Acceptance-Focused Skills for Thriving in Responsible Research
Join us for a collaborative, in-person training series delivered by the QUSIT and QEPNT Hubs, bringing together researchers across disciplines to build practical skills for thriving in high-pressure research environments and engaging in responsible innovation.
Register: Day 1: Foundational Skills - Thursday 27th of June 2026
Register Day 2: Acceptance-focused “we” skills - Tuesday 7th of July 2026
The programme will be facilitated by Dr Ryan Armstrong (University of Barcelona), Professor Nuran Acur (University of Glasgow) and Dr Elem Miranda (University of Glasgow) , who bring extensive experience in delivering acceptance-focused training for researchers and professionals.
The skills that make someone an excellent scientist do not automatically translate into resilience, self-regulation, or the ability to bring the best out of colleagues.
This programme addresses that gap by developing three interconnected skill sets through interactive, high-value sessions: foundational individual performance skills (including mindfulness, emotion regulation, communication, and reflexivity); peer coaching skills that enable researchers to challenge and support each other while maintaining psychological safety; and responsible innovation capabilities, equipping participants to anticipate broader implications, consider risks, and align their work with ethical and societal considerations.
The training is aimed at researchers at all levels, including PhD students in years 2-4.
The programme runs as a three-part series, including two in-person workshops in Glasgow (each approximately 5 hours), short between-session practice, and brief online peer coaching check-ins, followed by a final online session focused on responsible innovation.
We encourage participants to attend the full series to gain maximum benefit. However, we recognise competing demands and participants are not required to attend every session if not possible.
Day 1 — Foundational skills
Thursday 27th June 2026, 9am - 3pm
Innovation Lab, University of Glasgow
The first day focuses on the individual skills that underpin performance and well-being in demanding research environments. Through a series of guided activities, paired exercises, and structured reflection, participants will develop practical tools for managing their attention, navigating difficult emotions, and communicating more effectively under pressure.
By the end of Day 1, participants will be able to:
- Apply mindfulness and non-judgement practices to manage attention and reduce reactivity in demanding situations
- Use dialectical thinking to navigate ambiguity and hold complexity without premature resolution
- Identify and regulate difficult emotions using evidence-based techniques
- Practise self-validation and validation of others to improve collaboration, learning, and well-being
- Have difficult conversations with colleagues or supervisors without damaging the relationship
- Handle setbacks and uncertainty without losing momentum or derailing your team
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09.00 |
Introduction & warm-up exercise An opening activity to orient participants and surface key themes for the day.
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09.45 |
Mindfulness & non-judgement Guided practice and worksheet activity, reviewed in pairs. Focus on present-moment awareness and observing thoughts without evaluation.
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10.45 |
Break |
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11.00 |
Dialectics Introduction to dialectical thinking — holding two seemingly opposing truths simultaneously. Worksheet activity to apply the framework to real situations.
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11.45 |
Emotion regulation Practical activity and worksheet exploring how to identify, understand, and work with difficult emotions in professional contexts.
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12.45 |
Lunch |
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13.30 |
Validation Self-validation and validation of others. Worksheet-based exercises to develop the capacity to acknowledge experience — your own and colleagues’ — without dismissing or over-inflating it.
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14.30 |
Reflection & close Group debrief, key takeaways, and introduction to self-paced practice between sessions.
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Day 2 - Acceptance-focused “we” skills
Tuesday 7th of July 2026, 9am - 3pm
Innovation Lab, University of Glasgow
The second day turns outward, developing the relational and coaching skills that enable researchers to collaborate effectively and bring the best out of each other, even under pressure. Starting from a shared reflection, participants will practise generative listening, structured feedback, and peer-coaching techniques. Throughout the day we will apply the skills to challenges you face in your research.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this day, participants will be able to:
- Practise generative listening to deepen understanding and support more productive collaboration
- Give feedback that people can hear and act on, rather than get defensive about
- Establish clear peer agreements and follow-up structures that sustain shared accountability
- Help colleagues develop their own solutions rather than defaulting to advice-giving
Agenda
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09.00 |
Introduction — research as a collective endeavour
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09.45 |
Generative listening Practice in listening that opens up new thinking rather than simply waiting to respond.
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10.45 |
Break |
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11.00 |
Contracting & follow-up How to establish clear agreements between peers — aligning goals, expectations, and accountability — and how to follow up in ways that sustain momentum.
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11.45 |
Contracting & follow-up How to establish clear agreements between peers — aligning goals, expectations, and accountability — and how to follow up in ways that sustain momentum.
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12.45 |
Lunch |
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13.30 |
Creating awareness Coaching-based techniques for helping colleagues develop insight into their own patterns, assumptions, and growth.
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14.30 |
Conclusions — practicalities of peer work Integrating the day’s skills into peer-coaching practice. Discussion of how to sustain these approaches beyond the programme.
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Places are limited to ensure a high-quality, interactive experience.
About the Facilitators
Ryan Armstrong
Ryan is Assistant Professor at the University of Barcelona, specialising in leadership, human development, and the soft skills that help professionals thrive in complex, fast-changing environments. His work sits at the intersection of philosophy, psychology, and management theory, with a practical focus on communication, collaboration, coaching, resilience, and emotion regulation — particularly in high-pressure, high-uncertainty contexts. He designs and delivers evidence-based training for researchers, innovators, and industry professionals across workshops, one-on-one coaching, and facilitation, and has collaborated with organisations including the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the Caixa Foundation, supporting leaders and teams in building agility, strengthening communication, and improving performance. His programmes combine academic rigour with practical tools to generate both immediate and lasting impact in the workplace.
Elem Miranda
Elem is a Lecturer in Innovation at the University of Glasgow. She holds a PhD in Management and MRes from the University of Glasgow, an MBA in Management (Organisational Behaviour and Leadership), and a BS in International Business Administration from Ohio Dominican University in Columbus, OH. Elem’s work seeks to enhance understanding of how digital start-ups scale and overcome challenges as they navigate the complexities of the digital marketplace. By examining the critical factors that influence success at each stage, her research contributes to shaping strategies for sustainable growth in the competitive and fast-paced digital landscape.
Nuran Acur
Nuran is a Professor of Innovation Management at the Adam Smith Business School. Before joining the University of Glasgow, she held academic positions at Strathclyde University (UK), Özyeğin University (Turkey), Aalborg University (Denmark), and Bilkent University (Turkey). She has also been a Visiting Scholar at the MIT Sloan School of Management (USA), London Business School (UK), and Trinity College Dublin (Ireland). Her award-winning, theory-driven, and policy- and practice-relevant research spans the fields of technology and digital innovation, open innovation, and innovation strategy. Nuran’s current research focuses on emerging innovation trends—such as artificial intelligence (AI), Quantum and 6G technologies—and their implications for organisations across different sectors including health, telecommunications, and the public and third sectors. Her work also examines responsible innovation, aiming to maximise societal benefit by developing ethical, productive, and well-regulated innovation approaches for science, technology, engineering, and business.