I had been searching for a programme that allowed me to combine my specific research interests with a rather busy work schedule. The blended format with in-person classes and distance learning modules worked very well for me, by providing a good balance between flexibility of schedule and the opportunity to meet in person the tutors and faculty staff during the first couple of weeks of the programme. This allowed me to develop a good working relationship with the tutors, while also meeting other...
Our course on Evidence-Based Policy Research Methods (EPRM) hones research skills at the highest of levels, including policymakers from national governments and international organisations. Dr. Mindel van de Laar sat down with course coordinator Cristina Mancigotti to discuss her recent experiences in this role. You’ve been in charge of the EPRM course for over a year now, with two full intakes. How is it to look after such a diverse group professionals in terms of nationality, age and research ...
A guest post by EPRM student, Dessislava Ivanova. Most people, especially those with full-time jobs, think long and hard before enrolling on a research training programme. There are many reasons to hesitate. Maybe the last time you studied was years ago; perhaps you’re very busy with your career; or maybe your work-life balance is already tipping the ‘wrong’ way. These are all valid reasons and ones that make sense to anyone who has thought of starting a research track, years after they have gra...
The next deadline for scholarship applications to our ‘Evidence-Based Policy Research Methods’ (EPRM) programme is 21 March 2018. In this post we hear from recent participant Gilbert Riboni. … As part of reinventing myself after a 21-year career in a high-stress job, I was looking to reengage in some sort of activity that would bring me back into contact with the international community. My previous career afforded me opportunities to travel abroad and work with governmental and orga...
As coordinators of the Evidence-Based Policy Research Methods (EPRM) programme our job is to look after our participants, not only when they are physically in Maastricht but also when they join us online. We assign course tutors, individual research tutors, and modular coordinators – including Dr. Oxana Slobozhan, who graduated from our full-time PhD programme in 2014. Now based in Turkey, Oxana coordinates EPRM module two, where participants turn their research ideas into full proposals. What d...
In higher education, group support can mean the difference between failure and success. Put simply, when groups perform well, individuals are more motivated; so if we want students to succeed, we need to help and support each and every cohort. But that of course is easier said than done! In a classroom setting, especially in small classes as we host in Maastricht, group bonding happens automatically – whether it be discussing recent elections results before class, last night’s football game in t...
Takahiro Utsumi is one of our many students who also works for another UN organisation — in this case the World Food Programme (WFP) in Khartoum, Sudan. He came to Maastricht for our unique course on Evidence-Based Policy Research Methods (EPRM), to improve his everyday work and long-term career as a food security analyst. We caught up with him in mid-December 2016. ••• You’re a Japanese analyst working for a UN programme in East Africa. What exactly do you do? I’m a Food Security Analyst workin...
A joint post by Shivani Achrekar and Dr. Mindel van de Laar. In e-learning courses, fully online or blended, the biggest challenge for course providers is to ensure retention, allowing participants to finish their online course. While sign-up rates can look promising, drop-out rates are often high, and completion rates could be improved. Our blended learning programme in Evidence-Based Policy Research Methods (EPRM), designed for working professionals, is no exception to the rule. The course des...
How can we encourage more people to lead active lives, not only in general but also in an educational setting? We know that obesity and health problems are linked to a lack of exercise and we see a clear relationship between leading an active life and better health in general. Both feature a great deal in academia, but a less studied area is the impact of a healthy, active life and movement on educational performance. Academics have studied the relationship between moving and thinking and the re...