Volunteering as a Postgrad
Since the course structure and work-load of postgraduate study means you work different hours; and at Research level that you might be working 48 hours or more a week just in your studies, postgraduate student involvement in student unions is always harder.
From a broad study of other Research-intensive institutions nationally and globally it will come as no surprise to any existing postgraduate student that we've concluded that no student union in the world gets PG participation right - and some get it spectacularly wrong!
That's why we're trying something a bit new - a variety of forms and formats to act as a 'leg up' to help you as individuals create communities of your own on whatever level (social, academic, hybrid) you individually require.
1. Follow @ExeterVote on Twitter or Like Digital Research Community on Facebook - the twitter feed's a bit wider than just PG issues, and the DR Community is mostly about Research group formation or arranging new Reading groups etc; but news of any changes and campaigns being PG-led will come through those channels too. We've also started a more specific group on Linkedin where we can hopefully build the career-skill space to improve prospects at every level for Exeter postgraduates.
2. Use the #ExeterRC tag every Wednesday afternoon to talk to other researchers at Exeter on Twitter; live-tweet research conferences or other research-based purposes.
3. There's also a new Research Society; which can either help with methodology or give you the opportunity to help teach it to undergraduate students on an informal basis.
PG Volunteering can cover any aspect in the following list - if you'd like to give some time to help others by being listened to at any point, then drop G.McLachlan@exeter.ac.uk an email.
PG Voice: being a voice (no fixed hours required; we will email you when we need postgraduate help - could be for a tribunal or for quantitative research).
Academic representation: Faculty Reps, Taught SSLCs, Research Liaison groups.
Longitudinal studies: 1 hour interviews at four points in the Academic year, with possible short-answer email follow-ups when necessary.
PG Forum: attend when you can for direct student-led campaigning and advisory input to Guild policy or campaigns.
GTA voices: no fixed hours, listening to problems arising from GTA work; suggesting and developing support for teaching and lab assistants who are also research students.
We're also working on wider issues than just listening to you - following up research and surveys from the last two years to attempt delivery on promises made and comments that PG students have made; this year's Sabb team are well informed on PG issues and very eager to make sure the Exeter Experience is had by every single one of the students of Exeter at every degree level here!
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