Postgraduate Engagement Case Study University of Bristol Students Union Check who’s in the room – Officers? SU staff? People not from SUs? Any postgraduate officers in the room?

What they’ve learnt about postgraduates What they’ve done to improve their engagement with postgraduates What might work for you? Originally delivered at quality matters No discussion of policy – no chapter B9, more wholistic Disclaimer: we’re not experts (what’s worked and hasn’t worked), no magic bullets

What they have learnt? About postgraduates and about PG representation? Postgraduates Some issues the same, some different Distinct identity – identify with the profession, the course, as ‘postgraduates’ Identify with different parts of the University Looking for a community and distinct spaces Previous experience of HE – can complicate perceptions of SU and representation Time pressures Financial demands – part-time students, working etc.. Postgraduate Taught Transient – only here for a year Postgraduate Research Highly personalised experience Identify as professionals – a mix of staff and student issues Supervisor is main relationship Distinct experiences depending on faculty Read through in fairly inaccessible way! Undertook/commissioned post graduate qualitative research with PGR students using student researcher These are things we’ve learnt through our research with postgraduates (qualitative research project with PGR students using a student researcher) and trial and error

What they have done? And what has worked? Introduce a Postgraduate Education Officer Establish a ‘Postgraduate Network’ Trialling a postgraduate forum Series of postgraduate events Lobbied University for PGR ‘hub’ – study space Commission research into postgraduate research experience Running campaigns on PG specific issues – postgraduates who teach Following on from our research…

A Postgraduate Education Officer Laura feels this is the single most important thing we’ve done for postgraduates Called ‘Postgraduate Education Officer’ but in reality has become ‘Postgraduate Officer’ (complicated) Responds to distinct identity and creates a clear point of contact Ensures there is someone who is always thinking about postgraduates If don’t have resource, use of PTO or similar?

The Postgraduate Network - High engagement with postgrads (really successful) First and foremost a social network but trialing it as a representative body – considering pathways to engagement – people come for a social and end up feeding back on their student experience Takes some trial and error (our postgrads seem to like wine and cheese and film nights, others might like coffee shops etc.) Resourced – need a good number of events etc.. Completely distinct from the SU

Lobbying for a PGR ‘Hub’ Unsuccessful – wanted to put in an example of stuff that hasn’t worked (Officers are still working on it!) University’s rationale for saying no: then we’ll have to give everyone their own space University funded PG Network ‘to bring PGR and PGT together’ but PGR don’t necessarily want this – interesting that uni has agenda to integrate whilst PGR don’t want this.

Research: PGR mapping project Getting to know your students is really important, taught us stuff about postgrads, implementing new PGR system Inappropriateness of course rep system for PGR Call for pastoral support – lack of interest in being represented!

Postgraduate specific campaigns Talk about issues postgrads care about and try and do things for postgrads – leads to engagement Lead with issues!! Pick a campaign a year Campaigning on contracts for postgraduates who teach

Wine and cheese is not so bad – but it’s not enough in itself. Lessons Learnt From Bristol SU Wine and cheese is not so bad – but it’s not enough in itself. Make no assumptions Distinct identity (distinct spaces, language, points of contact, issues) It takes effort – there is no magic bullet

If you have further questions or want to know more Contact: Dani Glazzard – Representation Manager Laura Ho – Post Graduate Education Officer Telephone: 0117 331 8540 Email: dani.glazzard@bristol.ac.uk laura.ho@bristol.ac.uk