Postgraduate Research Students, University of Galway

National Student Survey

School of Political Science and Sociology

2022 Action Plan

 

 

Actions

The School, its executive and leadership, heads of discipline, and the director of postgraduate research studies (PGR ) recognize that the development of a research environment for PGR student is a continuous  challenge and task. We arecommitted to sustaining existing efforts to enhance and continue the development of innovative responses to the PGR community’s needs in a continuing context of scarce resourcesAt the same time, we also recognise at this point a significant opportunity, as universities across the worldre-open after COVID19 and we are looking forward to the support of the College and university in finding  “new and better pathways for the PGR community”. As a key element in our effort, we consider the School, the supervisors, the current, future, and past (alumni) generations of PGR students together as one PGR community.

Responsible

Head of School and School Executive, Head of Discipline(s), Director of PGR, TLC, Research Committee, Supervisors, Graduate Research Committees, Student Representative(s), PGR community

Status

*Not Started

*In Progress (continuous)

*Complete

Status change by November '22

1 

Research Infrastructure and Facilities

  1. The representative of the PGR students is provided a seat at the School Board meetings. This allows them to be informed about School business regarding infrastructure and facilities and to also bring to the attention of the School Board  any issues or concerns they wish to raise via their SB PGR rep

Head of School and School Executive, Head of Discipline(s), Teaching& Learning Research Committee, Student Representatives

1.1 Complete

2 

Supervision

2.1. PGR Processing

2.1.1 Our PGR director  is currently conducting a review of the process with the goal to  improve, standardize and implement  more efficient processesrelating to PGR recruitment from expression of interest through(successful) PhD candidacy and scholarship application to successful PhD completion

2.1.2. Consult with the PGR community on how to the improve the on-boarding experience for incoming PGRstudents

2.2. Keep under reviewinformation and communication flow between the School and the supervisor and the supervisor and the PGR students to ensure that all concerned and all affected are familiarized with and confident in adhering and implement the University and School Guidelines

2.3. Institute an annual meeting of PGR director and supervisors to review the Guidebook and address open questions

2.4. Institute regular meetingsof the PGR director and PGR reps including organization of communal events to facilitate ongoing dialog within the School PGR community

2.5. With our annual PGR week (see also below across several points), which has been run since 2015-16 , continue to ensure that supervision directly ties into the GRC process and allows a concentrated feedback on the supervisor-PGR relation

2.6. Ensure that PGR students and supervisors are both made aware of and encouraged to use any professional, career, and research development opportunities in the School, the College, and the University (such as the Research Development Centre), as well as external opportunities. The PGR director collects and disseminates  information on such opportunities and encourages the PGR community to participate

Director of PGR, School Executive, Supervisors, PGR community

Not Started 2.1.2, 2.3

In Progress (continuous)2.1.1, 2.2., 2.4, 2.5., 2,6.

Nov.2022, Update Notes:

2.1./ 2.2.  a new onboarding process form is planned and will be shared for review with the School Executive and School Board .

2.3. The PGR director plans to organize a Q&A session annually

2.4 Continuous, but two events were held, following meetings between PGR rep and PGR director

2.6. ongoing, career development workshops  were organized by PGR Director and  information disseminated to PGRs and supervisor

 

3 

Research Culture

3.1 Sustain existing School research seminar

3.2. Additional opportunities from within the University community (e.g. Ryan, Whitaker, Moore and ILAS institutes are relayed to PGR community on a constant basis through the PGR director and the heads of discipline

3.3. During the PGR Week, PGR students are given the opportunity to present to and discuss with the entire PGR community their research before the commencement of the GRC panels

3.4. The PGR week concludes with a Research and Career Development workshop

3.5.Encourage post-Covid “return to campus” of our PGR students in linewith the University’s evolving COVID19 policies

3.6. Institution of a monthly research colloquiumevening for research presentation  by PGR students and discussion and opportunity for informal socializing

Director of PGR and School Research Committee

Nov 2022, Update notes 3.6 was begun and feeds into 3.5 

In Progress (continuous)

3.1., 3.2, 3.3., 3.4, 3.5. 

4 

Progress and Assessment

4.1. The central event is the annual PGR week, wherein

4.1.1.PGR students congregate to publicly present their research to  the PGR community and beyond, meet with their GRC panel to discuss their research and study progress, as well as attend research career development workshops that will enable additional self-assessment

4.1.2. PGR students and supervisors are informed in advance (or reminded of) by the PGR director about the requirements, standards, and deadlines

4.1.3. The GRC panels uphold the standards for the dissertation and communicate with the PGR director

4.2. The PGR director communicates across the School year with the students and  supervisors on emerging developments in policy as well as on their questions and feedback regarding progress and assessment

4.3. The PGR director regularly attends the College’s board of PGR directors to stay abreast of ongoing developments

4.4. PGR students take advantage of opportunities, such as at CELT to obtain teaching certificates through teaching and pedagogical instruction. The School disseminates knowledge about these opportunities and supports students who wish to take them up

Director of PGR, GRC, supervisor, PGR students

In Progress (continuous) 4.1.,4.2., 4.3. 4.4.

Additional Nov.2022, Update Note:

4.1.1 has been established  with a regular event series, in which PGRs are provided with the opportunity to present their research (organized by PGR director) or discuss readings (organized by PGR rep and PGR director) 

  

5 

Research Skills

This intersects with 3.: Research Skills and Research Culture enhance our already lively and productive research culture in our PGR community

5.1. Regularly relay to the PGR community information on research skill relevant opportunities offered externally, as well as university-led initiatives (e.g. Research Development Centre)

5.2. The School encourages the PGR community to propose, develop, and organize activities and will support these where the School budget allows

5.3 The PGR will offer paper and grant writing clinics (a minimum of one per semester), based on a model developed for online delivery during COVID19 for the Institute of Advanced Study at UoWarwick (UK) and the for the Global Research Network

5.4. Organise a workshop to encourage PGR student participation in the regular creation  and editing a journal special issue targeting graduate journals

Director of PGR

In Progress (continuous) 5.1., 5.2., 5.3., 5.4. 5.5

 

Nov.2022, Update Notes:

 5.2. The PGR rep has suggested and co-organized with the PGR director a reading group to alternate with career workshops and PGR research presentation

5.3. The PGR director conducted an introduction to publishing and writing clinic

5.4. This workshop is planned to accompany PGR week in Spring 2023

6 

Other Transferable Skills

6.1. Above points 3. and 5. extend to this issue

6.2. The planned career and research development workshop during the PGR week, organized by the PGR director,  includes transferable skills, such as “elements of policy brief writing” introduced by an international leading expert with experience in advising the US Departments of State and Homeland Security

6.3. The PGR director develops and conducts an annual academic leadership seminar the PGR community will be able to access

6.4. The PGR students are encouraged to attend international conferences and meetings, as well as career fairs, to develop their skill set and establish networks

6.5. The PGR students are given access to professional networks through members of the School, such as to the Global Research Network  via the PGR studies director

6.6. Institute an annual CV building workshop

Director of PGR

Not Started 6.3.

In Progress(continuous) 6.1., 6.2 6.4, 6.5., 6.6.

Nov.2022, Update

Note: 6.3. This workshop is planned to accompany PGR week in Spring 2023

6.2. and 6.5. During GRC week in April 2022, PGRs attended (online) talks and Q&As with global academic leaders and policy advisers from the GRN and the Warwick Institute for Advanced Study.

6.6. A CV building and academic job application workshop was conducted by the PGR director

7 

Responsibilities and Supports

7.1. The PGR student representative, elected by PGR students, may address issues with the Head of School and the PGR director at any time, and with the School Executive regularly during the School Board meetings to which they are invited to attend.

7.2. The PGR studies director is in regular contact with the PGR student reps

7.3. PGR reps are aware of the Graduate Studies Offices and their services.

7.4. Existing and new support offers for students are communicated by the PGR director to the PGR community.

Director of PGR,  School Executive, supervisors, PGR community, PGR student Reps

In Progress(continuous) 

7.2. 7.3, 7.2

*Complete 7.1. 

8 

Personal Outlook 

8.1. We communicate with PGR students, supervisors, the GRCs the on the issue of well-being.

8.1.1.During PGR Week 2021, it was established that a well-being workshop should be part of the proceedings . This will be offered by the PGR director in 2022.

8.1.3. Holidays and self-care time are encouraged to be observed in our PGR community, with emphasis made towards the supervisors to be aware of the students needs.

8.2. The School, through PGR representatives and the PGR director will reach out to any students that appear to be struggling and encourage students to communicate their concerns in confidence in a secure and safe atmosphere at the School, and/or to avail of University counselling services where these are appropriate

8.3. We are particularly aware of the struggles our community faces at this time, which includes not only the public perception of a pandemic, but also the possibility of loss experienced during the pandemic or suffering caused by Long Covid. (Addendum: Political events at this time, i.e. the Russian war against the Ukraine, may cause grave anxiety among the community; we will address this, where it is brought to our attention)

8.4. PGR students are aware of the Graduate Studies Office, and the PGR director updates the PGR community on any offerings as soon as they are made aware of these.

8.5. The School is aware that issues relating to Galway and Hardiman Scholarships are affecting some students and require review at College and University levels.

Director of PGR,  School Executive, supervisors, PGR community

In Progress (continuous) 8.1. - 8.4.

Nov.2022, Update Notes:

8.1.1: A well-being workshop was conducted by the PGR director  during GRC Week 2022

 

9 

COVID-19 Questions

 9.1. Ensure that PGR students are informed of Covid-19 and related Health & Safety requirements

 HOS, Health and Safety Officer. PGR director

In Progress (continuous) 

10 

Development Opportunities   

10. This was addressed in points 3., 5., 6.,   

Director of PGR, School Executive and School Research Committee

In Progress (continuous)

11 

Motivations

  1. Foster motivation by generating an identity of the discipline and/or  the research field  

  1. Develop an understanding that PhD research contributes to careers inside and outside academia and the university.  

  1. Address motivation problems and career sustainability  during PGR Week

PGR community

In Progress(Continuous) 11.1, 11.2

Nov.2022, Update Notes: 11.3 This was addressed in the GRC/PGR week well-being workshop 2022, as well as the career development workshop and will be included in the Xmas well-being work (see: 8.1.1, 8.1.3) as well as the workshop on application and CV (6.6.)

12 

Career

  1. Develop PGR students’ understanding for different PGR outcomes, i.e. some students will continue a career in academia, others return better qualified to an existing career (even a previous employer) or embark, newly qualified, onto anew non-academic professional (ad)venture.

PGR community

N/A

 

13 

Overall Experience

1. Maintaining the PGR community as community

2. Develop a discussion in the PGR community to enhance and extend alumni culture

3. Promote discussion in the university on follow-up assessments that allow to track the successes of our postgraduates

PGR community

In Progress 13.1.                         Not Started  13.2., 13.3.