Professional Skills Programme
2025-26 Key Dates Calendar
Course Title/Deliverable | Date and Time | Course Provider | Delivery Method |
Mental Health & Wellbeing (part of the Welcome Event) | Wednesday 10th September 2025, 3-4pm | Heriot-Watt | In person, Craig Room, James Watt Centre, Heriot-Watt |
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (Unconscious Bias) | Thursday 23rd October 2025, 2-4pm | Equate Scotland | Online |
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (Active Bystander) | Wednesday 29th October 2025, 2-4pm | Equate Scotland | Online |
Planning & Writing a Literature Review | Tuesday 17th February 2026, 2-5pm | Electv | Online |
Huddersfield Residential Week | Monday 13th-Friday 17th April 2026 | Huddersfield | In person at University of Huddersfield |
Annual Appraisal Submission | Friday 15th May 2026 | NA | Online form |
Deadline for Supervisor Annual Appraisal Comments | Friday 5th June 2026 | NA | NA |
| Makerspace briefing | Friday 19th June 2026 | CDT | Online |
Responsible Research & Innovation | Tuesday 23rd June 2026 | Orbit | In person at Heriot-Watt University University |
| CDT Conference | Wednesday 24th June 2026 | CDT | In person at Heriot-Watt University |
| Window for Independent Appraisal Meeting | Monday 8th June-Thursday 2nd July 2026 | NA | NA |
| Annual Appraisal Deadline | Friday 3rd July 2026 | NA | NA |
| ‘Makerspace’ workshop | Wednesday 1st July-Saturday 4th July 2026 | University of Cambridge | In person |
| Trusted Research | To be completed by end July 2026 at the latest | University of Strathclyde | Online |
| Literature Review | Friday 28th August 2026 (latest) | NA | By email to cdtphotonics@hw.ac.uk |
Course Title/Deliverable | Date and Time | Course Provider | Delivery Method |
September Quarterly Review | Tuesday 30th September 2025 | NA | Online form |
Delivering Successful Projects | Projects & project management / the project manager – Monday 6th October, 13:00-14:30 From strategy to project / human resourcing – structuring & managing project teams – Monday 13th October, 13:00-14:30 Risk management / time management – Monday 20th October, 13:00-14:30 Financial & cost management / quality & performance management – Monday 27th October, 13:00-14:30 Revision & assessment preparation – Monday 3rd November, 13:00-14:30 Final assessment – Tuesday 2nd December 2025 | HWU | Online |
December Quarterly Review | Wednesday 31st December 2025 | NA | Online form |
Financial Decision Making | Semester 2 Wednesday 25th February, 13:30-15:00 Wednesday 4th March, 13:30-15:00 Wednesday 11th March, 13:30-15:00 Wednesday 18th March, 13:30-15:00 Wednesday 25th March, 13:30-15:00 Final assessment – Monday 20th April 2026 | HWU | Online |
Trusted Research | By end February 2026 | University of Strathclyde | Online |
Digital Outreach | Monday 2nd March 2026, 10am-3pm | Glasgow Science Centre | Online |
Intellectual Property | Tuesday 10th March 2026, 10am-3pm | Abel & Imray | In person, GR1BR – Boardroom, GRID Building, Heriot-Watt University |
Conference Presentation Skills | Wednesday 11th March 2026, 9.30am-12.30pm, followed by lunch | Electv | In person, GR1BR – Boardroom, GRID Building, Heriot-Watt University |
March Quarterly Review | Tuesday 31st March 2026 | NA | Online form |
| Annual Appraisal Submission | Friday 15th May 2026 | NA | Online form |
| Deadline for Supervisor Annual Appraisal Comments | Friday 5th June 2026 | NA | NA |
| CDT Conference | Wednesday 24th June 2026 | CDT | In person at Heriot-Watt University |
| Window for Independent Appraisal Meeting | Monday 8th June-Thursday 2nd July 2026 | NA | NA |
| Annual Appraisal Deadline | Friday 3rd July 2026 | NA | NA |
| One day cross-CDT Event | Semester 2 – date to be confirmed | CDT | Heriot-Watt University |
Course Title/Deliverable | Date and Time | Course Provider | Delivery Method |
September Quarterly Review | Tuesday 30th September 2025 | NA | Online form |
Writing for Publication | Wednesday 8th October 2025, 9.30am-12.30pm, followed by lunch | Electv | In person at Heriot-Watt University |
December Quarterly Review | Wednesday 31st December 2025 | NA | Online form |
Inspire & Challenge Outreach Workshop | Friday 27th February 2026, 10am-4pm | Glasgow Science Centre | In person |
March Quarterly Review | Tuesday 31st March 2026 | NA | Online form |
Inspire & Challenge Outreach Delivery | Friday 10th April 2026, 10am-3pm | Glasgow Science Centre | In person |
Strategic Marketing | Semester 2 Tutorial sessions x8 in May/June 2026 Final assessment – TBC in August 2026 | HWU | Online |
Annual Appraisal Submission | Friday 15th May 2026 | NA | Online form |
Deadline for Supervisor Annual Appraisal Comments | Friday 5th June 2026 | NA | NA |
| CDT Conference | Wednesday 24th June 2026 | CDT | In person at Heriot-Watt University |
| Window for Independent Appraisal Meeting | Monday 8th June-Thursday 2nd July 2026 | NA | NA |
| Annual Appraisal Deadline | Friday 3rd July 2026 | NA | NA |
Course Title/Deliverable | Date and Time | Course Provider | Delivery Method |
September Quarterly Review | Tuesday 30th September 2025 | NA | Online form |
Attracting your Own Research Funding | Wednesday 8th October 2025, lunch at 12.30pm, course 1.30-4.30pm | Electv | In person at Heriot-Watt University |
December Quarterly Review | Wednesday 31st December 2025 | NA | Online form |
March Quarterly Review | Tuesday 31st March 2026 | NA | Online form |
Annual Appraisal Submission | Friday 15th May 2026 | NA | Online form |
| Deadline for Supervisor Annual Appraisal Comments | Friday 5th June 2026 | NA | NA |
| CDT Conference | Wednesday 24th June 2026 | CDT | In person at Heriot-Watt University |
| Window for Independent Appraisal Meeting | Monday 8th June-Thursday 2nd July 2026 | NA | NA |
| Annual Appraisal Deadline | Friday 3rd July 2026 | NA | NA |