Course Essential Research Skills for PhD students at Artsand Humanities

Course description:

This course is provided by Aarhus University Library in Emdrup, Copenhagen, in collaboration with administrative and research staff from Aarhus University. It aims to provide PhD students in Arts at Aarhus University with essential skills in various subjects central to the research process, from collecting data, to disseminating results. This course offers practical tools and best practices that PhD students can readily apply in their daily work.

Although the course materials and examples are tailored to Arts PhD students, the course is open to all PhD students. The course consists of different sessions with presentations, discussions, cases and hands-on activities.

Aim/Learning outcomes

At the end of this course, the student will be able to:

• Use different search strategies and search tools, including systematic search, in their research.
• Continuously describe and fill out their data management plan as well as confidentially administer and potentially publish their collected data in a secure manner.
• Understand how digital tools can help optimize workflow in literature analysis.
• Consider important aspects regarding publication strategies, including Open Access pathways, the benefits of openly sharing research outputs and on where to publish your research.

Target group/Participants

• Early stage PhD Students at Arts and Humanities

Workload

• Course/ teaching hours: 10
• Preparation hours: 15
• Written assignments etc.: 0

Language 

• English

Lecturers

• Hazel Engelsmann, AU Library (Course Organizer) hcen@kb.dk
• Johanne Rübner Hansen, AU Library
• Karl Weis-Fogh, AU Library
• Louise Buchhave, Legal Special Consultant, Aarhus Universitet
• Mathias Michelsen, AU Library
• Jens Jan Andersen, AU Library
• Uffe Jankvist, MSc, PhD, Professor, Danish School of Education, Aarhus University

Literature

• Circle U (2023), Open Science Passport – A Practical Guide for PhD Students https://oer.uclouvain.be/jspui/handle/20.500.12279/902
• Boote, D. N., & Beile, P. (2005). Scholars before Researchers: On the Centrality of the Dissertation Literature Review in Research Preparation. Educational Researcher, 34(6), 3–15. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X034006003
• Gusenbauer, M., & Haddaway, N. R. (2021). What every researcher should know about searching – clarified concepts, search advice, and an agenda to improve finding in academia. Research Synthesis Methods, 12(2), 136–147. https://doi.org/10.1002/jrsm.1457
• Holmstrand, K.F., den Boer, S.P.A., Vlachos, E., Martínez-Lavanchy, P.M., Hansen, K.K. (Eds.) (2019). Research Data Management (eLearning course). doi: 10.11581/dtu:00000047. https://medarbejdere.au.dk/en/research-data-management/e-learning-course
• Levay, Paul, and Jenny Craven. “Introduction: Where Are We Now?” Systematic Searching, Facet Publishing, 2018, pp. 1–24, https://doi.org/10.29085/9781783303755.002.
• Aagaard, K. (2025) Set research free: A broader perspective. AU.dk. https://rb.gy/10e452 

Venue

• 26 November 2025. 10.00-15.30. Emdrupvej 101 , 2400 København NV. Building 7210, room 214
• 27 November 2025. 10.15-15.00. Emdrupvej 101 , 2400 København NV. Building 7210, room 214

Course dates:

• 26 November 2025 10:00 - 15:30
• 27 November 2025 10:15 - 15:00