School of something
FACULTY OF OTHER
PGR support structure options appraisal
Meetings 15th and 20th November 2012
Context
Programme of change for postgraduate research at Leeds to support the PGR
student experience and towards increasing the PGR student community:
• Fund raising, scholarships and other means of financial support of PGRs
• Marketing and internal communications
• Developing our international reputation as a centre for doctoral studies
• Organisational effectiveness
- standard processes and service level agreements
- delineated areas of responsibility
- more standardised administrative support for CDTs
- consistent levels of support and facilities for PGRs
Context
Overall aim to maintain a distinctive postgraduate research
experience for PGR students whilst aligning with changes to
Student Education Services.
i.e. to ensure appropriate, consistent, high-quality support for all
PGR students and effective support for all relevant staff.
Deliver a postgraduate research experience that
attracts the world’s best students
Threats:
increased competition for PGRs
declining international numbers and Home office restrictions
changing funding landscape
Internal issues:
differing levels of support in faculties / schools
non uniformity of structures, processes, and roles
lack of coherent IT systems
does not meet ‘One University’ principles.
Strategic issues: Leeds is behind its competitors –
18th (of 24) in Russell Group for PGR fate / academic fate;
23th (of 24) in Russell Group for proportion of PGR students in the total student
body.
Completion rates below world-class target.
Objectives for a new PGR support structure
(aligned to University strategy)
1. Support increased recruitment of high-quality Postgraduate researchers
2. Ensure PGR students are well supported, academically and pastorally
3. Ensure PGRs develop skills vital for research, employment,
entrepreneurship and citizenship
4. Work effectively with other relevant units to ensure that PGR students are
well-equipped for a range of careers upon graduation.
5. Work in collaboration with private and public sector partners and other
educational institutions to deliver excellent postgraduate research education
and support.
6. Influence the external funding environment to promote Leeds as a centre
of excellence for PGR.
Objectives for a new PGR support structure
7. Support consistent, effective and efficient PGR processes, with high
quality service, and appropriate staff support and cover.
8. Ensure clear and shared understanding of the objectives of all PGR
processes.
9. Support and propagate a "one-university" culture
10. Streamline the administrative and bureaucratic load on academic staff
11. Support sustainable and consistent IT systems that help to deliver
resource efficiencies
12. Student admissions processes that
- improve (i.e. decrease) turnaround times
- are responsive to user needs
- ensure students are matched to the right supervisors and projects and are
properly supported
Options identified
1. More coherent and formalized central ‘hub’ + 9 consistent faculty units
2.a. More coherent centre with fewer faculty units, e.g. aligned with
Research Councils
2.b. More coherent centre with fewer and cognate faculty units
2.c. More coherent centre with two faculty-level units, STEM and HSS/Arts
3. A single central University support unit (perhaps with faculty ‘satellite’ offices)
Next steps
By 10 December
Options back to faculties and PGR stakeholders for discussion (including
academic and administration staff and PGR student representatives)
By end December
Identification of a preferred option for a PGR support structure
January 2013
Paper to FMG putting forward a business case for a preferred option
February 2013
Paper to Senate on the proposed change;
Move forward in alignment with Student Education Services Project
- but with distinctive PGR support.