Training Programs

Currently, Summer, Winter and Special Workshop Programs offering courses in social research methods and research technology are conducted by ACSPRI to support its objectives. These programs are designed to cater for fundamental, changing and emerging research strategies, and to serve a wide variety of needs for training and professional development within the academic, public and private sectors. Courses cater not only for researchers in the social and political sciences, but also in areas such as behavioural, health and medical sciences, policy research, education, economics, epidemiology, law, management, marketing, public relations and human resource management. Each program is run during the host university's vacation period and/or the AVCC Common Week.

The Summer Program, first held in 1984, is currently conducted at the Australian National University in Canberra in January each year. In previous years, it has been held at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, and at Monash and La Trobe Universities in Melbourne. The Summer Program offers courses over a two-week period, ranging from a basic grounding in research methods to state-of-the-art techniques for experienced researchers.

The Winter Program, normally held late June/July, offers a single week of courses as a subset of the Summer Program. First held in 1994 at the University of Western Australia, Perth, it has also been held at the University of Adelaide in South Australia, and at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, where the Winter Program is currently held.

ACSPRI Programs have earned a high reputation for presenting a practical and applied approach to research methods and data analysis, promoting hands-on learning opportunities, and using highly skilled and experienced instructors from around Australia and overseas.