Getting involved

A few highlights on how you can enhance your CPD portfolio by getting involved in our work.

In this section

In This Section

There are plenty of ways that getting involved with the Society can advance your knowledge and add to your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) portfolio.

Below are just a few highlights: 

Annual Delegates Conference

The Annual Delegates’ Conference (ADC) takes place in April each year and lasts for two to three days. It’s a forum where members can raise subjects for debate that will influence the UK Council’s policy plans for the Society, and also debate and vote on topical issues affecting the profession and/or its members.

Each Regional Committee and National Council sends a delegation to ADC. Delegates are elected within the constituency. The equality network (Equalise) and the UK Council of the Society of Radiographers may also submit motions for debate. 

Student members are welcome to join the delegation. It’s important for the organisation that students become involved and influence decisions at all levels. Involvement in the organisation would also look good on your CV!

For more information, please see the ADC web pages

Attend conferences and events

Attendance at conferences and other events is a great way to learn more about the radiography profession. This will also enhance your CV, so that you stand out from the crowd when you attend interviews for jobs in the future and strengthen your application for a particular post.

When we resume face-to-face events students are very welcome to attend any of the conferences and events organised by the Society and College of Radiographers. Places for student registrants are subsidised and substantially cheaper than for other participants, with free exhibition entrance.

We also recommend you look for external radiography events to attend to further your knowledge and introduce you to new ideas. One very popular event is the UK Imaging & Oncology Congress (UKIO), which we host in partnership with the British Institute of Radiology and the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine. 

UKIO is usually a three-day multidisciplinary congress covering all aspects of diagnostic imaging and oncology, as well as radiology informatics and service delivery. It’s the leading and largest diagnostic imaging event in the UK, with over 3000 delegates and visitors, a comprehensive exhibition with the latest in current and emerging technologies, a huge variety of lectures and seminars from prestigious international speakers, CPD opportunities; including hands-on workshops, talks delivered by high-profile speakers and accredited education on the stands.

With a reduced entrance fee for students, and the opportunity to present short papers, UKIO is a great learning at networking opportunity. We also present the Forder Memorial Award for the best paper proffered by a student at the congress. The award is given in memory of a founder of the SoR and member of the first Council of the Society.

Due to the pandemic, UKIO was delivered online in 2020 for free and the resources are available here

In some universities, students organise their own study days, sharing their experiences and knowledge, and inviting guest speakers. These are usually open to students from neighbouring universities. These events offer you excellent networking opportunities within your region or country. Who knows where these opportunities may lead in the future? Check out what’s on in your region and register yourself for upcoming events.

Annual student conference

Each year we hold a Society of Radiographers Student Conference. The conference is arranged specifically for students and provides an opportunity for you to network with other students from across the UK and learn more about key areas of the profession. 

Attendance at this Student Conference is highly subsidised to make it as affordable as possible and encourage student member attendance. Our presenters are prominent members of the profession and students themselves. Look out for the opportunity to attend and find out more about other events on offer here.

Join special interest groups and networks

The Society supports, and is supported by, a large number of member groups and networks. These range from traditional clinical interest and occupational groups to our equality and diversity group.

Students are encouraged to get involved with any of our special interest groups and networks.

One of our popular networks is ‘Equalise’ which provides a support mechanism for members on equality and diversity issues and campaigns/lobbies on issues of concern for members. To become more proactive in the Society and promote equality in the workplace, why not join Equalise today?

Student of the Year Award

We are delighted to be able to offer the Student of the Year Award, which runs alongside the annual event for full members. The aim of the award is to honour an undergraduate therapeutic student and a diagnostic student who exemplify the best of the profession’s values, as well as highlighting the students’ accomplishments whilst in a formal educational setting. This includes excellent academic and clinical achievement, together with outstanding contribution as an individual to student life and/or the university.

The Student of the Year award varies from year to year depending upon sponsorship. Winners receive publicity in Synergy News and StudentTalk, as well as in the local, regional and national media. One of the highlights is attending the presentation of the awards in November each year.

Look on our website in spring time for nominations for the awards. A student may be nominated for the Student of the Year award by their course team, clinical placement staff, or peers. However, all nominations must be made through the student’s Higher Education Institution, with additional endorsement by their clinical placement. Watch out, you could be the next winner! 

Publish your assignments

During your radiography training, you will produce many great assignments and dissertations which are the end results of many hours of research and writing. Instead of just binning them when you receive your assignment and dissertation results, why not think about trying to get your best pieces of work published? We not only publish qualified members’ work, we are also interested in publishing students’ work and over the last few years there has been an increased number of publications from students. It’s an excellent way to make your CV stand out from others and to demonstrate your commitment to the profession.

If you have something you think you make be able to publish, but are not sure how to go about it, please contact the editor of Imaging and Therapy Practice (ITP) via [email protected] who will be happy to provide you with help and advice.

Connect and join the discussion on Social 

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Linkedin!

We share a lot of academic and clinical information across our social channels, including options for elective placements, topical discussions which may influence your training (e.g. student funding and employment opportunities). 

We also let you know about the latest news that has been posted on our website regarding the radiography profession, issues affecting students and government policy which will impact on the healthcare service. This is a great way to keep right up-to-date.

Search for @scormembers on your platform of choice, and you'll find us.