).

Professor Sue Berners-Price

Project lead andDean of the Griffith Graduate Research School, Professor Sue Berners-Price, will be among the state’s researchleaders on hand to offer guidance and advice to PhD students.

The students will also participate in discussions to identify opportunities that enhance the PhD experience andadvanceprofessional development support through the establishment of a digital resource hub.

They will also participate in a leadership session with consortium partners,Study QueenslandwithinTrade and Investment Queensland, and will form the first International Leadership Network ofPhD StudentAmbassadors.

The EQUIP Researcher Conference isacomponent of the larger HDR Experience and Employability Project developed by the consortium to enhance the leadership and professional capabilities of Queensland’s postgraduate research students.

This project has a particular focus on more than 3000 international postgraduate research students who make significant contributions to the development of transnational networks and the advancement of research in Queensland.

Theproject is co-funded with the support of the Queensland Government’s International Education and Training Partnership Fund, managed bytheStudy Queenslandwithin Trade and Investment Queensland.

More informationabout the projectcan be found here