This briefing contains: - Welcome to new PGRs
- Postgraduate Research Experience Survey 2023 update
- Graduate School response to Employment Tribunal Ruling
- Campus 2030 reassurance
- News in brief
- Key dates.
Welcome to new PGRs (for directly supported students) For those of you who are new to the University as of February, welcome! This is a Graduate School Director's Briefing email which I send out every few months with any news you need to know. This is supplemented by a fortnightly Graduate School Digest email so you can keep abreast of training opportunities and news that may be relevant to you. The University can be a busy place, so we compile these emails to help you navigate just some of the opportunities it offers – do try and scan them for things that are relevant to you. See previous digests here: GS digest | Graduate School Network (open.ac.uk) See previous GS Director Briefings here: GS Director Briefing | Graduate School Network (open.ac.uk) And you may like a reminder of Induction resources | Graduate School Network (open.ac.uk) Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) update (for directly supported and ARC students) The OU participates in the national Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) every two years. PRES is a valuable way of finding out PGRs’ views about important aspects of their research degree programme. We last participated in PRES 2023 and briefed PGRs on results and planned actions in the All-PGR Town Hall meeting. PRES details and next steps Please note that all documents relating to PRES are for discussion within the University only. Graduate School response to Employment Tribunal Ruling (for directly supported and ARC students) Many of you will have seen the Vice-Chancellor's Update – Employment tribunal ruling (sharepoint.com). In it, he reflects on the balancing of freedom of speech or academic freedom with equality and employment rights, and says ‘we will find a path that encourages diversity of thought in the inclusive environment we all want to see at the OU’. Diversity of thought The Graduate School will be part of the ongoing conversation of how we support the way forward. We acknowledge that these matters concern our PGR community closely. In August 2021, we posted some Team guidelines to help define how Graduate School collaborative spaces should be moderated. The guidelines were developed in collaboration with the Student Casework Office and with consultation with a group of PGRs. It is worth checking that these support the kind of environment we are aiming for. In the first instance, we will ask our PGR Liaison Group to discuss if these guidelines are appropriate; please let us know if you would like to be involved in a future wider consultation. Inclusive environment The tribunal episode has been upsetting or unsettling for many staff and students from various standpoints and concerns. On behalf of the Graduate School, I would like to reiterate unequivocal support for our LGBTQI+ colleagues and students. I also want to state our support for those whose academic research is in areas that can divide opinion. As always, if you are struggling with any of these issues, please talk it over with your supervisor or access one of the other sources of support as listed on Student wellbeing | Graduate School Network (open.ac.uk). Campus 2030 reassurance (for directly supported students) Campus 2030 (sharepoint.com) is a programme of activity looking at the case for change and the future of how and where we work. It will decide on two related questions: - Whether the OU in Milton Keynes (MK) should stay based at Walton Hall or
- Move to a new site in the city centre.
PGR considerations are very much part of the Campus 2030 deliberations. This includes the potential benefits a new city centre campus, University accommodation and better transport could have for PGRs, as well as the potential for enabling more engaged research communities in different ways. PGRs will have opportunities to engage further through Faculty Assemblies and through other channels this year. News in brief (for directly supported and ARC students) - Got two minutes? Help us shape the future of Thursday Coffee and ‘Takeaway’ Tuesdays with this brief survey.
- Are you interested in meeting other PGRs and having supportive facilitated discussions about how you can navigate the doctoral journey? Please sign up for our next cohorts for wellbeing support groups; read more University Mental Health Day and PGR Wellbeing Support Groups | Graduate School Network (open.ac.uk)
- Following the International PGR Town Hall in November, we have drafted a role description for a paid position for a PGR providing International PGR support, focusing on the Induction period. Please send any comments to [email protected]; we will shortly advertise for expressions of interest.
- We’re delighted to welcome three new advisors to the Research Degrees Team within the Graduate School: Ellie Dickinson, Gabriela Costa and Lindsay Orchard.
- For those of you submitting your thesis soon: we aim to arrange your viva as soon as possible after your submission. However, it takes us some time to select and coordinate an appropriate examination panel. Therefore, please remember that you should complete an ‘intention to submit’ form via PGR Manager 3 months before you aim to submit.
Key dates for your diary (for directly supported and ARC students) 9 April 2024: International PGR Town Hall Meeting : Haplo (open.ac.uk) for directly supported International PGRs 23 April 2024: Preparing for conference presentations : Haplo (open.ac.uk) and Poster Preparation : Haplo (open.ac.uk), to help get you ready for Poster Competition in June 24 April 2024: All-PGR Town Hall Meeting : Haplo (open.ac.uk) 25-26 June 2024: PGR Summer Conference including Poster Competition (details to come) Best regards, Lindsay, Professor Lindsay O’Dell, Graduate School Director | 
