Sean Ruston

Sean Ruston is the SU's Education Officer.

Representing Postgraduates

Posted on Tue 31 Jan 2012 at 18:09 by Sean Ruston

Recently at the SU we've made some pretty big changes in the way we represent postgraduate students. Before Christmas a motion was past at the General Meeting to extablish a Postgraduate Assocation (PGA) from 2012-13 academic year. Then, the outcome of a comprehensive review of the sabbatical roles recommended the establishment of a Postgraduate Sabbatical Officer in 2012-13 who would run the PGA. The review was ratified in the first Union Council meeting of term 2 meaning that the PG Officer will be elected along with the other sabbs in week 8 of this term.

This decision has drawn the ire of The Boar in a recent editorial, so I thought I'd outline why we've made these changes and why I think The Boar is wrong on this issue. The Boar rightly point out that currently postgrads, who make up 40% of Warwick students, do not engage with the SU much. From this observation the editorial concludes that PGs do not need the SU, and are too preoccupied with their studies to engage with the Students' Union.

We take a different view. Rather than not wanting engagement, many postgrads cite a historical lack of engagement from the SU towards them. For too long we have included PGs in structures which are really designed to cater for undergraduates, assuming that PGs are either not interested, or will be willing to adapt. Its no coincidence that we almost never have a sabbatical officer who was not an undergraduate at Warwick.

However, both survey and anecdotal data suggests that in fact we should develop specific and recognisable provision for PGs with which they can identify. For instance 70% of PGs said they wanted social events specifically targeted at them. Furthermore, with complex and sometimes highly specific issues facing those representing PGs, PhD funding changes for instance, it is important to have a dedicated representation.

PGs are a growing section of our community here at Warwick, if the Students' Union truly does represent all students, then its high time we put real effort into making sure we are relevent and important to their lives as students.

Comments

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Eleanor Blatherwick: 2:25pm on 2 Feb 12 I almost commented on the Boar article, but then I realised I would get angry as it is written with someone who has a complete lack of understanding of what it is like to be a postgraduate! As a PG PhD student who was heavily involved in the SU during my UG years at Warwick, I completely agree that there needs to be a fresh perspective on engaging postgraduate students with the Union. Whether this will be successful by creating a PG sabb is yet to be seen, but I wish whoever runs and takes on the position all the best. I do perhaps think that someone with postgraduate experience of some sort may have more credibility with their target audience than someone just completing their first degree, but I am happy to be proven wrong.
John Lapage: 2:37pm on 1 Feb 12 I didn't really think it was a good idea at first, but after reflection it's a very worthwhile sabb role. I don't even think its an issue that UGs can run for the position, because we are so varied that any PG would also have to learn about the issues behind all of the other types of PG course...so a PG candidate is only a single step closer, and perhaps more blinkered anyway.