New Graduate School fosters postgraduate research community
Friday, 21 October 2011
Old Whiteknights House
ÔÇÿOur aim is to provide a richer environment for research students and additional structured support for staffÔÇÖ
Postgraduate research students have a new home from home following the opening of the University's Graduate School. This will provide a hub for all postgraduate research activities.
The new School, based in Old Whiteknights House, replaces the existing graduate schools in Arts & Humanities and Social Sciences and the joint Science Faculties' Graduate Training Programme (the GSDP).
The Graduate School, led by its new Director Professor Dianne Berry, will support around 900 full and part-time students registered for research degrees.
The Graduate School will support a three-tier training programme delivered at school, faculty and central level. As part of this, it has introduced a new Reading Research Development Programme for the delivery of broader generic and professional skills training. Old Whiteknights House offers dedicated desk space for some students who do not have the facilities within their home departments, as well as a number of hot-desks. It will provide and facilitate seminars, workshops, debates and social activities.
Professor Berry said: "The new University -wide Graduate School will build on the achievements of the former faculty graduate schools and training programme and complement the good work and supervision that is carried out in schools and departments. Our aim is to provide a richer environment for research students and additional structured support for staff.
"We want to create a sense of community, a real hub for our doctoral researchers, where they can come for help, training and to network and socialise. We are committed to ensuring our high-quality postgraduate research students receive first-class training and support."
Key contacts at the Graduate School include:
- Professor Dianne Berry, Director of Postgraduate Research Studies and Researcher Development, ext 4750
- Chris Robson, Head of Postgraduate Research Support and Development, ext 6169
- Dr Emma Minns, Associate Director of Postgraduate Research Studies (Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Business), ext 7609
- Dr Pam Stuart, Associate Director of Postgraduate Research Studies (Science and Life Sciences), ext 7609
- Dr Mary Stakelum, Associate Director of Postgraduate Research Studies (Research Methods), ext 5832
- Helen Apted, Graduate School Administrator, ext 5063
- Jon Lloyd, Head of the Doctoral Research Office, ext 7348
- Sylvia Jerome, DRO Administrator, ext 4741
- Jackie Hughes, DRO Assistant, ext 4740