International Benchmarking: Postgraduate Research Degree Student Experience30 April 2010

Event overview

The work of the SHEEC International Benchmarking project seeks to inform teaching and learning practice in Scotland by looking at practice in other countries. The area of Postgraduate Research Degree Student Experience has been identified as being the second in a series of topics to be explored.

The working group for International Benchmarking of the Postgraduate Research Degree Student Experience met for the first time in December, chaired by Professor Dominic Houlihan, Vice-Principal in Research, University of Aberdeen. The committee of 16 institutional and postgraduate student members are joined by observers from the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), Higher Education Academy (HEA), Vitae, NUS Scotland and Universities Scotland.

The overall purpose of the benchmarking work is:

• To support those working in research degrees in the sector, and to identify and share national practice which will support the sector in doing this.
• To identify, and help the sector in comparing with and learning from international practice (including the rest of the UK) in research degrees
• To establish a range of useful resources, contacts and links for institutions, Students’ Associations and practitioners
• To ultimately enhance the postgraduate research student experience

The second meeting of the Working Group will be held on 16th March in Dundee. A list of the members of the group can be found here. It is envisaged that a programme of work will be agreed upon, including confirming several potential research degree topics for benchmarking and to organising sector events.

Integrated working statement | PDF version (147kb)

QAA Scotland, Scottish Funding Council and Vitae are undertaking an integrated programme of work in the area of the Postgraduate Research Degree Experience.  It was agreed that these organisations would be coordinate in their various areas of work to maximise the overall impact and to avoid any duplication of work. There will also be close collaboration with NUS Scotland and the Higher Education Academy (HEA).

It was decided to hold workshops/events by each organisation respectively and which would identify and explore the issues affecting the postgraduate researcher (PGR) experience in Scottish HEIs. The workshops will provide an opportunity for colleagues from the sector to discuss the needs of postgraduate research students and to explore the challenges, opportunities and good practice in responding to these.

The first joint scoping workshop held on September 11 2009 aimed to identify and agree the main themes of importance to the sector regarding the postgraduate research student experience. It was agreed that these themes would form the basis of subsequent workshops and will help inform the scope and focus of the International Benchmarking.