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BPSN Inkpath: Frequently Asked Questions


BPSN Inkpath crop

Use Inkpath to register for the Bloomsbury Postgraduate Skills Network (BPSN) training and development offering.  


About Inkpath

What is Inkpath?

Inkpath is a personal and professional development platform with two parts: a smartphone (mobile) app and a web-based management interface. It is available for free for all BPSN postgraduate researchers. Through Inkpath, you can track and plan your development, empowering you to think broadly about your future. 

Take ownership of your career  

All events provided through the BPSN are brought together in one place where you can search and filter to find opportunities for you. Inkpath shows you key information about each event and directs you to the relevant booking page – so you don’t have to search multiple websites to find the right course for you. You can also scan-in training and take quick notes on the go. You retain access to the platform and all this information as long as BPSN uses Inkpath for managing it’s training and development offering.

Is Inkpath connected to my Research Log? 

No. Your BPSN-Inkpath account is independent from your local training and development recording system and serves only to book to the BPSN-specific training and development offering. Please book a training event offered through BPSN by your home university following your home university’s local training booking and recording process to avoid duplication or missing out on recording training points.  

Please note: you need to mark your attendance as complete on any activity both in the BPSN-Inkpath system as well as following your local training and development recording system in order to accrue the training points for that activity. You can find out how to mark your attendance under the managing and recording your activities on the Inkpath section below. Please see Inkpath FAQ: 'How do I mark my attendance?'

Please email your local Learning and Development Team if you are experiencing issues. Contact details for the individual partners are provided in the Who do I contact for course-specific questions provided by a BPSN partner? 

How long will I have access to Inkpath? 

Access to Inkpath is controlled by UCL under our annual subscription to Inkpath. You have access to Inkpath as long as you are at UCL or until UCL discontinues its subscription with Inkpath, whichever comes first. Should you move to an institution that is an Inkpath subscriber, your training record could be transferred upon request to Inkpath.

Enrolling using Inkpath

How can I access Inkpath? 

You can download Inkpath on your smartphone, or, if you prefer, you can access it using any web browser on your device. It's easy, just download it from your app store, or go to the Inkpath Web App.

How do I set up my BPSN-Inkpath account if I am a researcher within BPSN?

To access Inkpath for the first time, you will need to: 

  • Access Inkpath using the mobile app (from the app store) or on the web (https://bpsn.inkpath.co.uk/#/LoginPage).  
  • Click the ‘Sign up’ tab. 
  • Enter your university email address (not a personal one; members from UCL should use the same email address as they are already registered in Inkpath with). 
  • Make sure you read the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use before accepting it. 
  • Enter your name. 
  • To complete the process, click the button ‘Sign-up’, which will trigger an email with a link to set a password that can be used to log in with.

When you log in for the first time, you will need to fill in some basic information about yourself:

  • On the setup page, tell us about your programme, your home university and when you started your Doctoral studies. 
  • Press ‘Save’. 
  • You will then be taken through a short information session explaining what BPSN is, what the BPSN-Inkpath portal is all about and how to work with it in the context of your home university.  
  • Next you will be taken to the ‘My Activities’ section. 
  • You can find out more information on what the sections are about and how to navigate them under ‘Navigating Inkpath’ below. 

If you want to check or update your information, click on the three dots in the navigation bar, and follow to Settings option.

I am having problems logging in to Inkpath 

Please refer to the 'How do I set up my BPSN-Inkpath account if I am a researcher within BPSN?' in the FAQ and ensure you are signed up using your university email address (for UCL researchers this would be the alphanumerical@ucl.ac.uk email address).

If you are still experiencing issues, please contact your local Training and Development Team. If in doubt, please refer to the ‘Who do I contact for course-specific questions provided by a BPSN partner?’ section at the bottom of the page.

What are the main benefits of the app?

The Inkpath app allows you to: 

  • Browse and explore activities and training opportunities. 
  • Record the activities you have completed and export them for use in a CV or report.
  • Find goals to complete, based on developing specific skills or completing specific activities.
I don't have a smartphone. Can I use the Inkpath app on my desktop?

Yes, you can use Inkpath desktop user interface, which runs in a web browser and allows you to access all the features of the Inkpath smartphone app.

You can access the desktop user interface via the website: https://bpsn.inkpath.co.uk/#/LoginPage

As it runs in a browser window, it can be opened on just about any device, the desktop site works in just the same way as the smartphone app.

How do I book on an Activity?
  • Log on to Inkpath via the app or web browser. 
  • Go to home screen ‘My Activities.’ Click the button ‘Find activities.’
  • Click on the ‘Upcoming’ tab to see all upcoming live online or in person courses. 
  • You can use the ‘Filter and search activities’ search bar to filter e.g. by attendance type, dates, etc.
  • Scroll down to browse all the courses on offer.
  • Click on a course you would like to book on to.
  • The ‘Details’ tab will tell you more about the course including course description and objectives, provider, date and time, Researcher Development Framework categories (RDF skills), attendance type and organisation hosting the event and their contact details. Click the ‘Actions’ tab to book a place by selecting either:
    • Book Activity if the registration is managed by Inkpath.
    • Join waiting list if the course is full.
    • Go to ‘Booking Page’ if the booking is required on another system. You will be directed to an external webpage where you will need to complete your booking.
      • E.g. myUCL Careers: If you are a BPSN researcher wishing to reserve a place on UCL Careers courses, please email UCL Careers directly on: careers.researchers@ucl.ac.uk. You will be unable to sign up via myUCLCareers as this requires a UCL associated email address. 
How do I join an activity booked on Inkpath? 

You will receive an automated Inkpath email 3 days and 1 day before the course start date with the details of the course, including the online joining link or the in-person venue. You can check the joining details on Inkpath on the Activity.

For Online Activities:

  • Go to home screen ‘My Activities'.
  • Find the activity under the ‘Upcoming’ section.
  • Click on the Activity and the 'Click to Join' button which will open up a new window to the online activity platform. 

For in-person Activities:

  • Go to home screen ‘My Activities'.
  • Find the activity under the ‘Upcoming’ section.
  • Click on the ‘Details’ tab and scroll down to find the venue under the ‘date/time’ section.

If there is no joining link or venue on Inkpath, please check your calendar / email for a calendar invite with the details. 

If you are still unable to find it, please contact the training provider. Contact details are provided within the Activity’s 'Details' tab under 'Organiser contact'. 

If you are unsure about the training provider, please contact the Inkpath administrator for your institution. 

Can I add an activity to my calendar? 

Mobile App: You can use the 'Add to my calendar' option to set a reminder in your device calendar.

Desktop: You can save the "Event.ics" from your email into your calendar.

  • Open your booking email. 
  • Click on the ‘Event.ics’ attachment and select ‘Open’. 
  • You should receive a message prompting you to ‘Add this Internet Calendar to Outlook?’. 
  • Select ‘Yes’. 
  • Then click ‘Accept’ to save the event in your calendar. 

 

I am on the waiting list, how do I know if a space becomes available? 

If you are on the waiting list, you will be automatically enrolled on to the course once a space becomes available.  You will receive an email letting you know you’ve been placed on the course.  

How do I cancel an Activity?

If you have booked the Activity on Inkpath directly (not through an external booking page) please follow these steps: 

  • Open up the phone app or navigate to https://bpsn.inkpath.co.uk/#/LoginPage in your browser
  • Click on the ‘My Activities’ tab (shown by the home icon on the navigation bar on the left-side of your screen). 
  • Find the activity under the ‘Upcoming’ section.
  • Click on the activity and select ‘Cancel Booking’.
  • Select your reason for cancellation from the given options and click the "Cancel Booking" button. 
If you have booked the Activity on an external booking page (when you click on the Activity, it has the button ‘Go to Booking Page’): 
  • Follow steps 1-3 above and then click on the Activity and select the button ‘Remove from my activities'.
  • Click on the ‘Go to Booking Page’ button which opens up a new window to the external booking page and cancel your Activity directly on this page.

If you are unable to do this, please contact the organiser. You can find their contact details within the ‘Details’ tab in the selected Activity. 

If you remove your booking later that the given cancellation date notice it will be automatically marked by the booking system as a non-attendance. 

If you are unwell or have other mitigating circumstances, please contact the Inkpath administrator for your institution to let them know the reason for late cancellation and they can help resolve the absence on your Inkpath profile. 

Please refer to UCL’s Cancellation Policy for more information on training cancellations. Policies will vary between institutions: please check your booking for more details. 

What happens if I miss an Activity without cancelling beforehand?

If you miss an Activity without cancelling beforehand, then this will be marked as a non-attendance. 

Please refer to UCL’s Cancellation Policy for more information on training cancellations.

When does booking for an activity close?

Booking for an activity will close 5 days prior to the start of the activity; therefore, we recommend you book your place as soon as you can. If an activity is fully booked and you are on the waiting list, you will be automatically enrolled onto the course once a space becomes available. 

 Navigating Inkpath

Key features on Inkpath

There are 3 areas of Inkpath which you can access on the navigation bar on the left-hand side of your screen when you log in. These are:  

  • My Activities
  • My Goals – we are currently not using this feature
  • My Skills – we are currently not using this feature
What are My Activities?

This is the landing page you will see when you first log in to Inkpath. You can access the ‘My Activities’ screen at any time, by clicking the home icon on the navigation bar, located on the left-side of your screen. On this page you can: 

  • Find and book on to training events (called ‘Activities’ in Inkpath) added by BPSN partners.  
  • Export activities into csv file. You may find it useful especially if you are about to write a report on your activities, update your CV, or just want to look at your training notes in one place.
  • Add your activity to your calendar (mobile app only).
  • Remove your activity from your profile if you no longer are interested.
  • Check the details of your activity (short description, time, date, location, external booking link/website and contact details). 
  • Make notes for your own record, which will be kept in your profile and exported together with the details of your activity.
  • Manually mark your activity as complete if you haven't scanned the QR code during the respective training session. 
What are the indicated skills based on? 

In the context of researcher training and development, the skills indicated on each Activity are based on Vitae’s Researcher Development Framework (RDF). The RDF has been created for researchers and by researchers, as a national framework to describe the characteristics of excellent researchers. It identifies four main areas (domains) of expertise, each further broken down into three subdomains. All events delivered by BPSN are mapped to the RDF.  

Managing and recording your activities on Inkpath

Why do I need to record my training? 

Recording your training will allow us to monitor attendance of the provided training events and evaluate their performance and relevance to postgraduate researchers. Furthermore, you can keep a detailed account of your training events to use for writing reports or CVs and as proof/backup information for adding the attended BPSN training to your local training recording system at your home institution to accrue the training points/credits for that activity where applicable. Verification of the accuracy of your record is conducted by your home institution.  

How do I mark my attendance?

At the end of a session, the session lead will display a QR code (for mobile app users) and a unique number code (for web users) on the screen.  

Please note: If a course is taking place across several session dates, your session lead will display the QR code at the end of the final session date. 

  • For mobile app users: Click ‘Record attendance’ and scan the QR code provided in the session with your phone to confirm your attendance. 
  • For web users: Click ‘Record attendance’ and enter the unique code provided in the session to confirm your attendance. 

This will automatically update Inkpath, confirming your course attendance by showing your Activity as ‘Completed’. 

I couldn't mark my attendance on a course. How can I do this afterwards? 

Please contact the Inkpath administrator for your institution explaining to them your situation and they will be able to mark your attendance. 

How can I find courses I have booked on to and courses I have completed?  

You can find your upcoming, past and completed activities on the ‘My Activities’ screen under the ‘Upcoming,’ ‘Past’ and ‘Completed’ columns. Once you find your activity, you will have more options available to you, like: 

  • Add your activity to your calendar (mobile app only).
  • Remove it from your profile if you are no longer are interested.
  • Check the details of your activity (short description, date, time, location, booking link/website). 
  • Make notes for your own record, which will be kept in your profile and exported together with the details of your activity.
  • Manually mark your activity as complete (if you haven't scanned the QR code). 
What is the difference between past and completed activities? 

Past Activities are activities you booked but you didn’t mark your attendance on.  

Completed Activities are activities you booked and marked your attendance on.  

Why aren’t my activities and training points on Inkpath pulling through to my Research log? 

The BPSN-Inkpath portal is distinct from your home institution training and development booking and recording system. Even though we ask you to mark your attendance on each Activity you book on to in Inkpath and attended, you will need to add the BPSN training event to your home institution’s training and development recording system to accrue the credits due.  

For instructions on marking your attendance of Activities in Inkpath, please go to How do I mark my attendance? 

Please contact the Inkpath administrator for your institution if you are still experiencing issues.  

Who do I contact for course-specific questions provided by a BPSN partner? 

Institutional Logos from each BPSN partner