Postgraduate Induction 2014 Professor John Kirby Dean of Postgraduate Studies Faculty of Medical Sciences The City Newcastle upon Tyne t he River Tyne divides Newcastle from Gateshead Founded by the Romans ID: 581847
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Slide1
Welcome to Newcastle!
Postgraduate Induction 2014
Professor John Kirby
Dean of Postgraduate Studies
Faculty of Medical SciencesSlide2Slide3
The City
Newcastle upon Tyne
t
he River Tyne divides Newcastle from Gateshead
Founded by the Romans
almost 2000
years ago
One end of Hadrian’s Wall (
Wallsend
)
Population of about 300,000
38
th
largest
city in
the
UK
In term time almost 1/6 of population are students!
For its size, one of the safest cities in the UK
We are s
urrounded
by some of the UK’s most beautiful countrysideSlide4
The University
Newcastle University is one
of the UK’s leading research-intensive
universities
The Russell Group (named after a hotel in London where Vice Chancellors like to meet)
Our
students are satisfied and benefit from high-quality, research-informed teaching
.
What is the evidence?Slide5
Congratulations!
You have chosen to study at an excellent university
Last week our faculty was listed at position 94 out of 15,000 universities in a global league table
Students of UK universities are regularly asked about their experience
This year our students judged Newcastle second highest amongst leading universities for overall satisfaction (independent NSS survey)
Our postgraduate research students also consider Newcastle an excellent place to work (independent PRES survey)Slide6
Your opinion of us: PRES 2013Slide7
Some facts and figures
Student numbers:
16,000 undergraduates
6,000 postgraduates
Staff:
2,400 teachers
Organised into 3 faculties:
F
aculty of
M
edical
S
ciences: 4,600 students
S
cience,
Ag
riculture and
E
ngineering: 6,500 students
H
umanities
a
nd
S
ocial
S
ciences: 10,700 students
3,774 postgraduate degrees were awarded last year!Slide8
Principal Officers (our bosses!)
The Chancellor
Professor Sir Liam Donaldson
Former Chief Medical Officer, England
An important ceremonial figurehead
The Vice-Chancellor
Professor Chris Brink
Manages the University
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor
Professor Chris Day
Manages the Faculty of Medical SciencesSlide9
The Faculty of Medical Sciences
Management
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof Chris Day
Deans:
Clinical Medicine Prof Julia Newton
Research and Innovation Prof Dave Jones
Undergraduate Studies Prof Jane Calvert
International Medical Education Prof Roger Barton
Postgraduate Studies
meSlide10
The Faculty of Medical Sciences
All research staff and research students are based in a
Research Institute
.
There are six Research Institutes:
Cell and Molecular Biosciences
ICaMB
Cellular Medicine ICM
Health and Society IHS
Genetic Medicine IGM
Neurosciences
IoN
Northern Institute of Cancer Research NICRSlide11
The Graduate School
All research students are also member of the
faculty’s
Graduate School
Why do you need both an Institute and a Graduate School?
The Institute will support your research activity
The Graduate School will:
Register you as a
student
Ensure your research project and supervisors are appropriate
Help you to make good progress throughout your course
Provide many additional training activities
Support meetings with students from other institutes
Provide a sympathetic ear and help you with any problemsSlide12
The Graduate School
Facts
and
figures:
We have about 500 PhD students at all stages
About 60 MD students
About
200
MRes students
Good news!
Almost all students submit their thesis on time.
More
than 95% of students who submitted their PhD thesis last year were awarded the
degree.
The School also manages more than 700 students registered for taught programmes (MSc, etc)Slide13
Where is the Graduate School?
Common Room
Ground floor, medical school
Small computer cluster (with
WiFi
)
Popular science magazines
Café area
Drinks
Chocolate machine!
3 small private study rooms
Can be booked
Student’s reception and office
3
rd floor Ridley Building 1Slide14
The Graduate School – who’s who?
m
e
Dean
Dr Alison Tyson-Capper Postgraduate Tutor
Prof Dianne Ford Director of PhD Studies
Prof Rob Pickard Director of MD Studies
Prof Steve Yeaman Director International Studies
Prof Rob Taylor PG Recruitment
Dr Tim Cheek BBSRC programme director
Dr Richy Hetherington Development co-ordinator
Ms Barbara Sumner Graduate School Administrator Slide15
A
most important person – your supervisorSlide16
Supervisory teams
You will be supported by several supervisors working in a team (minimum of 2 people)
Supervisors must:
Be experienced (supervised previous students)
Have appropriate research expertise
You will have formal meetings with your supervisors
You must meet your lead supervisor at least 10 times per year
You must meet your co-supervisors at least 3 times per year
These are
minimal
expectations (you might want many more meetings!)Slide17
Further academic support
Your project and supervisory team will be examined at the start by your
progress review panel
Two independent but appropriately skilled academics (generally appointed by your institute)
Your progress through the degree will be monitored regularly by this panel
This is designed to help you and your supervisors
Please attend the
Managing your Research Degree
sessionSlide18
Even more support!
Each Institute has a Postgraduate Research Co-ordinator (supported by an administrator)Slide19
We listen to you (and respond)
You will have student representation on important Institute committees
There is a Student Representative’s Committee to inform the Graduate School
We have student representative members of the Graduate School Committee
We do listen and wherever possible we will change our practices to improve the experience of our students.Slide20
A final word
At this level we are all colleagues
Your research successes are shared by the faculty and ensure our joint future
Students publish some of our leading papers
Please don’t worry about anything
you can seek help from anyone and we are all eager to help
Supervisor
Progress panel
Postgraduate
R
esearch Co-ordinator
Graduate School staff
Postgraduate Tutor
or me!