The Graduate School

GSA Meeting 11/11Dr Caroline Hargreaves

Business, Engineering & Physical Sciences [BEPS]andHumanities, Life Sciences and Medicine [HLSM]

~6500 students

Head of Postgraduate DevelopmentElaine Walsh

Senior Teaching Fellow

Dr Paul Seldon

Transferable Skills Assistant Administrator

Kelly Hayes

Transferable Skills & Events

CoordinatorGeorge Yeorghaki

Postgraduate Quality Assurance

Administrator

Manager Communications and Quality Assurance

Sophie White

Manager Professional DevelopmentSally Baker

DirectorProfessor Andrew

George

Senior Teaching FellowDr Caroline Hargreaves

Learning Technologies

SpecialistBethan Ritchie

Pro Rector Education and Academic Affairs

Professor Julia Buckingham

Deputy Director Dr David McPhail

Chair Postgraduate Development Committee

Dr Bernadette Byrne

Research Assistant Education Sally Hancock

What We Do: roles and responsibilitiesQuality assurance and Representation

Transferable Skills Training

Academic Environment/Interdisciplinarity

Student Recruitment

Surveys and Staff – Student Committees

Departmental and course student-staff committees • Usually established by Directors of Postgraduate Studies and

Postgraduate Tutors for PhDs and by Course Directors for Masters students

• Aim to give students a voice and often help organise events

• Provide a space for students to put forward issues raised by the student community

The Graduate Schools run surveys for Masters and Doctoral students to help improve the PG community

e.g. Wellbeing http://workspace.imperial.ac.uk/graduateschools/public/WellBeingPhDStudents.pdf

Committee StructureQuality Assurance (QA) http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/graduateschool/qualityassurance/graduateschoolcommitteestructure

Management and Strategy Committee (MC) – oversees all activities of the Graduate School and deals with the development of postgraduate education and student experience

• Chair - Graduate School Director• Membership includes - Pro Rector Education & Academic Affairs, Dean of Students

and representatives from each of the Faculties, Business School and Humanities• Reports to Strategic Education Committee chaired by Julia Buckingham

3 Postgraduate Quality Committees (PQCs) –oversee the maintenance of standards and assures the QA of PG taught and research programmes

• Chair - Graduate School Director / Deputy Director• Membership includes - Pro Rector Education & Academic Affairs, Dean of Students

and representatives from each of the Faculties, Business School and Humanities• Report directly to Senate

Committee StructurePostgraduate Professional Development Committee (PPDC) – oversees training and transferable skills programmes for postgraduate research students

• Chair – Bernadette Byrne• Membership – includes DPSs and people with an active interest in education and

training • Reports to Management and Strategy Committee

Graduate School CDT Governance Committee• Chair - Graduate School Director• Membership – includes representatives from each CDT (Centre Doctoral Training)• Reports to Strategic Education Committee and relevant Research Councils and • funding bodies

Joint Research Degree Programme Committee• Chair - Graduate School Director / Deputy Director• Membership includes Pro Rector Education and academic leads of the degree • programmes• Reports to Strategic Education Committee

Transferable Skills Training

Roles and Responsibilities

National and IC requirement for a range of skills

Part of the overall support package to ensure doctoral students succeed.

A very wide selection of activities designed to take account of differing needs and interests.

Available to you throughout your PhD / MSc

The Transferable Skills Programme

PhD / Masters Reps: how to help

Student contact

Skills and support network

Student feedback

Student Contact

Contact for postgraduate students in every department/division/section/centre

Make yourself known at induction events

Introduce yourself to new students who miss those initial events (e.g. via e-mail from Postgraduate Administrator or Course Administrator).

Skills Networks

1. Introduce students to the Graduate School transferable skills programme

2. Gain feedback from students and so support the faculty reps and PPDC in enhancing the programme

3. Act as a link for skills information into your department/division/faculties, signpost

Student Feedback

Feedback to first years• variety of courses available – to suit all• course descriptions on web pages• gather overview from previous students• pass on information on courses most enjoyed

Feedback varies • pass on comments to Graduate School • positive / negative - we do take action

Departmental• Postgraduate / Course Administrator• Postgraduate Tutor• Director of Postgraduate Studies / Course Directorhttp://www3.imperial.ac.uk/registry/researchdegrees/supporthttps://workspace.imperial.ac.uk/college/public/pdfs/ISGMasters.pdf http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/registry/currentstudents/

researchstudents/contacts

Signposting Sources of Support

•College tutors •Counselling service•College chaplins•Imperial college health centre•English language support

•International Office•Student advice•Disability advice•Occupational health•e.t.c…..

Non-departmental

Academic Environment/Interdisciplinarity

Roles and Responsibilities

Academic Environment / Interdisciplinarity

Welcome session for all new students

Guest Lectures

Summer Research Symposium - posters, prizes and guest speaker

Annual event for Postgraduate students

Interdisciplinary workshops

Your recommendations welcome

Brings you and your studies into key position in the university (top management)

Mentors, supervisor training

Monitoring of progression

Better projects; better supervision; better progress

Transferable skills to enhance employability

Enhances interdisciplinarity

Benefits both you and the university

Benefits of a Graduate School

http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/graduateschool graduate.school@imperial.ac.uk

caroline.hargreaves@imperial.ac.uk

The Graduate School

Times Higher AwardsOutstanding Support for Early Careers Researchers

Thank you!