The new University Graduate College brings together the work of four previous, discipline- based Graduate Schools and the postgraduate research activity of the Graduate Centre. It aims to support the work of academic Schools and supervisors and to enhance the experience of postgraduate research students at Cardiff University.
The University Graduate College has four interlinked programme areas:
- It delivers an integrated and consolidated programme of academic-led training and development for postgraduate researchers through the University Graduate College Programme (formerly the RSSDP) and associated activities such as conferences, lectures and seminars that enable researchers to come together across the University.
- It assures a quality experience for postgraduate researchers by developing and monitoring processes for their feedback and representation; communicating and monitoring implementation of the Code of Practice for Research Degree Programmes; enhancing systems to assist in management of research degrees; and enhancing support for supervisors.
- It co-ordinates work to build capacities and to align postgraduate research training with the University's research strengths and priorities. This includes involvement in recruitment of postgraduate researchers; development of additional scholarships; enhancing provision via partnerships with other universities, consortia, learned societies and industry; and
- It leads on providing world class facilities for postgraduate researchers, both physical and virtual, and aims to ensure that University facilities are responsive to researcher needs.
Its structures, based on the need for connectivity with the academic knowledge base, include representation of Directors of Postgraduate Research and researchers themselves and seek to involve the active input of research supervisors.
In the first phase of implementation, the University Graduate College is focusing primarily on postgraduate research students. However, as part of a longer-term aim of holistic management of skills development and support as a continuum across the researcher lifecycle, the University Graduate College offers joint activity for postgraduate researchers and research staff where appropriate.