Feedback

We always want to improve the research degree experience. Please send feedback directly to the Graduate School, via the PGR-GS Liaison Group and through the Postgraduate Research Experience Survey when it's running.

PGR-GS liaison group and Town Halls

Meeting dates 2026

Liaison group meetings (just liaison group members)

Meetings are usually scheduled for the 3rd Wednesday of the month from 12.00-13.00.

16 December 2026

Town Hall meetings (all PGRs invited to attend)

18 November 2026.

The meeting will happen live in General | PGR Community (team).

Attend to ask your question, ask your liaison group rep to ask it for you, or post anonymously to Question for the next Graduate School / PGR Town Hall – Fill in form.

About liaison group

The postgraduate research student (PGR)/Graduate School (GS) liaison group exists to facilitate communication between PGRs and the Graduate School on institution-wide issues affecting PGRs. We encourage you to let your representative know if you have some feedback on an issue that is affecting all or some students (specific problems are best directed to your supervisor or faculty postgraduate tutor).

The current make up of the group is:

Student representative	School/Faculty/Mode	Channels for contacting PGRs in their Faculty
Lorna Stevens	WELS	WhatsApp, Teams channel and face to face for persons on campus
Esma.Bozlak	STEM	Email: circulates message via STEM-research-student-support
No rep currently - please let us know if you're interested	FASS	Email: FASS research student distribution list
Joseph Rennayie	FBL	Via Faculty admin
Becca Davis	Part-time experience (EEE, STEM)	WhatsApp

Staff representative
Helen Bowes-Catton	Training, GS
Judith Taylor	Training, GS
Clare Warren	Director, GS
Emily Yossarian	Communications, GS
Andrew Wilson	Deputy President of OU Students Association
Yvette Howley	Library

We have some gaps in membership so let the Graduate School know if you don't see your school/faculty represented and would like to take part. You may be interested in seeing this one-page role description by previous FBL rep Jeanette Hartley.

Town Halls

We have 2 or 3 Town Hall events each year where all PGRs are welcome to meet with Graduate School and reps of Faculties and other University units and air and discuss questions that are relevant across the Faculties. Questions can come to the Graduate School directly or via Faculty representative as above. PGRs will be told about upcoming Town Halls via Graduate School fortnightly digests.

Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES)

The Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) is carried out by universities across the UK and administered by Advance HE. The OU participates in PRES every two years.

PGR PRES feedback helps us to understand what is working well and what is not, so we can make improvements where they will be most relevant and useful.

The Graduate School fedback initial results and action plans in a PGR Town Hall on 13 December 2023 PRES 2023 Graduate School Action Plan (pdf).