ECRI coordinates several networks bringing together College staff who support postgraduate research students in their role.
Staff Networks
The DPS Lunch is an informal termly meeting primarily for Directors of Postgraduate Studies (PGR). However, staff who are involved with supporting the PGR experience are also welcome to attend.
The agenda for DPS lunch meetings is set by its membership, with invited speakers to talk to particular topics. The agenda is also driven by ECRI as a means to share important updates with the community and to consult DPSs with respect to new PGR policy, guidance and procedures.
The DPS lunch meetings take place via Teams for the autumn and spring meetings and in person for the summer meeting.
Speakers are also most welcome. If you would like to speak at an upcoming Lunch, or join - the lunch meetings, please contact Laura Lane (l.lane@imperial.ac.uk).
The Early Career Researcher Institute (ECRI), in partnership with colleagues in the Faculty of Medicine, established the Senior Tutor (PG) Forum to support individuals in this role. The Forum is open to Senior Tutors PGT and PGR and is Chaired by Jenny Husbands, Senior Tutor, School of Public Health.
The Forum meets termly; meetings in the autumn, spring and summer terms are held via Teams.
The remit of the Forum is to:
- Create a community which connects and supports Senior Tutors (PG) in their role and helps to promote the visibility of the role to students.
- Enable opportunity for Senior Tutors to share best practice and learn from each others’ experiences.
- Provide collaborative support for troubleshooting, addressing challenges and generating solution-based actions.
- Identify where there are gaps in support provision offered centrally by the College, which could be explored further by ECRI and/or other Student Support teams.
- Receive updates from Imperial Support Services and ECRI on activities which support the wellbeing of PGT and PGR students.
The agenda for each meeting is set by members of the Forum, with external guest speakers invited to speak to particular topics. There is also a dedicated Teams Group to support the Forum and facilitate connections.
If you are a Senior Tutor (PGR or PGT) and you would like to join the Forum, please contact Bethan Ritchie, Manager of ECRI Administration (b.ritchie@imperial.ac.uk).
If you are a member of staff or student representative who would like to speak at the Forum, or post an item to the Forum Teams Site, please also contact Bethan Ritchie.
The PGR Admin Network is for any member of professional services who is involved with supporting PGR students at Imperial. This can be professional services staff working within academic Departments, staff supporting CDTS or DTPs, the Research Office and staff within academic services, such as the Registry, Library and Centre for Academic English.
The meetings take place via Teams for the autumn and spring meetings and in person for the summer meeting, with the agenda driven by the membership. There is also a dedicated Teams Group to support the network and facilitate connections.
Importantly, the Network aims to facilitate sharing of best practice across Departments, enable staff to learn from others’ experiences and to keep the PGR staff community informed of PGR activities and developments at a College-level.
If you would like to join the Network, please contact Laura Lane (l.lane@imperial.ac.uk). Alternatively, if you would like to talk to the Network, speakers are most welcome – again, please do get in touch!