The 1994 Group: Enhancing the Postgraduate Student Experience Professor Kevin Edge: Pro Vice Chancellor (Research), University of Bath Professor Janice Kay: Deputy Vice Chancellor (Education), University of Exeter; Chair, 1994 Group Student Experience Policy Group

The 1994 Group: 19 research-intensive institutions University of Bath Birkbeck, University of London Durham University University of East Anglia University of Essex University of Exeter Goldsmiths, University of London Lancaster University University of Leicester Loughborough University Queen Mary, University of London University of Reading Royal Holloway, University of London University of St Andrews School of Oriental and African Studies University of Surrey University of Sussex University of Warwick University of York

‘At the heart of our mission is a commitment to establishing a productive balance between research and teaching excellence whilst providing a very high standard of student experience.’ The 1994 Group Mission

1994 Group PGR students (FTE) HESA data 2005/06 15,000 PGR students 800 per institution On average, 8% of total students are PGR (16% PGT; 76% UG) Members work collaboratively and share best practice to enhance postgraduate student experience

The 1994 Group: Postgraduate Student Experience Researcher Development: An Institutional and Regional Approach

The 1994 Group: Research-Led Mission Exeter as an example: Distinct postgraduate research community - over 1000 students, from c. 107 nations £34m investment in study & research facilities A dedicated & comprehensive training programme Centralised Graduate School & Postgraduate Centre Excellent feedback in national postgraduate surveys, e.g. i-Graduate, PRES Good completion rates (13 th / 14 th in sector)

The 1994 Group: Researcher Development PGR’s are essential to the research process Some PGR’s will be future academics All of them will be ambassadors For seriously-driven academic researchers PGR supervision has to be one of the most rewarding and challenging parts of the job Therefore, the “student experience” is key, as is PGR student engagement and involvement

The 1994 Group: PGR Skills Development Well supported at Exeter Effective Researcher Development Programme complements the supervision process Last 4 years = places taken (>300 courses) AUA award for excellence 2006

The 1994 Group: PGR Skills Development Contributes to good completion rates Is beneficial to future employability – within or outside academia Is well supported and evaluated by our students Is informed by student focus groups and ambassadors Provides a social PGR structure and network

The 1994 Group: Partnership Working Regional researcher development collaboration is key too Economies of scale plus sharing of practice and expertise Framework: Great Western Research (GWR) Regional GRADschool event: 2008? Regional E-Skills Development Project Regional contributions to each others programmes and evaluations of programmes Reciprocal informal arrangements for training accessibility

“Exeter impressed me greatly… …a good mixture of widening participation, institutional collaboration and research development. It celebrates three very diverse kinds of achievement.” Bernadette Porter CBE Times Higher Awards, 2007

The 1994 Group: Postgraduate Student Experience Great Western Research

The 1994 Group: Great Research, Great Researchers A £14M 5-year research encouragement and catalysis project Funded by HEFCE, SWRDA, South West Businesses and the 13 Regional HEIs Aims to achieve and sustain critical mass in excellent quality research, through: collaboration across HEIs with Business support and engagement training of new researchers

The 1994 Group: Great Research, Great Researchers 6 Themes: Information and Communications Technology Materials Applied Mathematics Sustainability Psychology Creative Arts

The 1994 Group: Great Research, Great Researchers Delivery mechanisms: Establishment of 130 PhD studentships, 50:50 funded by SWRDA and SW Businesses Establishment of 20 fully funded 3-year research fellowships (HEFCE-funded) Establishment of a SW Regional Postgraduate Research Training Network (HEFCE/HEI funded)

The 1994 Group: Postgraduate Student Experience Fellowships: Joint research programmes between two regional HEIs Commitment to permanent post funding by Lead HEI Fellows have a 10% time commitment to the GWR Training Network

The 1994 Group: Postgraduate Student Experience Training Network: Establishment of a regional postgraduate research training network, accessible to all HEIs in the South West, to deliver discipline specific training in the GWR Themes £ 1.12 million investment in new facilities for distributed postgraduate training delivery at Bath, Exeter and Bristol

The 1994 Group: Postgraduate Student Experience Training Facilities: Access Grid Technology New facilities at Bath & Exeter: Large seminar rooms (30-60 seats) plus second, smaller breakout rooms (6-12 seats) Two full theatre installations, one in a rehearsal space and one in a performance space Provision of Desktop systems to other HEIs to allow access to training sessions and autonomous use of Access grid

The 1994 Group: Postgraduate Student Experience GWR: Progress to date 124 Research Studentships approved involving 11 HEIs in the South West, with over 50 students already in post Research Fellowships awarded across five themes, involving 7 HEIs Construction of 3 core training facilities which involve a common Access Grid delivery platform completed at Bath, Bristol and Exeter Over £9 million invested through GWR in new research programmes and research training for the South West Over 100 businesses and organisations have engaged with South West regional HEIs in studentship projects

Student Experience Policy Report: Snapshot of the Student Experience in 2007 Complex student demographic Development of the HE marketplace Increasing demand for HE Changing student expectations/roles/relationships Competitive employment marketplace UK operating in an increasingly competitive global market PGR students are the engine of research productivity and economic success

Student Experience Policy Report: Challenges for the Sector, A requirement to provide transparent and accurate information around the student experience Towards the 2020 Workforce: Promoting the well- rounded (post)graduate Promoting the student voice Engagement with schools and colleges International strategy and internationalisation Student-focused resources Excellence and enhancement in learning, teaching and training

The 1994 Group