University of Exeter
College of Humanities
History Postgraduate Research Liaison Forum
12th October2016
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Present
Stacey Hynd (History DPGR), (LF Rep), Sophy Gardner, Ghee Bowman, Sonia Wigh, Imogene Dudley, Josh Rhodes, Ben Holmes, Cathryn Baker (Hums Grad School)
Apologies
None Received
Minutes
1)Appointment of new PGRLF
Angela announced that she will be stepping down from the role of PGRLF, an overview of the role was given,AM also announced that Hannah Charnock is stepping down as the GTA Rep. Imogene Dudley was nominated and accepted as the new History PGRLF Rep and Josh Rhodes as the GTA Rep for 2016/7.
2)PGR Training
A discussion took place on the PGR training available within the department/Researcher Development/SWDTP. GB mentioned that as a new research student it would be useful to highlight what training is compulsory and benefical. SH pointed out that courses are not made compulsory because PGR students are independent researchers who each have different needs, but if there is a gap in the central Researcher Development provision to make the History department aware.
AM had emailed a survey regarding the provision available, the general concerns were that the central researcher development provision is still too general and not very relevant.
SH has been notified that the College has provided a £5,000 training budget for PGR’s. Gert Vonhoff, the new College DPGR is asking that disciplines email him with their suggestions. Some suggestions include; interview training, oral History, quantitative methods, language training, GIS. It would was also suggested that it would be useful to have one central list of all the training available, even that which can be accessed within another discipline or College.
3)PTA Teaching
Yet again there have been problems with PTA contracts and delay with payment. Initially all contracts did not have the agreed additional 5 hours reflected in the HAT form and many s have been issued with the wrong module details and payments being spread out over 7 months for a module that is only one term. Many students have also had difficulty registering on the new e-claims systems.
SH updated the meeting to say that in an attempt to avoid such mistakes happening again, the department are planning to put together a document based on this years teaching that provides information of what modules are taught by PTA’s, what the hours are and how they are broken down. It is hoped that this will assist the Director of Education who is responsible for completing the HAT forms and returning to the Humanities Finance department.