1. Engage. Survey. Enhance. Repeat.
Dr. Simon Beer and Dr. Matt Fraser

2. Introduction and Overview
Case study of engagement activities for PGR students following a major institutional change in PGR enhancement and provision
A discussion of what we implemented and how well this worked to engage students
How engagement, feedback and enhancement are co-dependent

3. Enhancement
Feedback
Engagement

4. The University of Chester
In 2015 the Graduate School was disestablished and its responsibilities distributed to support departments and academic faculties
For postgraduate Students this was a major institutional change, particularly with regard to central enhancement and engagement activities
This was reflected both the institutional surveys but also in anecdotal feedback from students and staff
Demographics skew towards part time PGR students (80%), with the majority of these living at a distance from the main campus

5. Where to start? Little central engagement or enhancement
Low student satisfaction in many areas, particularly where there had been little departmental PGR support or enhancement
Students reporting feeling left out and disengaged from the University
Confusion around who should be doing what – support departments, academic faculties, or students themselves?

6. Engagement
From 2017 a range of central enhancement activities were undertaken for PGR students
The key aims across these was to work towards creating a sense of a Postgraduate Research Community at the University, creating greater knowledge and awareness of what activities were available for PGR students, and increasing the range of development opportunities on offer
The broad areas of focus – Communication, Events, Opportunities

7. Engagement - Communication
Postgraduate Research Newsletter
Sent out in the first week of each month
Incudes information about departmental and faulty level events as well as centrally provided opportunities
Calls sent out to all faculties and departments welcoming them to send any information they may want circulating to PGR students
Distributed via but archive copies kept online on moodle
Also sent out to PGR supervisors as an important means of keeping them abreast of developments in PGR enhancement and support
Dedicated address
Improved contacts with members of staff across the University

8. Engagement - Events Postgraduate Research Symposium
A two day event running in February
Brings together PGR students from across different Faculties and Departments in mixed paper sessions
Writing Retreat
A chance for students to focus on their writing
One to one support as well as workshops
Research Frontiers Lecture Series
Enables students to get experience presenting their research in a lecture format

9. Engagement – Expanding Opportunities
Liaising with other support departments to expand PGR workshops
E.g. On general academic skills such as referencing or more specific research focussed sessions such as managing a research presence online
Expansion of online materials on a PGR specific moodle page
Working with other institutions in the NW and Yorkshire to share access to PGR workshops and sessions

10. Feedback - Survey
The PRES is our key tool for collating both quantitative and qualitative data on:
PGR student satisfaction
PGR community outlook
Acts as a barometer for successful engagement & enhancement
Allows an insight into what needs:
Improving
Maintaining

11. Survey – PRES 2018 response rates
PRES 2018 finished with a response rate of 48.36%
This was an increase of 8.53% on the response rate from the 2017 survey (39.83%)
The total number of respondents was 236 (of 488 potential respondents)
This was also an increase of 46 respondents from the 2017 survey (total 190)

12. Survey – PRES 2018 response rates

13. Survey – PRES 2018 results
82% Aggregate score compared to 78% for the Sector
86% Overall satisfaction score compared to 80% for the Sector
Exceeded the Sector and improved on last year’s results across all subsections of the survey
Exceeded the Sector in ‘Research Culture’ by a statistically significant margin (71% to 63%)

14. Enhance Incorporated throughout the process
Refining and improving our enhancement and development resources and even discontinuing things that weren’t working
Improvements to events such as the Symposium – refining format and structure
Looking to incorporate new additions such as a Three Minute Thesis competition

15. Thank you! – Any questions or discussion?
Enhancement
Refining and improving
Adding new opportunities
Engagement
Communication
Events
Expanding opportunities
Feedback
Raised response rates
Improved outcomes