PhD student Joanna shares her life-changing journey pursuing her dream career from undergraduate to research studies at RGU.

A bit about me

My name is Joanna Santos-Petiot, French-Portuguese by heritage but as Scottish as they come, as I was born and raised in the North East of Scotland. I am a qualified Social Worker and currently a PhD Student and Research Assistant at RGU.

I was always fascinated by the complexities of human behaviour and human relationships, which is what drew me to a career in social work. To begin, I studied my BA (Hons) Social Work at RGU, graduating in 2019. I then practiced as a Social Worker in the North East of Scotland for three and a half years, before beginning my role as a Research Assistant and PhD student at RGU in 2022.

What inspired me to study for a PhD in Social Work

I have always had a very curious and analytical mind and love to engage in challenging and thought-provoking conversations. I had a really positive experience of my undergraduate degree at RGU and always knew I would come back and pursue further study after gaining some practice experience, as the degree truly sparked my passion for social work and for academia. That’s why I was absolutely delighted to come back to RGU as a PGR student as well as a staff member.

While I had an inkling that I would be back for further study, the idea for my PhD research didn’t develop until my first social work post as a Throughcare/Aftercare Social Worker, where I worked with care experienced young people, supporting them in their transition from the care system to independent living for the first time.

I realised in my role that this work was far more complex and emotionally challenging than I initially expected, and I felt there were not enough conversations happening around this very niche area of social work practice. Therefore, I wanted to be the person to spark this conversation. I wanted to bring something meaningful to my profession which could hopefully contribute to positive change for both social workers working in exceedingly challenging circumstances, and care experienced young people who deserve the best possible support.

And now, here I am in the final stages of my PhD research, which looks at social workers experiences of relationship-based practice with care experienced young people in Scotland.

The highlight of my PhD

There are so many highlights of my PhD so far, it’s hard to pick just one! I would say the incredible level of insight and the stories that were shared with me by my participants has been a major highlight. I have been able to delve so deeply into topics and conversations that have fundamentally shifted the way I think and perceive the world.

For me, there is no price you can put on knowledge, and I feel incredibly grateful and privileged that my research participants trusted me with their stories and that I am in a position to critically analyse these experiences and be a voice in advocating for change.

Another great highlight for me has been the international connections I have made during the course of my PhD, which again, have contributed massively to broadening my thinking, developing my academic voice and giving me access to perspectives far beyond just the Scottish one. I have been lucky enough to build professional connections and friendships with social work PhD students and colleagues from Brazil, taking part in panel discussions that explore international perspectives of social work and inclusion.

Thanks to all these opportunities for shared learning, knowledge and new connections, I have learned so much about myself throughout this process and have been able to massively increase my confidence in myself as a social work academic.

Being a Social Work Postgraduate Research Student at RGU

Personally, I love being a social work PGR at RGU. The student and staff team at the School of Law and Social Sciences (SLSS), as well as the Graduate School are fantastic and hugely supportive and encouraging. There is such a range of expertise and knowledge that is so useful to be able to draw on as an early career researcher. Social work is my passion, and I feel RGU is a great place to have been able to realise this passion due to being surrounded by other like-minded and vibrant academics.

Of course, studying a PhD is extremely challenging and requires massive amounts of resilience, organisation and time management skills as well as dedication and perseverance. Although I am relieved to soon be coming to the end of what has been an incredibly challenging, enlightening and life-changing PhD journey, I know for a fact I will miss my PhD and being a PGR when it is finished!

Joanna Santos-Petiot

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RGU student Owen shares why he changed his initial course to join the BA (Hons) Business with Data Analytics and his experience on his year-long placement.

A bit about me

I am currently a third year Business with Data Analytics student studying at Robert Gordon University. I have recently finished my placement at SLB under the title Compliance Supply Chain Intern.

Why Data Analytics?

When I first began university, I enrolled into the Business with Marketing course. However, after completion of my first year, I found that the marketing side was not my greatest interest. Upon doing more in-depth research into Business roles, I became particularly fascinated in analytical roles like Data and Business Analysts, and decided to switch my course in second year to Business with Data Analytics as I believed it was better suited to those job roles in terms of learning and experience.

So far in the course I have gained relevant experience in programmes such as Python and Tableau which are both key programmes in data sorting and presenting. Alongside this, I have learned a lot about different types of data and how they can be used differently.

My experience on placement

I began my placement at the end of May 2024 and was scheduled to finish exactly a year on, however my contract was extended for one month. Throughout the placement, I have gained a large amount of experience into supply chain, logistics, finance and data sorting and have been taking on large amounts of workload.

I would highly recommend attempting to get a placement in third year as, no matter the role, you gain valuable experience in almost all fields of business that can be taken after graduation. People and professional skills are also improved on highly, which will help in later life.

My post-graduation plans

Once I graduate from RGU, I plan to apply to internship jobs that fall under business or data analytics roles as, although my current internship has given me relevant experience in the field, having a year’s experience fully dedicated to it I believe will be very beneficial for my learning and will confirm this is the corporate route I would like to go down.

Owen Cheyne

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Occupational Therapy student Grace shares her journey moving from Ireland to Aberdeen and her experience studying at RGU including how the course and placement have helped her grow personally and professionally.

The start of the journey

My name is Grace, and I am an Occupational Therapy student at Robert Gordon University. It’s surreal to think that when I return to Aberdeen after the summer holidays, I will be beginning my final year. Time really has flown.

At this point of my studies, it is also surreal to reflect on how things have changed since I first arrived in Scotland, apprehensive about the transition from school to university life, moving away from home, and the associated challenges. I had no idea what to expect. I had never seen the University nor had I visited Aberdeen before I made the decision to pack up my things and move away from home.

Of course, I have recognised huge changes in my academic and professional competencies since beginning my course, but the nature of undertaking my course abroad has afforded me with numerous life experiences and opportunities for personal growth that I feel I would otherwise not have received had I not made the decision to study at RGU.

Making friends as a new RGU student

Prior to my arrival and in the first few weeks of my studies at RGU, my biggest worry was definitely around meeting new people. I had a solid group of friends at home and I worried that I wouldn’t find the same quality of friends while at university. Freshers’ week helped hugely in building a social circle. Various events are organised by students and staff during this week, to support students in their transition into university life. An example of such events is the Freshers’ Fair, where students can sign up for clubs and societies. Joining the GAA team in my first year provided a great sense of community, which really helped to ease the anxiety I felt around moving country alone.

Fast forward three years, and I am living with five girls I met during Freshers’ Week, with whom I have so much in common- from personal interests to sense of humour. Three of them are also Irish, which has offered a sense of comradery when it comes to organising the most feasible times to squeeze in a weekend at home, sorting out UK guarantor forms for rent, or planning for the process of eventually moving back home after university.

Making the most of the course

I feel my confidence has progressed hugely in the past three years following my move away from home. This is likely somewhat attributed to the process of meeting and getting to know so many new people, but also, to the way in which university life and the structure of my course have supported my growth. The care the university staff put into course structure based on student feedback, in my experience, has been the best thing about studying at RGU. Module evaluations and reviews afford us the opportunity to offer feedback on what we have found beneficial to our learning and growth, which is always taken into consideration as far as is reasonably possible.

Discussion with my peers has highlighted the emphasis placed on groupwork and peer review as modes of learning in our course as having been instrumental to the development of our confidence as future healthcare professionals. Presentations and groupwork activities have allowed me to exhibit huge improvements in my ability to articulate my points of view and to deliver these points to a group with confidence.

Exploring Scotland on placement

The practical elements of my course have also been instrumental to my growth thus far in my studies. My experiences while on placement have hugely supported my development, both personally and professionally. Not only have they allowed me to explore different areas within Occupational Therapy, but also different geographical areas within Scotland.

My second-year placement in January of 2024 was a major highlight! I spent eight weeks on the Isle of Lewis, working as part of the Adaptions & Rehabilitation Team at ‘Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’ in Stornoway. During this time, I was mostly practicing in the community setting as part of this placement, which allowed me to explore the islands of Lewis and Harris.

I was fortunate enough to have been assigned this placement with one of my close friends on the course, and to have made friends with medical students also undertaking their placements on the island. This added an enhanced social aspect to the placement experience as a whole. We felt very lucky to have been assigned this placement, given the opportunities it presented us with to explore the more remote areas of Scotland, and to meet and learn from people we may otherwise have never crossed paths with.

Due to my placement experiences, I now have an enhanced knowledge of the Scottish health system in the context of Occupational Therapy, and of the culture that will shape how healthcare services are delivered to the population.

Final thoughts

Due to opportunities such as the aforementioned and the everyday experiences of living and studying abroad, I feel I have had a very positive introduction to adult life. I expect that as I progress into my final year, I will continue to develop my skills and confidence to the level required to excel personally and professionally post-graduation, of course all while savouring the joys of student life in Aberdeen for one last year!

Here are more photographs that are reminiscent of such joys I have experienced over the past three years while exploring Scotland:

Grace Daly

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Mechanical and Electrical Engineering student Zaid moved from his home country to Aberdeen to start his academic journey at RGU and shares his tried and tested techniques to make friends when starting from scratch.

When I first arrived in Aberdeen, I thought making friends would be a pretty daunting task as it was a pretty big move going from an environment I was used to, to an entirely new one with even more responsibilities to juggle. However, the more time I spent here, the more I realised how truly easy it was to make new connections as a student at RGU. Here are a few opportunities to take advantage of:

Student Accommodation

When you first arrive in Aberdeen and get yourself situated in your accommodation, it’s best to get to know your surroundings. You may meet fellow students around and about and saying hello never hurts. After all, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, being open and willing to engage with other people will always yield fruitful results.

If the idea of being open with strangers is not appealing, those of you who are lucky enough to stay in an RGU’s student accommodation such as Woolmanhill will get the opportunity to interact with flatmates and may make friends for life. This was how most of my friends knew each other prior to me getting to know them.

Inductions

As an engineering student at RGU, I had a lengthy induction week full of fun activities aimed at introducing each module to us first years. Some of these activities, such as designing a model bridge out of popsicle sticks, required us to be in groups. This enabled a lot of us to communicate with each other and learn about our interests, its an easy way to make friends.

Even when there wasn’t a group activity involved, I felt comfortable around my classmates since I was surrounded by people who have a shared passion, which made it a lot easier to start up conversations. I asked people naturally what brought them to engineering and it may surprise you as it did me, most of us started the same way with our passions whether it be admiring cars and engines or even having a basic interest in maths. I formed connections that helped me through the semester during that induction week.

Students’ Union Societies

During Induction Week, I came to know of the large assortment of societies available for me to join, such as the RGU Motorsport Society, or even societies based on different home countries. The societies will inform you of events and dinners which are easy places to meet and socialise with everyone present. They are meant for you to make friends and long lasting connections.

Bus Journeys

As silly as this sounds, since I take the bus every morning from the Music Hall to RGU to get to my lectures, a lot of familiar faces and some not so familiar show up. With the bus often being full in the morning, I get to sit next to people that I sometimes recognise from the University and even from my course. It’s always a good way to talk about the work or assignments we have due. This also makes time begin to fly, and before I know it, the bus stops at RGU. It’s easy to communicate with someone to circumvent the boredom of sitting on the bus!

Lectures and Group Work

In my experience in quite a few of the lectures I had, the lecturers actively asked us to form groups to answer tough or intriguing questions. This led to a lot of engagement during the lectures that enabled me to get to know people within my module while getting work done and enhancing my learning experience.

This was not limited to lectures itself, especially in engineering. In my second semester, for one of my modules we had to form groups of three random individuals from the class to work for the next six weeks together to build a white line follower. Considering we were stuck together for the next six weeks and our grades would be affected by the work we did, we did well to get to know each other to maximise our potential.

At first it’ll be difficult to be put out of your element, as I was, but over time you will learn to overcome differences and understand people and form friendships from group work which makes it all the more fun!

University Events

RGU has a plethora of events available during the year such as Open Days and the yearly RGU Hack. My work as a Student Ambassador for RGU allowed me to meet fellow ambassadors during these days when we were assisting with the event. It was interesting since we were all from different backgrounds, but RGU being a melting point of diverse cultures allowed us to meet.

During the Open Days, it was easy to get to know people as a few of them came up to me to ask for assistance, which allowed me to know them better including their dreams and ambitions. Some of them wanted to enrol in Engineering, which I took great pride in sharing that I was doing the same course. This enabled me to make a few new friends coming next intake.

The yearly hackathon has groups of students competing over 48 hours to complete a challenge, staying overnight at the University and eating snacks while coding away. It was an awesome experience especially getting to know fellow teammates and teams.

While making friends may seem like a daunting and difficult task, the advice I would give to anyone wanting to make new friends at RGU or in Aberdeen is to just be yourself. The city is welcoming and even more so its people. Don’t be afraid to take a leap of faith and engage in conversation with a stranger. I can guarantee that you will make new friends like I did!

Zaid Raza

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