Working group table 3:Education:PGR Students coordination-induction & handbook, monitoring progress

Elizabeth Halton; David Blundred; Sarah Lawson; Alex Addo; Rossana Rizzo

 

Q: The ION has a large number of PhD students; some are on 4-year Programmes, some are self-funded, some are on stand-alone studentships. How do we ensure all these students have a sense of belonging to the ION PGR community? How can we better support them?

Next steps: identify your lead for the T&F group, delegate actions, meet up as a group and discuss/ agree on actions

Roll-out quick wins identified

Report back at the next team meeting(s)

Research Degrees Processfix

Induction

  • Two inductions per year (September & April) – DB by 13th august
  • Departmental overview
  • Where are people located  - Anna to contact RDGT’s and get info by 30th August (info on website)
  • Who are they – see above
  • Meet RDGT in person once a year

 

PGR Handbook

  • Milestones/clear steps – EH to share – first making more generic
  • Learning agreement – EH to share
  • Clear expectations (links to online resource with more info on all the stages of their degree) – DB to complete by end of September 2018
  • Clear signposting of support services and outside services – DB to take from PGT handbook by 13th August

 

Engagement

  • Past student view – future careers (Henny Wellington (eisai), Xun Choong, Christina Murray, Chris Hardy, Rachel Flomen (post doc, project management, lab manager), Helene Crutzen) – Anna to arrange by end of September 2018
  • List of recommended courses – Anna to suggest by end of September 2018
  • Social events – Working with QSS lead social events to be arranged
  • Separate SSCC – DB to contact reps about meeting by end of September 2018
  • Peer Mentoring – DB and Anna to discuss with Martha M by end of September 2018
  • Teacher training – (approach lecturers to talk about how to present etc – Caroline, Alex Leff, Julie Evans, Selina Wray (public engagement), Adam Liston)
  • Encourage ARENA participation (3 hour Gateway workshop UCL ARENA 1)
  • Make aware of teaching opportunities (IoN small group teaching, leading seminars/journal clubs, clinical bedside teaching, workshops) – Biosciences PGTA – Christine Williams and UCL Arts and Sciences (BASc) and in PALS – Links from handbook?

 

For supervisors

Training (2 hours face to face group discussion and activities with real life examples – with electronic resource on intranet) – Arrange by end of October 2018

  • Pastoral support
  • IoN Expectations (proposal and upgrade rules, examiner nomination)
  • Responsibilities for RDGT’s and DGT (foster better relationship between supervisors and RDGT’s)
  • Consistency for supervision
  • Research log/appraisals
  • Career advice & support
  • Encourage ARENA participation