Recent Developments in Graduate Education Helen Baker, Liz Venn Graduate Education Team Research Office

VisionWhat does the GET currently do? Support the University’s strategic objectives for Graduate Education Support graduate education activity across the institution Develop and support policy, procedures, regulations Coordinate and support PGR funding activity Home of the Manchester Doctoral College Researcher development and training eProg

Project Plan What is eProg? University-wide online tool to record and monitor progression and skills training activity of PGR students Primarily student-driven, but enables transparency and interaction between students, academic staff and administrative staff Supports strategic objectives for PGR Improved reporting ability All new PGR students using eProg from September

My eProg – supervisor view Access student records groups of students Export data

eProg - Student Progression PERSONALISED progression record Each record has a deadline and a completion status When complete, status will update to ‘COMPLETED’ and completion date will appear Additional Meetings can be added Currently logged in as Test Student Mr Test Student

eProg – online forms Students / supervisors can view and complete information on forms and save at any time Form is then completed and submitted by the supervisory team or administrator Once a form has been submitted it becomes read-only Authorisation may be required on some forms

eProg – skills training On-line booking for University-wide skills training activity Personalised list of courses Accumulated hours tracks skills training activity

eProg – key future developments My examination – submission to examination My portfolio – research outputs Access to skills training for research staff Potential areas of expansion: Electronic PDRs for research staff Integration with alumni data PGT

Graduate Education - Policies PGR Code of Practice duate/code/ duate/code/ PGR regulations duate/ordinancesandregulations/ duate/ordinancesandregulations/ Developments / links with research Alternative format Joint awards Interdisciplinarity

VisionPhD Funding Some key changes: Faculty management of DTAs International student funding from DTAs Centre and partnership-based funding (e.g. ESRC DTC; BBSRC DTP) Partnerships with other universities The President’s Scholar Award

VisionEPSRC Doctoral Prize Piloted as PhD Plus in 2009/10 and 10/11 For the top 10% - 15% of PhD students Up to one year’s extra support following submission of PhD thesis Develop PhD work and new research Submit publications, attend conferences, skills training and career development Up to 10% of the EPSRC DTG can be used to support the Doctoral Prize

VisionWhat is a Centre for Doctoral Training? A new model of doctoral training: Four year PhD Taught components (circa 25%) Original doctoral research project Cohort-based doctoral training Interdisciplinarity

VisionIssues for the CDTs Breaking boundaries The PGT / PGR boundary Interdisciplinarity A new model of training Sharing good practice Creating shared policies Fitting University systems Sustainability - EPSRC mid-term review

VisionWhat is the Manchester Doctoral College? An umbrella organisation for CDTs Nuclear Fission, Research, Science & Technology Northwest Nanoscience Advanced Metallic Systems Computer Science Integrative Systems Biology Nuclear EngD Manufacturing EngD Sustainable Consumption Institute Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute ESRC DTC

VisionCurrent MDC Resources and Structures Resources Chair: Prof Nigel Vincent, Associate Vice-President for Graduate Education Administrative support: MDC Manager Branding, but currently no space or facilities costs Committees and Groups Manchester Doctoral College Management Committee CDT Administrators Group Sub-groups e.g. EPSRC Review Group

Challenges and Advantages Challenges Dual Accountability – Faculty and MDC? Creating a two-tier system? How can we make students relate to the MDC brand? Providing a growing service with limited resource Advantages Protecting interdisciplinarity Tailored support for CDTs Promoting the CDT model Streamlined and efficient

VisionWhat next: a new MDC The MDC will be the vehicle for all Graduate Education from August 2011 A new MDC Management Committee managing all Graduate Education, both CDTs and Faculties A restructured administration to support the new MDC Moving into a new MDC space: cross-CDT cohort- building Investigating a wider implementation of the CDT model in the University of Manchester

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