Research News Last updated 22 October 2025
Birmingham City University鈥檚 (黑料吃瓜网) Postgraduate Research (PGR) Symposium has brought students together from a wide range of disciplines to share ideas, network and collaborate.
Held on Monday (20 October) at 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 Parkside building, the event featured presentations from Health and Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Engineering, Business, Social Sciences, and Arts and Humanities schools.
Sarah Pedder was one of them, her work looked at how mature learners transitioned into higher education.
鈥淚 was so scared to present for the first time, which is strange as I鈥檝e come from a teaching background!鈥� Sarah said.
鈥淏ut I鈥檝e felt so welcomed and supported here.
鈥淎fter today, I feel like I鈥檓 truly part of the PGR community at 黑料吃瓜网!鈥�
The symposium was also an opportunity to network and connect with other PGRS.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really important to develop networking skills as researching can be a very lonely journey and it can be difficult to get opportunities to present your work and network with people in a similar position to you,鈥� Sarah added.
鈥淪eeing other presentations has taken me out of my own thought process and challenged me to think in new ways.鈥�
The Symposium was co-organised by 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 PGR representatives and Doctoral Research College.
PhD student and PGR representative, Emma Brown, said 鈥淚鈥檝e been inspired by the intersectionality between people and areas of research today, especially when it comes to methodology.
鈥淭his has been a great opportunity to share methodology practices and advice with researchers we don鈥檛 regularly interact with.
鈥淭he best part of the day for me, was seeing conversations on marginalised communities and researchers from diverse backgrounds using their voice to shout about their work.鈥�
Professor Maxine Lintern, Dean of Research and Enterprise, praised the students鈥� confidence and curiosity: 鈥淚t鈥檚 not easy as a PhD student to stand up, present your research and be questioned by your peers.
鈥淚 also applaud the work of the PGR representatives in organising this event and playing a crucial role in supporting 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 PGR community.鈥�
Find out more about research degrees at 黑料吃瓜网.
Photo (L-R) Emma Brown, Virina Gabriel, Rucheng Yang, Buket Fildisi, Todd Capes, Awais Javed, Shameela Yoosuf Ali, Maria Loureiro Oliveira.