The Graduate School Business, Engineering & Physical Sciences [BEPS] and Humanities, Life Sciences and Medicine [HLSM] ~6500 students
Dr Caroline Hargreaves GSA Meeting 11/11
Pro Rector Education and Academic Affairs Professor Julia Buckingham Deputy Director Dr David McPhail
Director Professor Andrew George
Head of Postgraduate Development Elaine Walsh
Senior Teaching Fellow Dr Paul Seldon
Manager Professional Development Sally Baker
Senior Teaching Fellow Dr Caroline Hargreaves
Research Assistant Education Sally Hancock
Chair Postgraduate Development Committee Dr Bernadette Byrne
Manager Communications and Quality Assurance Sophie White
Learning Technologies Specialist Bethan Ritchie
Transferable Skills & Events Coordinator George Yeorghaki
Postgraduate Quality Assurance Administrator Transferable Skills Assistant Administrator Kelly Hayes
What We Do: roles and responsibilities Quality assurance and Representation Transferable Skills Training Academic Environment/Interdisciplinarity Student Recruitment
Surveys and Staff – Student Committees The Graduate Schools run surveys for Masters and Doctoral students to help improve the PG community
e.g. Wellbeing http://workspace.imperial.ac.uk/graduateschools/public/WellBeingPhDS Departmental and course student-staff committees • Usually established by Directors of Postgraduate Studies and Postgraduate Tutors for PhDs and by Course Directors for Masters students • Aim to give students a voice and often help organise events • Provide a space for students to put forward issues raised by the student community
Committee Structure Quality Assurance (QA) http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/graduateschool/qualityassurance/graduateschoolcommitt eestructure Management and Strategy Committee (MC) – oversees all activities of the Graduate School and deals with the development of postgraduate education and student experience • Chair - Graduate School Director • Membership includes - Pro Rector Education & Academic Affairs, Dean of Students and representatives from each of the Faculties, Business School and Humanities • Reports to Strategic Education Committee chaired by Julia Buckingham
3 Postgraduate Quality Committees (PQCs) –oversee the maintenance of standards and assures the QA of PG taught and research programmes • Chair - Graduate School Director / Deputy Director • Membership includes - Pro Rector Education & Academic Affairs, Dean of Students and representatives from each of the Faculties, Business School and Humanities • Report directly to Senate
Committee Structure Postgraduate Professional Development Committee (PPDC) – oversees training and transferable skills programmes for postgraduate research students • Chair – Bernadette Byrne • Membership – includes DPSs and people with an active interest in education and training • Reports to Management and Strategy Committee
Graduate School CDT Governance Committee • • • •
Chair - Graduate School Director Membership – includes representatives from each CDT (Centre Doctoral Training) Reports to Strategic Education Committee and relevant Research Councils and funding bodies
Joint Research Degree Programme Committee • Chair - Graduate School Director / Deputy Director • Membership includes Pro Rector Education and academic leads of the degree • programmes • Reports to Strategic Education Committee
Roles and Responsibilities
Transferable Skills Training
The Transferable Skills Programme
National and IC requirement for a range of skills Part of the overall support package to ensure doctoral students succeed. A very wide selection of activities designed to take account of differing needs and interests. Available to you throughout your PhD / MSc
PhD / Masters Reps: how to help
Student contact Skills and support network Student feedback
Student Contact Contact for postgraduate students in every department/division/section/centre Make yourself known at induction events Introduce yourself to new students who miss those initial events (e.g. via e-mail from Postgraduate Administrator or Course Administrator).
Skills Networks 1. Introduce students to the Graduate School transferable skills programme 2. Gain feedback from students and so support the faculty reps and PPDC in enhancing the programme 3. Act as a link for skills information into your department/division/faculties, signpost
Student Feedback Feedback to first years • • • •
variety of courses available – to suit all course descriptions on web pages gather overview from previous students pass on information on courses most enjoyed
Feedback varies • •
pass on comments to Graduate School positive / negative - we do take action
Signposting Sources of Support Departmental • Postgraduate / Course Administrator • Postgraduate Tutor • Director of Postgraduate Studies / Course Director http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/registry/researchdegrees/support https://workspace.imperial.ac.uk/college/public/pdfs/ISGMasters.pdf http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/registry/currentstudents/researchstudents /contacts
Non-departmental •College tutors •Counselling service •College chaplins •Imperial college health centre •English language support
•International Office •Student advice •Disability advice •Occupational health •e.t.c…..
Roles and Responsibilities
Academic Environment/Interdisciplinarity
Academic Environment / Interdisciplinarity Welcome session for all new students Guest Lectures Summer Research Symposium - posters, prizes and guest speaker Annual event for Postgraduate students Interdisciplinary workshops Your recommendations welcome
Benefits of a Graduate School Brings you and your studies into key position in the university (top management) Mentors, supervisor training Monitoring of progression Better projects; better supervision; better progress Transferable skills to enhance employability Enhances interdisciplinarity Benefits both you and the university
The Graduate School http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/graduateschool graduate.school@imperial.ac.uk caroline.hargreaves@imperial.ac.uk
Thank you!
Times Higher Awards Outstanding Support for Early Careers Researchers