The spirit of Ramadan in research

As we approach the end of Ramadan, Sophia Butt, a PGR in the Department of English Language & Linguistics and the School of Social Policy, shares her thoughts on the parallels between being a successful researcher and observing the Islamic holy month.

When I was invited to write a blogpost about my experiences of being a PGR observing Ramadan, one of the first thoughts that came to mind was the many parallels between the prerequisites for success during this Islamic month, and the fundamental principles of being an effective PGR. Ramadan is a time for mindfulness and spiritual reflection to strive for lasting personal and societal betterment.

Sophia’s photo of Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) masjid (mosque) in Medina, Saudi Arabia.

Similarly, the Researcher Development Framework (RDF) helps PGRs realise their potential to develop credible academic and professional portfolios. Its four domains of:

1. knowledge & intellectual abilities;
2. personal effectiveness;
3. governance & organisation; and
4. engagement, influence & impact

and its 12 sub-domains emphasise the skills and behaviours which also underpin the spirit of Ramadan, i.e.:

Month of Ramadan	Skills	PGR Success
adhering to specified times for daily fasts	Time Management	committing to regular research activities to meet deadlines
enhancing theological knowledge through reading & listening to spiritual sermons	Intellectual Development	sourcing & interpreting multi-modal materials to develop subject knowledge
thinking beyond rituals by critically engaging with values that underpin desired behaviours & norms	Critical Thinking	evaluating sources, findings & assumptions to reach effective conclusions
being cognisant of actions that feed misconceptions, and avoiding these through positive deeds	Cognitive Awareness & Problem-Solving	recognising & isolating problems in research to seek solutions for the same
exercising willpower, patience & determination to achieve goals	Perseverance	overcoming procrastination & obstacles to meeting aims
introspecting & developing self-awareness to become a better version of oneself	Self-Reflection	identifying strengths & weaknesses as a PGR to capitalise on the former & address the latter
spreading positivity & facilitating the enactment of good deeds	Engagement & Influence	adopting a collegial approach to peer engagement & knowledge sharing
understanding & enacting the principles of moral behaviour	Understanding Governance	applying the codes of ethical & legal practice throughout studies
conducting oneself in a manner befitting of an ambassador of Islam	Professional Conduct	adhering to institutional & departmental expectations of academic practice & integrity

Until my teens, I had a rather rudimentary understanding of ‘sawm’ or fasting. I thought it was simply about nurturing God-consciousness and spirituality while abstaining from food and drink from dawn till dusk. But with maturity, I realised that the month of Ramadan also instils self-discipline, steadfastness and refraining from behaviours that are harmful to oneself – and society. It encourages empathy, humility, and charity by urging reflection on the lives of the less fortunate and those enduring perpetual adversity.

Additionally, it accords opportunities for physical, psychological, and social development: scientific studies have shown that intermittent fasting purges the body of toxins, thereby enhancing physical and mental wellbeing. Hence, mindfulness during Ramadan serves as a reminder of how to secure year-round gains.  This philosophy can also be applied laterally to achieve PGR success whether by adopting a positive mindset with determination; overcoming challenges by avoiding harmful distractions; or helping struggling peers.

And so, as this month of Ramadan draws to a close, I look forward to the rewards of my endeavours…

What is Enterprise and why is it in the RDF?

There is often confusion around the term enterprise.  It is sometimes used interchangeably with entrepreneurship and so has connotations of starting a business.  But enterprise simply refers to the generation and application of ideas to address practical situations (QAA definitions).

Enterprise sits within the Engagement, Influence and Impact domain, however enterprise skills feature in all four sections of the RDF.  Enterprise isn’t a stand-alone skill you can develop in isolation, it requires a whole host of competencies and attributes.  In fact I have identified 38 descriptors within the RDF which relate to enterprise.

This is not bad news.  It does not necessarily mean enterprise is a more difficult skill to develop.  On the contrary it means that whilst developing your enterprise skills you are simultaneously acquiring many other abilities.  It also means that you are already half-way there to becoming more enterprising…

The One and Only – ORCID for researchers

In today’s research climate, the scope for information about you and your work to be displayed and connected is huge.  Historically, publishers and libraries took ownership for distributing and curating works, but roles are blurring in today’s world, where indexing and curation of online content is largely done algorithmically.  The picture is further complicated by:

• the range of research output types (“online-only” articles, blog posts, slide decks and datasets) and other research activity;
• difficulties in author disambiguation, exacerbated where people have common names, perhaps change names after marriage, move institutions, or are affiliated with more than one institution.

Vicky would like to make it clear that she is not a fan of Chesney (despite knowing all the words).

How can we ensure that researchers’ profiles are correct, full and up to date? 

Jack and the annual review process

Are you following jobs.ac.uk‘s PhD Vloggers?  The most recent installment catches up with Jack Donaghy, just reaching the end of his 1st year as a PhD student in Urban Studies at the University of Glasgow.