Strategy Bites:

1

• Strategy Bites
• Doubling PGR Numbers
• Professor Lee Bridges Roberta Wooldridge Smith

2
Whats the strategy?

• Doubling PGR numbers by 2014-15
• Baseline of 1100 in 2006-07
• c. 140 new heads per annum

3
How to get there

• Funding models
• Routes to PhD
• Marketing and market demand
• Staff recognition
• Staffstudent ratios
• Careers
• Family/social considerations
• Staff student feedback
• Graduate School Office

4
Funding models

• Fee levels vs costs of PGRs
• Fee discounting
• Eligibility of EU students for RCUK stipends
• WCPRS
• Discontinuation of Chevening and ORSAS
• Partnerships with Marshall Fulbright
• Availability of local scholarships
• Integration of studentships in research grant
  bids
• Project relating to ad hoc teaching spend

5
Routes to PhD

• Professional doctorates
• New Route doctorates
• Variable combination with Masters study
• Split site PhDs
• Variation in models of assessment e.g. several
  pieces of work linked by theoretical framework
  rather than single thesis
• Higher doctorates
• PhD by published work

6
Marketing Demand

• SARO competitor analysis at institutional level
• Departmental awareness of market trends
• Potential for collaborative ventures internally
  and externally
• Effectiveness of local marketing, e.g. exploiting
  alumni case studies, use of PGR e-portfolios
  facilities (incl Wolfson Research Exchange)
  specialised careers support improved induction
  and skills training

7
Staff recognition

• Recognising successful track record in research
  student supervision in cases for promotion to
  Associate and Assistant Professor
• Appropriate weight given to PhD supervision in
  departmental workload models
• Prize for excellence in PhD supervision

8
Staffstudent ratios

• Currently 11 11.5
• Target achievable within existing staffing levels
  at 13
• Reviewing variability in SSRs at deptal level
  identifying cultural/attitudinal barriers
• Addressing issues such as of probationers and
  staff nearing the end of their careers weighting
  of supervision in departmental workload models

9
Careers

• Efforts to get better DLHE info on PGR
  destinations (RCUK working with HESA on
  longitudinal exercise)
• Use of specialist consultants within skills
  programme
• Potential development of employer-oriented
  activity for PGRs through Roberts funding
• Use of e-portfolios to support future
  employability

10
Family/social considerations

• US/Australian feedback
• Enrolment data on students with dependents
  captured for first time October 2008
• Nursery provision doubling capacity enough?
• Social centre in Lakeside
• Family/social programme
• Integration of info on childcare into admissions
  process

11
Staff Student feedback

• PRES 2008
• PTES from 2009
• Response rates to Annual Report Form
• Departmental circular seeking feedback on
  existing and potential new services
• Alumni feedback exercise Spring 2009

12
Graduate School Office

• Re-organisation and roles now online
• Investment in scholarships and recruitment
  strategy
• Cross-team working on research degree
  examinations
• Greater involvement of staff in discussions
  relating to Strategy
• PGR network gathers together PGR service
  providers

13
Questions?
14

• Edward Harcourt, Head of Institutional Relations,
  International Office
• Monday 1st December, 1230 EAT, Arts Centre