Here are questions for Jim, the candidate running for the position of Postgraduate Students' Officer:
1. How can the postgraduate student experience be improved?
There are numerous ways that the postgraduate experience can be improved. In addition to those discussed below (re PGTAs, PhD stipends, and Welcome Fair), Personal Tutoring at UCL needs to be revamped to better suit postgraduate students. Childcare provisions and the provision of child-friendly study spaces needs to be taken seriously. Careers Advice needs to be more bespoke and tailored for postgrads. The university should take advantage of the control it has over non-HEAR (e.g. postgraduate) transcripts and reformat it to boost employability. These are just a few of the ways that the postgraduate experience at UCL can be improved.
2. What experience makes you suitable for this role?
I have a wealth of experience prior to UCL - with work experience in architecture, fundraising, accounting and audit, graphic design, and law - all of which have proven useful in my first year in the role. However, I would say the most directly pertinent experience I do have is the past year I have spent in the role already.
3. How will you support PGTAs?
In the past year, I closed out a project that had gestated first over 3 years - the PGTA Code of Practice which codified all the rights, benefits, and a broad description of the responsibilities of PGTAs, including a base Grade 5 pay (£13.12p/hour) including prep time, clear promotion criteria (with automatic progression up spine points), and clear review protocols. Over the next year, I will ensure that all faculties follows this code of practice and all PGTAs are aware that they can rely on it.
4. How will you improve the inclusion and engagement of postgrads in Students’ Union activities?
In the past year, I increased postgraduate engagement in SU Clubs and Societies by 41% through an expansion of the Welcome Fair. This prove to be a low cost-high reward method of increasing postgraduate engagement and I’ll look to continue expanding it in the future. Also, the Postgraduate Newsletter, with a regular open rate of circa 71%, making it the most effective newsletter in UCL, has proven to be an apt way to ensure that postgrads are aware of all the activities and opportunities available at UCL and take advantage of it.
5. What was your greatest achievement in this role last year?
I am pretty proud of all my achievements in the past year, particularly the aforementioned PGTA Code of Practice and the Welcome Fair. However, in addition to these, another achievement I am particularly proud of is successfully lobbying UCL to make PhD stipends monthly as opposed to termly. With more doctoral students than any other HE institution in the country, this is a huge task and getting a commitment from UCL to secure it by May 2020 is something I am very proud of.
6. What will you do to support the work of the Disabled Students' Network, who recently released a highly publicised report detailing institutionalised disability discrimination at UCL?
As part of my role, I sit on a large number of committees which directly influence the concerns raised by the DSN report – most notable of these is the Education Spaces Infrastructure Board which looks into maintaining and improving all our teaching and learning spaces – not just postgraduate spaces, but all spaces as a whole. So far, I have already ensured that accessibility is the foremost principle when considering any future projects – which has resulted in a number of benefits already, most notably the provision of an induction loop in Logan Hall. This is a principle that will guide future renovations and developments and one that I will be able to maintain oversight of if I remain in the role as PGSO.