News and blog

On May 7th 2026, speakers from the universities of Newcastle and Durham presented an online webinar in which they introduced the ​‘Thinking Environment’ approach as a method to enhance creative and effective thinking, particularly in supervisory contexts. The event was held in association with the UKCGE Research Supervisors’ Network.

In this blog about his contribution to the annual Pride (Professionals in Doctoral Education) Network Conference in Helsinki, UKCGE’s Director, Dr Owen Gower, argues that doctoral graduates improve society in myriad ways.

This online workshop, jointly hosted by all three UKCGE Professional Networks on April 30th 2026, offered a holistic overview of supporting doctoral candidates who are undertaking distance learning doctorates.

On April 24th 2026, Rachel Van Krimpen — Faculty Director of Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and People (Science) at the University of Nottingham — hosted an online session looking at the Positive Action in Research Funding Framework.

On April 15th 2026, the Co-Chairs of our Postgraduate Education Practitioners’ (PEP) Network, Susanna Broom and Kerri Gardiner, held a Network Clinic looking at the specific issues and unique challenges which face those working within postgraduate research. Their report on the event is below.

On March 20th 2026, we held our Annual General Meeting. Open to all, this is an opportunity to look back at the past year across the postgraduate sector, as well as preview what’s to come.

Members of the PEP Network met on March 11th 2026 for its annual online workshop which ranged across three topics: Developing researcher development, assuring the quality of PGR programmes, and navigating options, choices and paths to recognition and progression for professional services staff.

The annual DDD Residential Workshop was held on February 26th and 27th 2026 in Bristol, offering a variety of topics for discussion including reinventing the doctorate, distance learning and UKRI updates.

On January 21st 2026, the Co-Chairs of our Postgraduate Education Practitioners’ (PEP) Network, Susanna Broom and Kerri Gardiner, held a Network Clinic looking at the specific issues and unique challenges which face those working within postgraduate research. Their report on the event is below.

On December 11th 2025, we welcomed Professor Karen Mpamhanga and Dr Suzanne Culshaw (University of Hertfordshire), who presented on recent work around democratic approaches to supervision which they have undertaken as part of a major international project.