MSc Grad Dissertation Symposium

Did you graduate with an MSc in Business/Organisational/Occupational or Work Psychology in the last two years? Then this one is for you!

The ABP is the Home and Voice of Business Psychology. A big focus of this is the guardianship and growth of our field, including nurturing the next generation of business psychologists. That’s why we’re excited to announce the pilot of a new event, the ABP MSc Grad Dissertation Symposium, providing an opportunity to showcase recent grads, representing emerging talent in our field. You can find out more about this pilot below.

What is the MSc Grad Dissertation Symposium?

• An opportunity to showcase the great research undertaken by students who have recently completed their MSc Dissertations in Business/Organisational/Occupational or Work Psychology
• The Symposium will cover a specific workplace topic (e.g. leadership, decision-making, health and well-being, job satisfaction – to name but some!).
• Four grads, who have recently completed their dissertation in the chosen topic AND received their final dissertation mark, will be invited to present their work at an online Symposium.
• Attendance at the Grad Symposium is open to ABP members and non-members (free).

How Does the MSc Grad Dissertation Symposium Work?

• At the Symposium, each Grad will present their dissertation findings. The presentation will be short – no more than 10 minutes, requiring Grads to be able to synthesise their work succinctly.
• Following the four presentations there will be a facilitated discussion amongst the Grads and the attendees on the Symposium theme and the research presented.
• The discussion will last for 30 minutes, so the whole event will run for around 75 minutes.

Sounds Amazing! I am an MSc Grad – how do I apply?

Interested? Here’s what you need to know.

For the first MSc Grad Dissertation Symposium, the research topic will be “The Rise and Rise of Hybrid Work” –  a super ‘hot button’ topic in the world of work.

• You must have completed your dissertation on this subject and received your dissertation mark in the last two years, so for the purposes of this pilot, after September 2022. (This is to ensure that the research is right up to date and highly relevant to organisations and ABP members/attendees).
• You must have achieved a Distinction or Merit for your dissertation to be eligible to apply and you must be able to evidence this.
• You should provide a maximum 150-word abstract of your dissertation by e-mail to Dr Dawn H. Nicholson, ABP Vice Chair and Head of University Accreditation along with evidence of your dissertation mark (dawn.nicholson@theabp.org.uk). Applicants should indicate the Abstract word count in their submission and which University you graduated your MSc from. (This will be checked). Abstracts over this length will not be reviewed and immediately disregarded. It should be immediately clear from the Abstract how your work fits with the Symposium topic.
• In the first instance, priority will be given to those who graduated from an ABP accredited MSc programme, although this opportunity is open to all recent MSc grads who meet the criteria.
• The ABP reserves the right to reject any applications not fitting these criteria and will close this opportunity after the first 50 abstracts have been received.
• The deadline for submitting abstracts is September 30, 2024. Selection decisions are final and no feedback will be given or communication entered into. Only those successful will be contacted. (We need to keep the application and selections process simple and streamlined).
• The pilot MSc Grad Dissertation Symposium will take place – online – on November 22, 2024, 12.30-13.45 with the potential for future events to be decided after reviewing the success of the pilot.

Still interested? Then fill out the application form below!

Please complete by September 30, 2024 and e-mail, together with the required supporting evidentiary documentation, if you prefer to send your supporting evidentiary documentation on email, please send this to dawn.nicholson@theabp.org.uk