University of Copenhagen
case study
About The Workshop
The University of Copenhagen’s Faculty of Law organized a specialized workshop for economics and law PhD students. The aim was clear: equip students with the skills to effectively communicate their research to a broader audience, including ministers and public procurement specialists. Recognizing the importance of communication for career growth, the Faculty of Law wanted to provided tools for students to strategically showcase their work, better positioning them for innovative opportunities.
The workshop had two primary goals:
- Provide tools and guidance for students to craft engaging blog posts, newspaper articles, or social media comments that effectively present their research or knowledge, tailored to the intended audience.
- Empower PhD students to make informed decisions about how, where, and why to share their work.Â
Industry
Education
Duration
2 Hours
Areas of Focus
Marketing and Communications Implementation
The workshop was successful in demystifying academic writing and making it relatable. I left armed with new tools and insights to make my writing not just accessible, but more impactful.
 – PhD Workshop Participant
Solution
— The Challenge
Challenge &Â Solution
The challenge was to design a 2-hour interactive workshop that not only imparted valuable marketing insights but also connected directly with the specific content of the students’ research. The aim was to help students realize the potential of their research to drive societal change when communicated effectively to non-academic audiences. The workshop needed to overcome the students’ hesitations about sharing their work and instill a sense of humility and curiosity in their approach to their expertise.
Quill Shift responded with a meticulously structured workshop that directly addressed these challenges. The session kicked off with communication coaching, where the students were encouraged to embrace humility and see themselves as inquisitive subject matter experts, ready to engage in meaningful dialogue about their research topics.
This coaching set the stage for the introduction of practical tools, such as introducing the ’15-year-old test’ to ensure comprehensibility, blog post templates to overcome writing paralysis, and compelling subject line best practices, designed to transform dense academic writing into captivating content for the public.
To bolster the students’ confidence, the workshop included a professional biography editing segment. All attendees had submitted materials in advance, which were then refined and tailored, providing them with dual-version biographies to support their evolving professional journeys and highlight why they are equipped to share their work with a broader audience.
To engage the students actively and secure their investment in the process, the workshop incorporated interactive exercises. These activities challenged the students to deconstruct their research and strategically tailor their content for various target audiences, applying the tools and techniques introduced during the session. This hands-on approach ensured that the students left the workshop not only with theoretical knowledge but with practical experience in adapting their research for broader impact.
