Transcript Welcome (PowerPoint)

Welcome to Newcastle!
Postgraduate Induction 2016
Professor John Kirby
Dean of Postgraduate Studies
Faculty of Medical Sciences
The City
• Newcastle upon Tyne
– the 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
• 38th 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 surrounded by some of the UK’s most
beautiful countryside
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?
Congratulations!
• You have chosen to study at an excellent
university
• Our faculty was listed 94th of 15,000
universities in a global league table (QS rating)
• Students of UK universities are regularly asked
about their experience
– Our research students surveyed 86% agree that they
are satisfied with their experience > university 83%
and > the UK sector 82%
Your opinion of us: PRES 2015
My supervisor/s have the skills and
subject knowledge to support my research
I have access to the specialist resources
necessary for my research
My skills in applying appropriate research
methodologies, tools and techniques
have developed during my programme
Medical Sciences
94%
Newcastle
93%
Russell Group
92%
Sector
92%
Medical Sciences
88%
Newcastle
82%
Russell Group
81%
Sector
78%
Medical Sciences
94%
Newcastle
92%
Russell Group
90%
Sector
90%
Some facts and figures
• Student numbers:
– 16,000 undergraduates
– 6,000 postgraduates
• Staff:
– 2,400 teachers
• Organised into 3 faculties:
– Faculty of Medical Sciences:
4,600 students
– Science, Agriculture and Engineering: 6,500 students
– Humanities and Social Sciences:
10,700
students
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 Sciences
The Faculty of Medical Sciences
• Management
– The Pro-Vice-Chancellor
– Deans:
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Clinical Medicine
Research and Innovation
Undergraduate Studies
International Medical Education
Postgraduate Studies
Prof Chris Day
Prof Julia Newton
Prof Dave Jones
Prof Jane Calvert
Prof Roger Barton
me
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
– Cellular Medicine
– Health and Society
– Genetic Medicine
– Neurosciences
– Northern Institute of Cancer Research
ICaMB
ICM
IHS
IGM
IoN
NICR
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:
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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 problems
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)
Where is the Graduate School?
Ridley Atrium
Training Suite / common room – Soon!
Student’s reception and office
• 3rd floor Ridley Building 1
The Graduate School – who’s who?
• me
Dean
• Dr Alison Tyson-Capper Postgraduate Tutor
• Prof Dianne Ford
Director of Taught Studies
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Prof Rob Pickard
Prof Steve Yeaman
Prof Rob Taylor
Dr Tim Cheek
Dr Richy Hetherington
• Ms Barbara Sumner
Director of MD Studies
Director International Studies
PG Recruitment
BBSRC programme director
Development co-ordinator
Graduate School Administrator
A most important person – your supervisor
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!)
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
session
Even more support!
• Each Institute has a Postgraduate Research
Co-ordinator (supported by an administrator)
Institute Postgraduate Research Student Coordinators and Institute Staff Contacts
Institute for Cell & Molecular Biosciences
Dr Tim Cheek 7010 [email protected]
Louise Campbell 6961 [email protected]
Institute of Cellular Medicine
Dr Mike Drinnan 7156 [email protected]
Victoria Sullivan 7107/8260 [email protected]
Institute of Health and Society
Dr Lindsay Pennington 2821360 [email protected]
Marion Hancock 8754 [email protected]
Institute of Genetic Medicine
Dr Joanna Elson 228630 [email protected]
Trish Milton 228611 [email protected]
Institute of Neuroscience
Dr Fiona LeBeau 3898 [email protected]
Helen Stewart 8244 [email protected]
Northern Institute for Cancer Research
Professor Steve Clifford 4422 [email protected]
Pauline Stephenson 4407 [email protected]
Regional Research Student Advisors
Dental School PGR Students Dr Paula Waterhouse [email protected]
Medical Education PGR Students Dr Gill Vance [email protected]
Campus for Ageing and Vitality PGR Students Prof Marion Petrie [email protected]
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.
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
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Supervisor
Progress panel
Postgraduate Research Co-ordinator
Graduate School staff
Postgraduate Tutor
or me!