There are many academic conference benefits but the following quote by Helen Keller summarizes it best: “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
While academic conferences hold an enormous amount of value for all sorts of professionals – educators, those working for non-profit and government organizations, and representatives of public and private research entities – in this post, let’s discuss what graduate students stand to gain.
What Type of Graduate Students Should Attend Academic Conferences
Graduate studies, by definition, tend to be significantly more narrow discipline-focused than undergraduate studies. This is the stage where students deep-dive into a limited set of subjects as they work toward obtaining their degree.
There are two general groups of graduate students that would reap the benefits of an academic conference.
- Master’s students and candidates
- Doctoral students and candidates
Whether graduate students plan to remain in academia upon obtaining their degree or find employment in a private, non-profit, or public sector, academic conferences can go a long way in advancing their careers.
Academic Conference Benefits
- An opportunity to gather a variety of perspectives on the subject of study
Tunnel vision is a risk that anyone who spends a significant amount of time on a single subject should be aware of and attempt to mitigate. Academic conferences are a perfect opportunity to do so. Prestigious conferences attract scientists, researchers, and educators from around the world. That means the presenters and participants bring with them a wealth of unique knowledge, experiences, and perspectives.
Graduate students can take advantage of such diverse knowledge pools and use them to challenge pre-existing assumptions, as well as broaden and deepen the grasp of their subject of study.
- A chance to practice networking skills and to establish valuable connections
Networking is an essential skill that anyone who wants to have a successful career should try to master. It doesn’t matter whether the career that follows will be in academia, a private sector, or public service.
Networking is about building connections and identifying opportunities. The key to networking is understanding that it’s about establishing symbiotic relationships – searching for opportunities to be of value, to be of assistance to others just as much (if not more) as it is about self-interests.
- Access to professional development and educational tools and resources
One of the academic conference benefits is the access they provide to a variety of resources to their attendees: workshops, papers, databases, academic journals, etc. It’s an engaging way to acquire new skills, discover methodologies used in other disciplines, hear from leading academics as they present their research, and learn from fellow participants what tools they use to facilitate their work.
Additionally, respectable event organizers usually use events as a building block in creating a wider network of academics that goes beyond a couple of days of the conference. As such, they continue to provide the attendees with valuable resources long after the event is over.
- A perfect platform to source feedback
Feedback is vital for continuous learning and development. This is true for both seasoned professionals and those just starting out in their career.
Feedback helps graduate students set realistic and achievable goals, understand own strengths and weaknesses, and strengthen communication skills. Furthermore, it fosters a trust-based relationship with the other party and facilitates introspection. Finally, it prepares graduate students who plan to stay in academia for the rigorous peer-review process they will become a part of.
- An excellent way to strengthen a CV
Last but not least, participation in academic events boosts a graduate student’s resume. Commitment to learning and engaging with peers is valued in both academic and corporate worlds. It signals to prospective employers one’s willingness to get outside of the comfort zone. Moreover, it communicates one’s ability to connect with people from diverse backgrounds – a skill that is a must in the hyper connected world.
Academic Conference Benefits for Graduate Students – In Conclusion
As graduate students work toward obtaining their degrees, they, naturally, have to think of the next step. Will the path lead toward academia? Is it a preparation stage for entering the business world? Perhaps the next peak to conquer lies in the non-profit space?
Academic conferences offer an opportunity to crystalize goals and build a network. They help break down silos and become a part of a larger discourse.
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