Executive Committee new appointments and continuing membership

Dr Fiona Denney, Educational Excellence Centre, Brunel University, has been elected to the Council’s Executive Committee from 5th July 2016 for a 3‑year term. Fiona has been involved with postgraduate education for many years, helping to shape the support that postgraduates receive both institutionally and nationally. Fiona currently leads Brunel’s Educational Excellence Centre where she holds an academic post with particular interests in postgraduate supervisor education and research integrity. Before Brunel Fiona headed up researcher development in the Graduate School at King’s College London and held a gratis strategic role as the London Hub Coordinator for the Vitae London Hub 2007 — 2013. 

On her recent election, Fiona said,

‘I am delighted to be joining the UKCGE Executive at this exciting time in its development. I have long been a supporter of the Council and its activities and I am looking forward to the next three years as UKCGE Executive Committee member.’

Dr Stan Taylor, honorary fellow in the School of Education at Durham University, who has many years of experience in and has published on supervisor development, is also new to the Executive. Stan has been co-opted by the committee this year for his expertise in doctoral supervision to coincide with the Council’s sponsorship of the THE’s ​‘Outstanding Research Supervisor of the Year’ award. Stan will also provide support for the Council’s PGR Supervision network. 

Professor Tiantian Zhang, Head of the Graduate School, Bournemouth University, has been co-opted by the committee for a second year. Tiantian’s international experience and expertise provide valuable insight into the Council’s work and she will be taking on the liaison role with the Postgraduate Funding Working Group.

Finally, Gill Clarke has been re-elected to the Executive for 3 years and will continue as vice-chair of the Council, having been re-elected in this capacity in 2015. Gill is in the final year of a part-time PhD on doctoral assessment at Oxford University. She chairs the Council’s Quality and Reputation Working Group and has recently, with Carolyn Wynne, conducted a small research project on their behalf. The outcomes are published in ​‘A comparative study of doctoral assessment: the United States, Germany, the Netherlands and Macau’, available in hard copy and on the Council’s website.

On her recent re-election, Gill said,

‘I am delighted to have been re-elected and to have the opportunity to be involved in the Council’s exciting agenda, especially working with colleagues on the Executive and the Quality and Reputation Working Group. Through the Group I am especially pleased to be supporting and strengthening the Council’s relationship with other UK-wide, European and international organisations to benefit postgraduate education.’

Links

2016/2019 Executive Committee Nominees

Event: Quality in Postgraduate Research conference

Report: International comparisons in postgraduate education: quality, access and employment outcomes