Postgraduate Education Practitioners’ Network Clinic

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On January 22nd 2025, the Postgraduate Education Practitioners’ (PEP) Network held its first online clinic for people working in professional services roles. Co-Chairs Susanna Broom and Kerri Gardiner have provided the following update on the meeting and topics under discussion.

It was great to have 28 colleagues join the first Postgraduate Education Practitioners’ Network clinic today. These sessions – which we will hold roughly quarterly – are designed to create a safe and supportive environment for members to connect with one another and to share questions, concerns, and insights. At today’s session we focussed on two hot topics: the Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) and institutional change, along with the onward impact on Network members and the PGRs they support. 

In relation to PRES, colleagues discussed participation in this cycle (noting that those who participate on a biennial basis tend to participate in odd numbered years) and shared tips for boosting response rates, including how and when to target communications, closing the feedback loop, and generating internal competition over response rates (i.e. between academic units).

It was clear from the conversation about institutional change that this is a subject affecting many Network members at the moment. We reflected on the challenges this presents for both individuals and services, and agreed that this may be a topic which warrants a longer discussion session, perhaps at the next Network workshop (see below).

Attendees fed back that the session structure worked well for what they hoped to get from it, so we will continue with the breakout room approach going forward. 

Thank you to everyone who attended today. All PEP network members are welcome to come along to a clinic. We do want these sessions to be driven by your needs, so please do feel free to suggest topics for discussion at any time via this form.

Our next network session will be an online half-day workshop on Wednesday March 5th 2025. Details will be confirmed in early February, and in the meantime you can sign up here.

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