International Benchmarking: Postgraduate Research Degree Student Experience
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 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.
Working Group
The working group for International Benchmarking of the Postgraduate Research Degree Student Experience met for the first time in December 2009, chaired by Professor Dominic Houlihan, Vice-Principal Internationalisation, University of Aberdeen. The committee has institutional and postgraduate student members, joined by observers from the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), Higher Education Academy (HEA), Vitae, NUS Scotland and Universities Scotland.
Integrated Programme of Work
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).
The first joint scoping workshop held in September 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.
A short overview report was compiled following this event.
| UK and International case studies of practice in student support | PDF | 352.28 KB |
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| Scoping workshop report | PDF | 176.05 KB |
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For further information on the work on Research Degrees please contact Heather Gibson, Development Officer, QAA Scotland.