PGR feedback
Your feedback is important to the future of postgraduate research at the University. Want to make a change? There are many ways to let us know.
Postgraduate Researcher (PGR) Representative
Having representatives ensures that postgraduate researchers have a platform to raise and discuss issues affecting them, and to influence future University policy for research degree programmes.
PGR representatives are recruited by their Faculty/School and participate in discussions and meetings to enhance the PGR experience and are encouraged to consult fellow postgraduate researchers. They are also asked to make sure a wide variety of opinions are represented at committee meetings. Contact details for the postgraduate researcher representatives may be obtained from your Graduate School. You can also get in touch with the Academic Representation Team at Leeds University Union (LUU) on academicsupport@luu.leed.ac.uk who look after the PGR Reps.
PG Reps Forum
The PGR Reps Forum offers an open platform to consult, discuss, and create opportunities between PGRs, LUU, and the University of Leeds. Questions can be submitted in advance, or raised at the forum itself. Previous discussions have included supervisory relationships and complaints, facilities made available for PGRs, fair pay for PGRs who teach, and career opportunities for PGRs inside and outside of academia.
The Forum takes place regularly throughout the year, with details of forthcoming meetings sent to all PGRs by email.
Director of Postgraduate Research Studies
The Director of Postgraduate Research Studies (DPGRS) has responsibility for the pastoral care of postgraduate researchers, as well as a range of other key strategic and operational roles in their School. Full information on the roles and responsibilities of the DPGRS is available on SES website
You can meet with your DPGRS at any time during the year to discuss any academic or personal issues.
Faculty Graduate School Committee (FGSC)
Faculty Graduate School Committees report to the Graduate Board. Their common core terms of reference give all faculties a clear route of communication to Graduate Board.
The remit of these committees includes ensuring the quality of research training and supervision of postgraduate researchers, making recommendations to Graduate Board in relation to policy and the development of new programmes, appointing DPGRSs, liaising with external bodies such as Research Councils, and considering general issues relating to postgraduate researchers in the faculty. PGR representatives are normally members of this committee.
Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES)
The Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) is a survey run by Advance HE.
Launched in 2007, PRES is a sector-wide survey to gather insight from postgraduate researchers about their learning and supervision experience. The survey involves many other UK higher education institutions, including most of the Russell Group. The PRES is the only UK higher education sector-wide survey to gain insight from postgraduate researchers about their learning and supervision experience.
Your thoughts on your experiences as a postgraduate researcher matter to us and we consider the results of PRES in great detail. Graduate Schools receive the data and use it to formulate an action plan, to address issues that are raised by participants. The University then considers all the action plans, which is then used to shape future PGR strategy.
You will be notified via email when the next PRES is ready for you to contribute to. In the meantime you can read more about it on the Advance HE website, as well as read the reports from previous surveys.