Key Information

Tutor: Dr Caroline Hargreaves
Duration: 2 hour session
Delivery: Live (In-Person, South Kensington) & Live (Online, Zoom)
ECRI Credit (PGR only): 1 credit 
Audience:  Research Degree Students, MRes, Postdocs, Research Fellows,

Dates

There are no further sessions taking place this academic year. Course dates for 2026-27 will be available to book from late September.

  • How do I start networking?
  • How can I get some tips and practice to network better?

This course with preparatory activities considers good practice and tips to develop techniques for effective networking.

“This interactive course was a great way to discuss and apply networking techniques which will certainly be useful to better engage with others in future networking situations throughout my PhD.” (Mechanical Engineering Doctoral Student)

NB: The course was developed with the "nervous networker" in mind, and those with little networking experience have the most to gain from it. More experienced networkers looking to refresh and update their abilities are very welcome.

You will need to dedicate a total time of ~2.5 hours to complete this course, which includes ~40 minutes preparatory activities carried out via Canvas. There is a lot of material to explore via the Course Notes and links on Canvas after the live course, and optional follow ups are available.

This course is open to Research Degree Students, MRes, Postdocs and Research Fellows.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this course and using preparatory and post- course materials you will be better able to:

  • Identify and discuss your networking needs, good practice and resources.
  • Review a 7 step plan for successful face to face networking.
  • Construct an improved personal introduction to expand your network.
  • Practice and apply techniques learned for successful networking and to build confidence.
  • Evaluate situations and how best to apply networking in areas such as conferences, forming collaborations, professional planning and advancement.

How to book

Book via Inkpath using your Imperial Single-Sign-On. Bookings will close one week before each live session.

Please ensure you have read and understood ECRI’s attendance & cancellation policy before booking. 

Further Information

Pre-Course Work

You will be sent a link to the online platform to complete preparatory activities before the live course and to engage with during the course. There is material to read or listen to and consider, polls and forms to complete. Discussions and group activities build on the pre-course work, so previous participants request that we require you to complete this.  

Netiquette for Online Training
  • It is important that you are fully present and an active participant, to create a safe space for sharing and discussion.
  • Please ensure prior to attending that you have a fully functioning camera and microphone. If you have any issues with your equipment, please contact us as soon as possible.  
  • Please ensure that you are in a private space where you can maintain confidentiality and the privacy of the other participants.
  • To maintain confidentiality, all participants are asked to agree to keep what is said within the group, and not record or take screenshots/photos without permission. Pictures or quotes from the session should not be posted on social media or elsewhere. 
Confidentiality
  • Your discussions on the day are crucial to the course activities, so that you can learn from each other and the tutor and see what may be improved.  If you do not wish to share or are not permitted to share particular details, leave them out of your discussion or do not include or anonymise in your examples.
  • If you have a concern about a particular issue, you can organise a 1-1 with the tutor who will be able to signpost you to appropriate individuals or resources. 
Participant Quotations

'I learnt lots of ways to communicate with others during networking.'

'The activities were good practice of the concepts'

'The course was delivered well and felt easy to have a conversation in'

'Useful for evaluating what I currently do and what I need to work on'

Other Resources

You may also be interested in courses from the following programmes: 

Core booking blocks

Inkpath booking system

Guidance and FAQs on booking courses.

Attendance & Cancellation Policy

Information about the attendance and cancellation policy for places on ECRI courses