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Courses
Courses
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University Life
University Life
Each year more than 4,000 choose University of Galway as their University of choice. Find out what life at University of Galway is all about here.
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About University of Galway
About University of Galway
Since 1845, University of Galway has been sharing the highest quality teaching and research with Ireland and the world. Find out what makes our University so special – from our distinguished history to the latest news and campus developments.
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Colleges & Schools
Colleges & Schools
University of Galway has earned international recognition as a research-led university with a commitment to top quality teaching across a range of key areas of expertise.
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Research & Innovation
Research & Innovation
University of Galway’s vibrant research community take on some of the most pressing challenges of our times.
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Business & Industry
Guiding Breakthrough Research at University of Galway
We explore and facilitate commercial opportunities for the research community at University of Galway, as well as facilitating industry partnership.
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Alumni & Friends
Alumni & Friends
There are 128,000 University of Galway alumni worldwide. Stay connected to your alumni community! Join our social networks and update your details online.
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Community Engagement
Community Engagement
At University of Galway, we believe that the best learning takes place when you apply what you learn in a real world context. That's why many of our courses include work placements or community projects.
Political Science and Sociology
Postgraduate Research Students, University of Galway
National Student Survey
School of Political Science and Sociology
2022 Action Plan
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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 resources. At 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 |
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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
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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)
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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 |
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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
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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 |
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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 |
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PGR community |
N/A
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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. |