SCHOOL OF HUMANITES POSTGRADUATE COMMITTEE MINUTES
Thursday 8th November, 2012
Present: Catriona MacDonald (Chair), Brad Glisson, Michael Griggs (PGT Rep), Bill
Hanson, Sheila Kidd, David Robinson (PGR Rep) & Susan Stuart
Apologies: Michael Brady, Lisa Hau, Michael Murray, Don Spaeth & Alan Weir
1.
Welcome
Welcome to Michael Griggs and David Robinson
2. Minutes
Accepted
3. Matters arising
Item 3 – 2 College Internships: students deployed at College level will come back into
the School after 1 year. Interns submit a report saying what they had covered in their
notional 3 hours. Copy of report to be filed in the School Office. Question was raised,
would all Studentships in 2013 be Internships. CMacD to ask College.
CMacD
Item 12 – PGT training – PGRs had been asked about the quality of training in Session
2011-2012 and the feedback had been positive. MG felt that the PGT skills training was
very good as he was intending to go on to PGR. Committee felt that the 5 compulsory
courses in 1st yr should be reviewed, quality and range, subject training, etc. Should be
reduced to 3 in 1st yr by possibly crediting some of the training offered at Subject level.
SS raised the question re the need for HATII PGR students undergoing the compulsory
College training on top of the ESRC training. CMacD had raised this with Dee Heddon
but College felt that their training pertained to and was unique to Glasgow, therefore
students were required to attend the compulsory units. DR going to ask for PGR
student feedback across the School.
DR
9. Student Business
CMacD stated that this was the first time that student reps had attended the School PG
Committee and the Committee thanked MG & DR for volunteering.
DR questioned the policy on desk space. Currently AHRC, ESRC & Carnegie funded
students are allocated desk space first. DR asked why self-funded students paying full
fees and in some cases, international fees, were treated differently. There appeared to
be no consideration of needs; commuting distance; young families at home, no quiet
space; the need to communicate with other students, etc. Committee sympathically
agreed. CMacD explained that the College were required to provide desk space to the
AHRC, ESRC & Carnegie funded students to ensure continuation of funded places but
were looking into ways of best allocating remaining space. At present it is anticipated
that any procedure would require a statement from Supervisors; it would be needs
based. MG suggested a space allocation assessment/time allocation, 1 desk = 3 users
as a laptop station. MM was trying to secure more desk space within the School Space Audit was still ongoing.
New Forum being introduced by SRC to allow students to contact their Representatives.
MG felt that Gilchrist Postgrad Club was excellent, bit noisy but good for interacting.
Staff should be encouraged to use it too.
BH raised the importance of where the space is to allow interaction between other PGR
& PGT students and staff. MG pointed out that international students could feel isolated
coming into a new culture without being able to mix with their fellow students.
5. Annual Monitoring Reports
Noted receipt of those submitted, when full submission received to be circulated and
comments to CMacD/ School Quality Officer.
6. Interdisciplinary Postgraduate Initiative
Approx. £1000 was available to promote School identity in the PG community. Agreed
to be an agenda item for the first Postgraduate Representatives meeting. SS
suggested something similar to the reading groups that were held by HATII. BH
suggested Archaeology model where a speaker is invited - interdisciplinary forum bigger
themes with relevance to others.
7. Tier 4
EW reported that the first round of School check-ins had went well, although worried
that due to the amount of check-ins required, students may feel aggrevied.
8. Supervisory Forms
EW reminded PhD Convenors that Supervisory Report Forms were now compulsory for
all PhDs and they were needed to prove ‘engagement with studies’ for the Tier 4 PGRs.
All External Examiners were now required to have a copy of their passports taken.
10. Reflection on Induction
CMacD had held School PGR Induction event. Poorly attended but very well received
by those who attended. Excellent feedback. Info and feedback to be circulated to
Committee. Suggestion of combining School & Subject inductions next. DR to get
feedback from other PGR Reps.
EW & DR
11. Course Approval
CMacD reminded Convenors that a mechanism was now in place for School oversight
of all new courses and programmes in advance of College Higher Degrees Board.
12. A.O.C.B

There was debate on the allocation of AHRC awards. SS enquired as to the
rationale behind and who was on the Committee. CMacD quoted from Dee
Heddon’s email of
“As you should know, the AHRC have been removing funding from us for the past 3
years - the initial settlement of awards was always provisional, though the cuts
are much more severe than anyone might have anticipated. Indeed, they are most
severe this year. That said, as the AHRC will not be funding Masters awards from
2014, the cut of 7 Masters from our allocation this year is perhaps less
surprising -they are moving us rapidly to the situation of 'no Masters funding'.”
“Those involved in the decision of where to take funding from were me (as DoGS),
Marina (as Deputy Dean), Adrienne (as Dean of Res), with Adeline (as Grad School
Administrator), and Val (handing over to Adeline). I consider this to be
strategically 'arms length', in that these roles are not connected directly to
any School - we all occupy College roles and therefore take full responsibility
for making decisions that are always, without fail, disappointing for those who
lose studentships.”
CMacD reported that College were open to the School in principal reviewing the
allocation internally. CMacD & SK to raise at the SMG on Wed.
 CMacD reported that applications across the College are 25% up, offers 27% up.
US applications 38%; British applications 32%.
Application statistics would be circulated mid November. Convenors asked to let Alison
Peden know of any good news within the Subjects that she could use in the one to one
emails to applicants.

MRes & MPhil by Research – Processes need to be tightened up by College as
these candidates seemed to be falling between two stools. Dee Heddon was
producing a single page summary document relating to key points in the
administration of these programmes.
BH enquired why everything seemed to start in early September when this was
Archaeology’s busiest time with fieldwork and conferences; can be obliged to attend
due to the regulations of a grant. International Orientation 3rd Sept, first class 17th Sept.
Rationale given as efficiency of teaching/ administration.