UKCGE Annual Conference 2023

Ensuring Quality and Delivering Growth in Postgraduate Education
  • Conference
Date(s)
03 — 04 Jul 2023 
Location
University of Edinburgh
Price
£395

The Annual Conference is the flagship event in the UKCGE events programme. Join colleagues from across UK as we come together to reflect on the past year in both PGR and PGT education, and discuss some of the most pressing issues affecting the postgraduate sector.

Growing the postgraduate sector has become national priority. The UKCGE Annual conference this year looks at successful strategies for managing this growth while at the same time maintaining quality in postgraduate provision. 

Conference Themes

  1. Successful recruitment and admission strategies
  2. Internationalisation in postgraduate education
  3. Latest thinking in cohort development and postgraduate community building
  4. Innovative funding models which attract a wider pool of postgraduates
  5. Cutting-edge industry partnerships which develop new routes in & out of postgraduate education
  6. Developments in support for research supervision
  7. Innovations in postgraduate assessment

Background

Back in 2017, the Industrial Strategy White Paper (BEIS, 2017) committed Government to reach a target of 2.4% of GDP to be spent on UK Research and Development by 2027. This target created speculation in the postgraduate sector about how many doctoral researchers would be needed in order to meet that kind of R&D ambition. For example, at the 2019 UKCGE Annual Conference, the Director of Research at Research England suggested that in order to meet the Government’s target, we would need 25,000 new doctoral enrolments by 2027 (a growth of at least 20%-25% on present numbers).

Then, in July 2021, the Government published its R&D People and Culture Strategy (BEIS, 2021). In that document, we were told that we’d need an additional 150,000 people in the UK R&D workforce by 2030. Not all of these new appointments would be trained to doctoral level, but once again the implication was that there would have to be significant growth in postgraduate education in order to meet this ambition.

These national ambitions have had a significant effect on institutional postgraduate recruitment strategies. For example, recent UKCGE research shows that 78% of HEIs wanted to grow their doctoral population over the next 5–10 years (n = 74) (Smith McGloin & Wynne, 2022: p.5).

Postgraduate taught provision is already showing signs of a massive increase in the number of enrolments: over the last five years there has been a 48% growth in Taught Masters students (HESA: Who’s studying in HE?” — https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-an… accessed 3/3/23).

If we are to continue to grow the UK postgraduate sector, we need to address the challenges that that may bring:

  • Are our admissions procedures a barrier to inclusive growth in postgraduate numbers?
  • Does growth require greater internationalisation in postgraduate enrolments? If so, what support services does that require?
  • Do we have the right funding models and mechanisms in place to ensure that growth is sustainable?
  • What effect does growth have on the quality of postgraduate education?
  • How do we maintain a sense of belonging to a postgraduate community?
  • What will growth mean for those responsible for the training and development of postgraduates, including supervisors?
  • How can we ensure that the ways we undertake postgraduate assessment can keep up’ with greater numbers?

Conference Programme, Presentations & Abstracts

Download as PDF
09:00

Registration—with refreshments available

Duration
30 mins 
09:30

Conference Information

Duration
5 mins 
09:35

Welcome & Introduction

Professor Colm Harmon, Vice-Principal Students, University of Edinburgh

Duration
15 mins 
09:50

Keynote Panel Discussion — The Experiences of Postgraduate Researchers

Karen Gordon, University of Glasgow
Ian Normile, University of Edinburgh
Maureen O’Callaghan, University of Lincoln

Chaired by Prof Janet De Wilde, Queen Mary, University of London

Duration
40 mins 
10:30

Changeover

Duration
5 mins 
10:35

Option 1: Oral Presentation — In conversation with…”: Engendering academic research culture amongst doctoral researchers

Dr Elle Larsson & Richard McCormack, University of Westminster

Primary theme: Community building

Duration
30 mins 
10:35

Option 2: Oral Presentation — Sustainable, affordable and collaborative approaches to experienced doctoral supervisor development

Dr Jennie Golding, UCL Institute of Education

Primary theme: Research supervision
Secondary theme: Internationalisation 

DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION

Duration
30 mins 
11:05

Refreshment Break

Duration
20 mins 
11:25

Option 1: Oral Presentation — Developing Good Practice in Establishing and Delivering Collaborative Doctoral Awards

Mary Beth Kneafsey, University of Glasgow
Sarah Patrick, Coventry University
Dr Juliet James, University of York
Rhiannon Martyn, University of Warwick
Prof Glyn Howatson, Northumbria University
Dr Susan Grey, University of Hertfordshire

Primary theme: Internationalisation

DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION

Duration
30 mins 
11:25

Option 2: 20:20 Presentations

Duration
30 mins 
  1. A

    20:20 Presentation — Postdoctoral researchers can supervise postgraduate students!

    Dr Nicholas Grindle & Dr Rebecca Lindner, University College London

    Primary theme: Research supervision
    Secondary theme: Community building 

    DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION

  2. B

    20:20 Presentation — Chinese international students’ acculturation: a longitudinal study focusing Chinese PGT students in Scotland

    Xuande Wu, The University of Edinburgh
    Kunyang Qu, Independent Researcher

    Primary theme: Internationalisation

    DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION

  3. C

    20:20 Presentation — Translating the Enterprise Culture to the iPhD/​DTP programme for the students’ benefit

    Dr Sandrine Willaime-Morawek, University of Southampton

    Primary theme: Industry partnerships

    DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION

12:00

Changeover

Duration
5 mins 
12:05

Option 1: Workshop — The Mental Health and Wellbeing of Part Time and Distance Learning Postgraduate Researchers

Professor Jane Creaton & Dr Charlotte Morris, University of Portsmouth

Primary theme: Community building
Secondary theme: Research supervision 

DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION

Duration
60 mins 
12:05

Option 2: Workshop — The Power of three – Cultivating talent for the future

Linden Fradet & Leah Chapman, National Physical Laboratory

Primary theme: Industry partnerships
Secondary theme: Funding 

Duration
60 mins 
14:05

Option 1: Small Group Discussions

Each discussion lasts 30minutes and will take place twice, allowing delegates will have opportunity to attend two different discussions during the session.

Duration
65 mins 
  1. A

    Small Group Discussion — Extending support for BAME PhD students: the Activate Student Mentoring Programme.

    Dr Caroline Hargreaves, Syeda Razzak & Dr Magdalena Jara, Imperial College London

    Primary theme: Community building
    Secondary theme: Internationalisation 

    Duration
    30 mins 
  2. B

    Small Group Discussion — The class ceiling in accessing postgraduate education

    Dr Neil Speirs, University of Edinburgh

    Primary theme: Recruitment & admission
    Secondary theme: Community building 

    DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION

    Duration
    30 mins 
  3. C

    Small Group Discussion — Building a postgraduate research community with a sense of belonging: reflections on best practice

    Laura Etheridge & Alice Ferns, University of Bristol

    Primary theme: Community building 

    DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION

    Duration
    30 mins 
  4. D

    Small Group Discussion — Ensuring quality and delivering growth within the co-creation paradigm to create a future for all.

    Dr Sharon Saunders, Griffith University

    Primary theme: Industry partnerships

    DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION

    Duration
    30 mins 
  5. E

    Small Group Discussion — Turning the Doctoral Supervisory Model Upside Down

    Dr Andy Borrie, Made to Measure Mentoring Ltd / University of Derby
    Dr Andy Miles, Made to Measure Mentoring Ltd
    Dr Charlotte Chandler, University of Derby

    Primary theme: Research supervision
    Secondary theme: Industry partnership
    s

    Duration
    30 mins 
14:05

Option 2a: Oral Presentation — Supervision Standards for Postgraduate Research Projects

Dr Carwyn Hooper & Dr Kate Everett-Korn, St George’s, University of London

Primary theme: Research supervision

DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION

Duration
30 mins 
14:35

Option 2 Changeover

Duration
5 mins 
14:40

Option 2b: Oral Presentation — Introducing a Supervisor–Research Student Agreement at Trinity College Dublin

Ewa Adach & Dr Rionnagh Sheridan, Trinity College Dublin

Primary theme: Research supervision

DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION

Duration
30 mins 
15:10

Refreshment Break

Duration
20 mins 
15:30

Option 1: Oral Presentation — Providing 1:1 development opportunities through a coaching programme

Oli Schofield, University of Bath

Primary theme: Research supervision
Secondary theme: Community building 

DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION

Duration
30 mins 
15:30

Option 2: Oral Presentation — Improving Response Rates in the PRES

Dr Darren Van Laar, University of Portsmouth

Primary theme: Community building
Secondary theme: Postgraduate assessment 

DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION

Duration
30 mins 
16:00

Changeover

Duration
5 mins 
16:05

Option 1: Networking Session — UKCGE Doctoral Deans & Directors Network

formerly the Deans & Directors of Graduate Schools Network

Duration
40 mins 
16:05

Option 2: Networking Session — UKCGE Graduate Education Managers Network

DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION

Duration
40 mins 
16:45

Close of Day 1

19:45

Dinner

at Café Andaluz, George VI Bridge

Duration
120 mins 
09:00

Day 2 Registration — refreshments available

Duration
15 mins 
09:20

Keynote Presentation — The UKCGE Associate Research Supervisor Recognition Programme

Dr Owen Gower, UKCGE
Dr Kay Guccione, University of Glasgow

DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION

Duration
30 mins 
09:50

Changeover

Duration
5 mins 
09:55

Option 1: Workshop — Coffee, Cake and Crystal Maze – how to create a sense of belonging in postgraduate community.

Mandy Gill & Donna Palmer, University of Nottingham

Primary theme: Community building

DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION

Duration
60 mins 
09:55

Option 2: Workshop — Postgraduate Entrepreneurship: A Partnership Between the University of Lincoln & Incrementa

Reece Leggett & Lauren Blackwell, The University of Lincoln

Primary theme: Industry partnerships

Duration
60 mins 
11:15

Option 1: Oral Presentation — UKCGE Research Supervisor Associate and Full: sharing good practice between two UK Graduate Schools

Dr Clive Palmer, University of Central Lancashire
Dr Chris Hughes, Edge Hill University

Primary theme: Research supervision
Secondary theme: Community building 

DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION

Duration
30 mins 
11:15

Option 2: Oral Presentation — International PGR Voices: Lived Experiences of Completing a Doctorate at the University of Salford

Dr Maggie Hardman & Professor Jason Underwood, University of Salford

Primary theme: Internationalisation
Secondary theme: Community building 

DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION

Duration
30 mins 
11:45

Changeover

Duration
5 mins 
11:50

Keynote Presentation — Supporting Scotland’s Postgraduate Researchers

Dr Kay Guccione & Dr Charlotte Matheson, Scottish Funding Council

DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION

Duration
40 mins 
12:30

Lunch

Duration
60 mins 
13:30

Option 1: Small Group Discussions

Each discussion lasts 30minutes and will take place twice, allowing delegates will have opportunity to attend two different discussions during the session.

Duration
65 mins 
  1. A

    Small Group Discussion — Cognitive Superiority and Dry-stone Walling” – Building Another Type of Professional Doctorate Thesis’ Within a Multinational Organisation

    Dr Andy Miles, Made to Measure Mentoring Ltd
    Dr Andy Borrie, University of Derby,
    Dr Simon Middlemas, Cardiff Metropolitan University

    Primary theme: Postgraduate assessment
    Secondary theme: Industry partnerships 

    Duration
    30 mins 
  2. B

    Small Group Discussion — Mapping learning pathways to better scaffold the learning of PhD students

    Dr Katherine Taylor, University of Leeds

    Primary theme: Research supervision

    Duration
    30 mins 
  3. C

    Small Group Discussion — Crisis, care and empathy in PGR education

    Dr Joanna Royle, Dr Elaine Gourlay, Dr Robyne Calvert, Dr Rachel Lyon & Karen Gordon, University of Glasgow

    Primary theme: Community building
    Secondary theme: Research supervision 

    DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION

    DOWNLOAD DISCUSSION SCENARIOS

    Duration
    30 mins 
  4. D

    Small Group Discussion — Views on Interculturality: What counts as diverse? Challenging the Self vs Other construct

    Giulia Pinton, University of Edinburgh

    Primary theme: Internationalisation
    Secondary theme: Community building 

    Duration
    30 mins 
  5. E

    Small Group Discussion — Personal and professional development in postgraduate students: Reflections from sport and exercise science

    Dr Charlotte Chandler & Dr Andy Borrie, University of Derby

    Primary theme: Community building
    Secondary theme: Postgraduate assessment

    Duration
    30 mins 
13:30

Option 2a: Oral Presentation — Building postgraduate communities through the delivery of research leadership academies.

Professor Priscilla Harries, Marie Withers & Professor Tushna Vandrevala, Kingston University

Dr Elizabeth Morrow, Research Support Northern Ireland
Prof Rachel Allen, St George’s, University of London and NIHR ARC South London
Bernadette Corrigan & Aoife Keohane, Kings College London

Primary theme: Community building

DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION

Duration
30 mins 
14:00

Option 2 Changeover

Duration
5 mins 
14:05

Option 2: Oral Presentation — Curiosity is community: from student feedback to increased participation

Dr Vincent Adams, University of Portsmouth

Primary theme: Community building
Secondary theme: Recruitment & admission

Duration
30 mins 
14:35

Refreshment Break

Duration
20 mins 
14:55

Option 1: Oral Presentation — The impact of Covid-19 on doctoral research and the final examination: what can we learn?

Dr Gill Houston, UKCGE (Honorary Life Member)

Primary theme: Postgraduate assessment

DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION

Duration
30 mins 
14:55

Option 2b: Oral Presentation — Tailoring PGR supports to facilitate the needs of distance-based & international PGRS: a case study

Dr Julianne Stack, Dr Rebecca Breen, & Prof Michael Healy, Mary Immaculate College (MIC), Limerick

Primary theme: Community building
Secondary theme: Internationalisation

DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION

Duration
60 mins 
15:25

Changeover

Duration
5 mins 
15:30

Closing Conference Plenary — Ensuring Quality and Delivering Growth in Postgraduate Education

UKCGE Executive Committee

Duration
30 mins 
16:00

Close & Departure