1. Postgraduate Support and Representation Training
NPC Conference 2005
Dries Neirynck, NPC Project Officer

2. Aim
To help participants identify and discuss the issue of postgraduate representation and, by doing so, develop effective strategies for providing the right representation and services for a postgraduate community

3. Learning Objectives By the end of this session, you will be able to
List key characteristics of the postgraduate student body;
Describe different methods of providing representation and support to postgraduates
Describe how the National Postgraduate Committee can help

4. Postgraduate Student Body
Taught Masters
Masters by Research
Doctoral students
Part-time postgraduates
Distance learning
Vocational courses such as PGCEs …

5. Idea Storm
What are the key differences between postgraduates and undergraduates with regards to the provision of representation and support?
Possible/desired answers:
Nature of their studies, semi-staff status, funding and fees issues, more likely to be international, mature, distant or part-time, more isolated, different social needs, don’t feel part of the Union.

6. PG Issues for Representation
In little groups, discuss the statement and how you would deal with the case scenario you have been given.
Statements:
Postgraduates have greater workloads and are less willing to get involved in activities, clubs and societies.
Postgraduates aren’t as interested in student issues as undergraduates, in terms of getting actively involved in making representation to the University
Postgraduates are much more sober and sensible. They have left their wild, party-animal undergraduate lifestyles behind.
Postgraduates aren’t as involved politically as undergraduates. As they are more engaged in their studies, there is less need for national representation.
Case studies:
A Masters student doing dissertation feels lonely and stressed and decides to drop out.
A research student is being pressurised to undertake more teaching.
A taught postgraduate complains about the low quality of the course and demands money back.
A supervisor is not giving enough support and gives inappropriate advice.

7. PG Involvement Statements
Postgraduates have greater workloads and are less willing to get involved in activities, clubs and societies.
Postgraduates aren’t as interested in student issues as undergraduates, in terms of getting actively involved in making representation to the University.
Possible/desired answers:
Acknowledge increased workloads and time pressure, reservation to join UG dominated groups but need to socialise, UG timetable of most clubs and societies
Again, acknowledge increased pressure on pgs, but also need for PG representation, Union is perceived as UG, more individual needs and problems

8. PG Involvement Statements
Postgraduates are much more sober and sensible. They have left their wild, party-animal undergraduate lifestyles behind.
Postgraduates aren’t as involved politically as undergraduates. As they are more engaged in their studies, there is less need for national representation.
Possible/desired answers:
Subtle differences with Ugs, depending on the individual from experienced alcoholic to occasional party animal and kids restrained mature students.
Time pressure makes them more likely to be turned off by Union politics but UGs might have conflicting needs or a limited knowledge of PG needs, so need for PG rep

9. Idea Storm Conclusion Postgraduates needs support and representation.
They have a very different relation with their representative bodies
There is a need for representative bodies to reach out and include postgraduates

10. Including Postgraduates
Respect their time constraints: give them all the practical support you can
If they don’t look interested: find out what their interests and needs are find the right way to address them
Try to find an open platform where everyone can express their view

11. Postgraduate Support Structures
How does your institution cater for postgraduates in the following areas:
Representation
Welfare Issues
Social and Activities
Communication with Postgraduates
In small groups, let them compare with each other.
PG only institutions should form a separate group.

12. Models for representation
Postgraduate Officer or Sabbatical
Postgraduate Committee (staff support)
Postgraduate Society, Association
Autonomous Postgraduate Body
Course Representatives
Departmental, faculty levels

13. Representation Ensure PG Input in Union and University Meetings:
Traditionally PG Officers, Representatives
Input of postgraduates that are unable to attend meetings
Representatives might not be the best way to provide representation

14. Representation
Provide training to your representatives so that they know
how the system works
what their role in it is
Be aware of postgraduate specific issues
E.g. procedures for research degrees

15. Welfare Issues
New environment and work pressure leading to feelings of isolation
Language and cultural difficulties for international students
Particular needs of distant, mature and part-time students

16. Social and Activities Create a postgraduate community :
Establish a Postgraduate Society/Association
Make use of Graduate Schools
Organising postgraduate specific events
Include postgraduates in existing clubs and societies
Make society officers aware of postgraduate needs
Provide social activities outside undergraduate term time

17. Communication Dedicated web-site Mailing lists Postgraduate Newsletter
Postgraduate Forums (on-line, real meetings)
Use existing structures: e.g. Graduate Schools, course representatives

18. Idea Storm
What does the National Postgraduate Committee do, and what could it do, for its members?
Possible/desired responses:
Advice, representation, training, networking opportunities, national voice, resource folder

19. Help from NPC Resource folder: www.npc.org.uk/essentials
Guidelines, codes of practice, policy responses, etc.
Advice and support from the General Secretary:

20. Review Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, you will be able to
List the key characteristics of the postgraduate student body;
Describe different methods of providing representation and support to postgraduates
Describe how the National Postgraduate Committee can help

21. Questions? Thanks to: Dave Jarman, University of Bristol Union
Tim Brown, Harpreet Singh
NPC Management Sub-Committee