UoG - NTU Doctoral Research Conference 2026

Aim and Focus

The conference aims to provide a shared platform for PhD Candidates to present their research and engage in meaningful discussion with peers from a wide range of subject areas. By bringing together doctoral researchers at different stages of their studies, the event supports mutual learning, critical reflection on the research process, and the exchange of ideas and perspectives. It also creates opportunities for participants to explore and discuss how individual research projects may relate to, inform, or complement one another, even when situated within different disciplinary contexts.

A further aim of the conference is to support the clear and effective communication of research to broad and diverse audiences. Presentations will speak to the focus, purpose, and significance of each research project, while situating the work within wider academic, professional, or societal contexts. In doing so, the conference encourages participants to reflect on the relevance, impact, and potential transferability of their research, highlighting how research insights, methods, and approaches can resonate beyond an individual field of study.

What to Expect

The conference will consist of a series of four themed sessions, bringing together research presentations by doctoral researchers from both the University of Gibraltar (UoG) and Nottingham Trent University (NTU), representing a wide range of disciplines. Each session will include dedicated time for questions and discussion, enabling attendees to engage directly with presenters and to explore connections across different areas of research.

Alongside the formal presentations, the conference will also provide opportunities to engage with poster presentations developed by PhD Candidates. These posters will be available for viewing during breaks, allowing participants to explore additional research beyond what is covered in the oral presentations and to continue discussions beyond the Research Presentations.

As the day is quite full, we encourage all attendees to manage their screen time in line with their screen and/or sitting tolerance and access needs – take as many breaks as needed, in addition to those provided in the programme, and attend from a space that is comfortable for you. We are not recording any of the sessions, so we hope that as many of you as possible will keep your screens on; by the same token you are not required to do this if it’s not comfortable for you. We will have closed captions for all sessions, and attendees will be able to use the Chat function and/or the microphone to ask questions and offer feedback.

Research Presentations

Research presentations form the core of the conference programme. Doctoral researchers will deliver concise 10-minute presentations, with each themed session comprising four or five presentations. This format is designed to allow a wide range of research to be showcased while ensuring sufficient time for questions, discussion, and exchange of ideas. Presenters will outline the focus, methodological approach, and significance of their research. Presentations are intended to be accessible to an interdisciplinary audience. Emphasis will be placed on sharing work in progress, reflecting on the research process, and highlighting how individual projects contribute to wider academic, professional, or societal conversations.

Electronic Posters

The conference will include a poster element hosted online via Padlet. Poster presentations offer an alternative format for sharing research, enabling participants to engage with projects in a flexible and self-directed way. The Padlet will remain accessible throughout the conference, allowing attendees to view posters, read accompanying summaries, and leave comments or questions. This format supports asynchronous engagement, encourages reflective discussion, and enables conversations to continue beyond the live sessions, further enhancing opportunities for exchange and collaboration.

Researcher Development and Engagement

Participation in the conference provides doctoral researchers with visibility, offering a platform to showcase their work within an academic environment. Presenting to a diverse academic audience contributes to the development of research communication skills, particularly in articulating the purpose, significance, and broader relevance of their work to researchers beyond their immediate discipline. Engaging with a wide range of research projects also exposes participants to different approaches, perspectives, and methodologies, encouraging reflection on potential areas of overlap, transferability, and collaboration. In this way, the conference supports the enrichment of the doctoral research journey, fostering connections and conversations that may inform future research directions and collaborative opportunities.