In case you haven't seen it, last week Advance HE published the latest Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) report.

Many of you will know our Events Officer, Angus Burns, who last night made his debut on Mastermind. He took part in Episode 23, where his specialist subject was the London 2012 Olympics. You can stream the episode now on iPlayer.

We're partnering with the University of Liverpool on a PGR Day, ahead of the UKCGE Annual Conference. The event is scheduled for July 1st, in Liverpool, and we have just finalised the call-for-papers. Submission deadline: Friday 27th March, 2026.

The call for presentations for our Annual Conference ("Postgraduate Cultures: Community, Collaboration and Connection") is still open, but we've approved the first batch and they're live on our website. See what's in store and book now!

A reminder that the call for papers is open for our Annual Conference in Liverpool this summer (call closes March 20th 2026) and the event is themed around "Postgraduate Cultures: Community, Collaboration and Connection Conference".

The next PEP Network Clinic (Jan 21st) will look at Generative AI and its impact on PGR. There's still time to let the Co-Chairs know of other topics you might want covered - you can book and access the topic form on the link below.

Unable to attend our Democratic Approaches to Supervision event before Christmas? We've reported on the event and gathered the relevant resources on the UKCGE website.

👏Seven LBU colleagues have been recognised by @ukcge.bsky.social for their commitment to high quality supervision of our postgraduate #research students! 🗞️ bit.ly/48KBbBE ⬆️ Read all about our colleagues receiving the Recognised Supervisor and Associate Supervisor Awards. #PhDSky #AcademicSky

Following Sir Ian Chapman’s speech at the Innovation for Growth Summit about a renewed strategic direction for UK Research and Innovation, Dr Rebekah Smith McGloin (Chair) has made the following statement on behalf of UKCGE.

A quick reminder that our call for abstracts on the future of the doctorate for a special edition of 'Innovations in Education and Teaching International' ends this Sunday (Nov 28th).

Thank you to all of our speakers and delegates at the 3rd UKCGE Conference on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in PG Research. a round-up of the event is now available on our website.

A reminder that we're closing the initial call for presentations for our 2026 Annual Conference on November 21st 2025. Don't worry if you're not ready to submit something yet: there will be another call in the Spring.

Thank you to Professor Kathryn Arnold, Dr Ifedapo Francis Awolowo and Dr Nadia Pollini for their engaging Keynote Panel Session on Evaluating Research England EDI Projects. #ukcgeEDI

A wonderful keynote on the second day of the UKCGE EDI Conference from Professor Lisa-Dionne Morris (University of Leeds) who spoke about inclusive career pathways for postgraduate researchers. #ukcgeEDI

Wonderful to see ten like-minded universities including @universityofessex.bsky.social come together as researchplusunis.bsky.social to amplify our voice and maximise our impact across research and education - including for our postgraduate researchers @ukcge.bsky.social

Great keynote yesterday at the UKCGE EDI Conference from Professor Emmanuel Adukwu (Dean for Students at UWE Bristol) about the the creation of the Minoritised Life Scientists Future Forum. #ukcgeEDI

Great to have another of our popular 'Experiences of Doctoral Candidates' panels at the EDI Conference. Thanks to Esther Ezegbe, Janith Jayatilake Kankanamalage, Melea Sinclair and Mohammed Irfan Yusuf for participating. #ukcgeEDI

We're kicking off our 3rd Conference on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in PG Research today in Leeds with a welcome from Louise Banahene PFHEA MBE: Director of Educational Engagement and Student Success at University of Leeds. #ukcgeEDI

On October 23rd 2025, the Co-Chairs of our Postgraduate Education Practitioners’ (PEP) Network held a Clinic looking at the specific issues and unique challenges which face those working within postgraduate research. Read their report here.

Dr Rebekah Smith McGloin (Chair) has made the following statement on behalf of UKCGE about the Government’s Post-16 Education White Paper, published this week. Full details on the news story linked below. ukcge.ac.uk/news-and...

Great to see that we are mentioned in the Government's Post-16 Education White Paper, regarding our work with Research England to create an online resources hub (p. 58).

We're seeking abstracts on the future of the doctorate for a special edition of 'Innovations in Education and Teaching International' which UKCGE is co-editing with Dr Sian Vaughan from BCU.

UKCGE to Partner on £3.4m Project on AI Researcher Development Network.

UKCGE's Director, Dr Owen Gower (pictured right) is currently presenting at the 2025 Strategic Leaders' Global Summit in Québec City, Canada. This year the summit is focussed on AI and other emerging technologies, and how they will impact on postgraduate education in the future.

The call for presentations is now open for our Annual Conference in July 2026; international participants are welcome. Please see our website for detailed themes and instructions on how to submit an abstract (closes November 7th 2025).

Following on from yesterday, here's part two of our our Research Supervision Recognition Programme (RSRP) in action. Dr Heledd Jarosz-Griffiths and Dr Joanna Royle discuss systems of support for navigating community-based reflection. ukcge.ac.uk/resources/re...

Here is the first of two posts about our Research Supervision Recognition Programme (RSRP) in action. Dr Heledd Jarosz-Griffiths and Dr Joanna Royle discuss creating communities of support around RSRP through writing and discussion groups. ukcge.ac.uk/resource...

This online workshop, run the by the DDD Network, will provide an introduction to those who are new to the role of Doctoral Dean or Director. If you're not yet a member of the Network, you can sign up via our website. ukcge.ac.uk/events/d...

Thank you to our trustee Kay Guccione and her colleagues for hosting us at the impressive ARC at the University of Glasgow. We wish delegates a safe journey home! #UKCGEAC

Lindsay Randall at the University of Edinburgh is here to talk about Supervisor Boundary Work. She emphasises the importance of supervisor wellbeing as having a positive impact on students. #UKCGEAC

Dr Francis Awolowo gives the afternoon keynote on Doctoral Education as a Tool for Justice. On racial equity he says: “You don’t give because you have enough - you give because it’s the right thing to do”. #UKCGEAC

Our trustee Janet Carton, from UCD, speaks on the subject of Leading institutional change and the value of strategic partnerships. “I look at what’s happening in the European context and internationally”. #UKCGEAC

Rhiannon Thompson from the University of Aberdeen is talking about Empowering PGR Communities to Transform Research Cultures and Environments. “We all know that researching can be an isolating experience.” #UKCGEAC

Trustee James Burford chairs a hybrid symposium: International perspectives on PGR in a time of transition and transformation. Thank you colleagues for joining us from across time zones! #UKCGEAC

To kick off day 2, Rebekah Smith McGloin presents the Bob Burgess Memorial Lecture, which is on Building Equitable Futures: Doctoral Education as a Catalyst for Social Change. Pictured: Louw’s Pyramid of Oranges. #UKCGEAC

It’s been quite a day - my highlight was listening to two PGRs from this wonderful city talking about their experiences earlier today, but it was good to catch up with peers to discuss some current challenges. #UKCGEAC

Duncan Shermer from Research England presents the closing keynote today, on People, Culture and Environment (PCE) in REF. “We need to reflect on the changing research landscape and it’s appropriate that REF moves with it”. #UKCGEAC

Masha Shaw and Joanna Royle present LEGOlising the Third Space: Professional Identity and Pathways. There is actual Lego! #UKCGEAC

Karen Clegg, Director of the Next Generation Research SuperVision Project (RSVP), presents to the Research Supervisors’ Network. “It’s about producing a suite of tools to provide supervisors with confidence but it’s also about research culture”. #UKCGEAC

UKCGE Trustees Luke Windsor and Rachel Arnold chair a session for the Deans & Directors’ Network. Discussion underway on overseas PGRs. #UKCGEAC

Susanna Broom - co-chair of the PEP Network - welcomes attendees. She is going to be launching a new buddying scheme today. More on that soon! #UKCGEAC

Joanna Royle, University of Glasgow, presents on PGR Digital Infrastructure: A case study in delivering and evaluating institutional change. “Make it simple for the pocketbook holder and be prepared for it to be time consuming”. #UKCGEAC

Susanna Broom and Fiona Sutton present their session, Doing Policy Consultation Well: A Case Study, with reflections from the University of Sussex. The regulations were streamlined in a consultancy process which was challenging says Fiona. #UKCGEAC

For our Experiences of Doctoral Candidates panel session, trustee Luke Windsor welcomes Beth Meadows, Glasgow Caledonian University, and Adebolaji Nimyel, University of Glasgow. #UKCGEAC

Prof Iain Brennan from the University of Hull kicks off the conference by speaking about Open Research - implementing policies and training to improve transparency. #UKCGEAC

UKCGE Chair Rebekah Smith McGloin and trustee and host Kay Guccione welcome delegates to the beautiful ARC at the University of Glasgow for our Annual Conference: Transitions and Transformations in PGR.

Ahead of our Annual Conference in Glasgow tomorrow, Prof Doug Cleaver remembers Sir Bob Burgess and the inception of the UKCGE in 1994. ukcge.ac.uk/the-burg...

We've been getting some helpful results from our member engagement survey which will contribute to the future development of UKCGE. Have you had your say yet? The survey only takes 5 minutes to complete and closes on July 31st. survey.zohopublic.eu...

Postgraduate researchers may be overlooked by incoming sexual harassment regulations in English universities, warns @the1752group.bsky.social @ukcge.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/news/phd-stu... via @julietterowsell.bsky.social