How to Survive Your First International Conference ONLINE

Aims

1. Deliver convincing presentations - Know the key ingredients for a strong and engaging presentation that effectively communicates your research to an international audience.
2. Learn how to navigate the Q&A session and discover techniques that can help you with challenging situations. View questions as an opportunity to further develop your paper.
3. Network with Confidence: Develop the skills to network professionally and confidently with fellow conference participants, expanding your academic and professional connections.

Content

This online course, How to Survive Your First International Conference, is designed to help PhD students and Postdocs master the art of scientific presentation and effective networking. It provides essential tips and strategies for navigating the complexities of international conferences, enabling students to engage confidently with peers, present their research successfully, and expand their professional network.

Take advantage of psychological principles of perception that can improve the clarity of your slides and the impact of your talk.

Learn in the second part how to make meaningful connections, engage with experts in your field, and build a professional network that can support academic and career growth. Discover effective icebreakers, how to craft a convincing pitch, and tips for mastering small talk with ease. Key activities for preparation before the conference and follow-up afterwards will also be covered to ensure lasting connections. This session provides the strategies and confidence needed to turn a first conference into a valuable networking experience!

Methods

• Interactive Lectures: Short, engaging lectures that provide essential knowledge and set the foundation. Real example video that shows typical mistakes and weaknesses when starting a presentation.
• Breakout Discussions: Focused discussions and topic-related exercises in smaller groups (5-6 students).
• Simulations: Presentation scenarios, where students share parts of their research or test their pitch.
• Trainer and peer Feedback: Feedback on presentations or networking techniques.
• Live Polls and Quizzes: Addressing any knowledge gaps and allow for immediate feedback.
• Q&A Sessions: Regularly included Q&A sessions where students can ask questions about the course content or share personal experiences related to conferences.
• Hands-On Activities: Opportunities for students to practice key skills, such as creating a concise motivating and concise introduction, or designing a personal pitch.

Target Group

All Doctoral Candidates & Postdocs

Requirements

Computer
Stable internet access
Notepad and pen

About the Trainer

Barbara Hey is a trainer and systemic coach in ZEW’s “Seminars and In-House-Trainings” (SIQ) team. She is one of the few German specialists for the qualification of scientists in the field of soft skills. The participants in her trainings, which she conducts virtually or face-to-face, include not only researchers but also managers from companies in various sectors. Barbara Hey studied business administration and psychology in Germany and Great Britain and has been working as a training professional at ZEW Mannheim since 1998. She has many years of experience in conducting seminars, coachings and moderating in German and English. She is also a sought-after expert and (co-) author of several academic books.

Ann-Katrin Daubner from ZEW will be co-training with Barbara Hey.

Workload

Course attendance: 2 x 7h
Preparation Pitch: 0,5h
Preparation Presentation/ Talk: 0,5h

Feature

Once registration is open, applications will be collected for 24 hours and course places allocated by lot. All registrations received after the initial 24h period will be put on a waiting list and assigned on a first come, first served basis.

Course places/places on the waiting list will be confirmed by e-mail. Course registrations can only be canceled before the registration period ends (send an e-mail to grace@unibas.ch). Full course attendance is mandatory. Participants who fail to attend a course without prior notification or withdraw after the registration deadline are subject to a fee of CHF 30. In addition, participants who cancel their course registration at a later point in time, are absent without an excuse or do not attend the entire course will, for reasons of fairness, not be considered for course registration in the following semester and will be removed from other courses offered in the same semester. Please find the detailed regulations on the Transferable Skills Homepage.