Supporting Representation Dries Neirynck Project Officer, National Postgraduate Committee University of Bristol Postgraduate Union

You can look forward to an interesting session Who are postgraduates? What are common problems? Why don’t postgraduates take part in representation? How can you provide postgraduate representation? How can we solve your problem?

There is no typical postgraduate Wide variety of courses Research, taught programmes Wide variety of students Variety of delivery mechanisms Part-time, distant, modular, … Wide variety of courses: Research degrees PhD, EngD (co-operation with industry) NewRoutePhD (transferable & professional skills) MRes Taught degrees MA, MSc Vocational courses: PGCE Conversion courses Wide variety of delivery mechanisms Full-time Part-time Distance students Modular courses Wide variety of students Mature First degree Often with previous work experience More international students (fees issues) Familiarity with institution More critical: older, experience from somewhere else, professional experience, paying more

To give you an idea of academic issues PGs have: Problems with supervisor Problems with course quality The supervisor from a mature research student is moving to an institution abroad A group of Master students didn’t get feedback from the first essay before the second was due Problems with UK academic culture Problems with facilities and provisions Look up the example issues from previous training sessions Research students: the relationship with the supervisor viva problems Semi-staff nature Taught students Course quality: contact hours, library UK Academic culture Taking responsibility for your own progress Value own initiative Plagiarism But also: new to representation structures! Facilities and provisions Access to desk and lab space for research students Accommodation Security when working late Provision outside term time Social provisions for postgraduates, mature students

To give you an idea of welfare issues PGs might have Issues with funding and finances New environment and increased work pressure leading to isolation Language and cultural barriers for international students Particular needs of part-time, mature, distant students Funding and Finances Research postgraduates being asked to teach New environment: Need for information! Increased work pressure PG courses: personal responsibility, academically more demanding taught students: knowledge to acquire in short time period, research: uncertainty+time pressure Isolation Research students: small group or on their own in library, arriving any time during the academic year Language and cultural barriers Part-time students Access to facilities Mature students Distant students Access to information

Institution and students’ union need to take a lead Lack of participation should not be confused with lack of interest in representation My waffle about the paradox: Clear need for representation Wide variety of students on a wide variety of courses with a variety of delivery mechanisms: wide variety of problems! In bad position to take part: new to institution, perhaps new to Union system, huge academic workload, financial investment that has to pay off Unions and institution don’t see pgs taking part and assume they are happy Taking a lead: Provide a platform for PG input Survey and feedback mechanisms Increase awareness of PG issues amongst staff and officers Continuity of the system Institution and students’ union need to take a lead

Representatives may not be the best way of representing “Widening representation” Reps are not the best way of representing Variety of students and problems: often on an (almost) individual level Input from people that can’t attend the meeting (related unrelated problems of efficiency of meetings) Widening representation beyond young, full-time, funded research students Enabling everyone to take part

The NPC is here to help With issues in your local institution By giving you a voice when problems surpass your local institution Local issues: Network for sharing of ideas and good practice Resource folder National issues: Issues that surpass the local level: Funding and finances, Input in national and international policy: Guidelines, codes of practice and policy responses (QAA)

Pointers to practical help: Resource folder: www.npc.org.uk/essentials Guidelines, codes of practice, policy responses, etc. Advice and support from the General Secretary: npc@npc.org.uk Mailing lists: www.npc.org.uk/jiscmail

What problems do you have? schorem aantrekken schorem ondersteunen klappenatie deelname in bestaande geestige dingen iedereen betrekken

Ensuring PG input Find an open platform where everyone can contribute Allow people that can’t attend meetings to have a say Ensure UG reps have an awareness of PG issues back

Increasing PG involvement in your students’ union Organise a PG specific induction programme Make officers and committee members aware of postgraduates needs Provide activities outside undergraduate term time Expand Union activities to PG territory back

Hints on recruitment of representatives Work via socials and welfare Involve people socially with committee members beforehand Consider elections at the beginning of the academic year back

Give your reps the necessary support provide training do the practical work allow and encourage job-sharing keep it relevant and efficient make small contributions easy back

Tips on communicating with postgraduates dedicated web-site mailing list newsletter forums (on-line, real life) use existing structures: grad schools, departmental staff, accommodation, course reps back

The Successful Postgraduate Social Scene David Bean, 2 p.m. The Successful Postgraduate Social Scene David Bean, NPC Project Officer Director of Student Development and Activities, University of St Andrews Students Association back