1. NUS and the postgraduate student experience Dr Debbie McVitty Research & policy officer (postgraduates)

2. NUS Postgraduate Campaign Work with students’ unions - Events & resources on engaging postgrads/PG education issues Work with the sector - HEA: PRES/PTES - Vitae: Innovate Research & policy work - PGR employment survey - PGT finance project

3. What do we hope to gain from surveying postgrads? If PRES/PTES are not ‘satisfaction’ surveys, what are they for? What are the challenges in accessing the postgraduate student voice/experience? How can PRES/PTES be used to enhance access? What are the limitations of PRES/PTES in accessing the postgraduate student experience?

4. ‘Identifying the problem’ PTES 2009 -Feedback – promptness and clarity -Preparation for higher study -Skills development PRES 2009 -Professional development and career -Intellectual climate

5. Understanding motivations/aspirations PTES 2009 Vast majority of PGT students undertake course for career-related reasons PRES 2009 Mix of interest in subject and research career aspirations

6. Representation NUS believes in the importance of the student voice For us, surveys like PRES/PTES are useful only insofar as they give us an evidence base to campaign for improvements to the student experience. They are not the whole student voice, but enable that voice to be heard more strongly. For surveys to be effective students should be engaged in every step of the process

7. Challenges The postgraduate voice is… …fragmented …individualistic …diverse …time-poor …and there is not a strong tradition of paying attention to it Survey results are not ‘transparent’

8. Engaging students in PRES/PTES 1.Survey design 2.Promoting the survey and boosting response rates 3.Building understanding of what surveys can/can’t demonstrate among students 4.Interpreting results – unpacking and elaborating 5.Follow-up action plan for enhancement