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Postgraduate Research Sub-Committee

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Postgraduate Research Sub-Committee
Agenda

There will be a meeting of the Postgraduate Research Committee on Wednesday 3rd December 2025 at 10.05am.

Agenda Paper to be uploaded once confirmed.

Previous Agendas

2025/26

2024/25

2023/24

2022/23

 

 

 

Remit & Composition

Convenor: Stuart Piertney (Dean of Postgraduate Research)

Clerk: Georgi Chichkov (PGRC Coordinator - Culture & Environment)

Email: pgrc@abdn.ac.uk

Purpose:

A strategy and policy committee to deliver excellence in Postgraduate Research across the University.

Remit:

The PGR committee will provide strategic direction for Postgraduate Research at the University of Aberdeen aligned with the 2040 Strategic plan through:

Growth:

  • Develop Institutional strategies for PGR growth through marketing, recruitment, development of new products and partnerships
  • Work closely with Schools to identify and develop strategies for involvement in funding applications for doctoral training

Recruitment:

  • Ensure best practice in advertising and recruiting to deliver an outstanding, diverse and inclusive postgraduate research community

Training and Experience:

  • Lead the development and implementation of strategies to support and enhance the research environment and culture to deliver an outstanding PGR experience
  • Provide a researcher training and development programme that augments School provision of disciplinary skills and expertise, and nurtures interdisciplinarity and enhances employability
  • Provide support to ensure excellent standards of supervision and mentoring

Progression and Governance:

  • Ensure excellent standards of research integrity and governance for Postgraduate Research
  • Lead, develop, implement and review policies and practices for monitoring PGR engagement, progression, retention, completion and external quality assurance requirements
  • Provide input to and oversight of Institutional responses to internal and external research consultations, initiatives and surveys (e.g. REF, PRES, SFC Research Accountability and Assurances Exercise)

Composition and Quorum

Chair:

Dean of Postgraduate Research

Composition:

PGR Director for Business School

PGR Director for School of Biological Sciences

PGR Director for School of Divinity, History, Philosophy & Art History

PGR Director for School of Education

PGR Director for School of Engineering

PGR Director for School of Geosciences

PGR Director for School of Language, Literature, Music & Visual Culture

PGR Director for School of Law

PGR Director for School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition

PGR Director for School of Natural & Computing Sciences

PGR Director for School of Psychology

PGR Director for School of Social Sciences

PGR student member of the Doctoral Representatives Group

Dean for Student Support & Experience

Dean for Quality Assurance and Enhancement

In Attendance:

PGR College Manager

PGRC Environment and Culture Manager

PGR Marketing and Recruitment representatives

Assistant Registrar (Postgraduate)

University Librarian (also representing DDIS)

Head of Careers and Employability Service or nominee

School Administration Manager

Quorum: 50%

Consideration to be given to Equality and Diversity in Membership.

Members’ Responsibilities:

Each member of the committee will contribute to discussions and feedback to their respective areas. School representatives will ensure that they use their School Research Committees and other School forums to inform feedback into Postgraduate Research Committee and to raise matters relevant to the Postgraduate Research Committee or for referral onto University Research Committee and/or Quality Assurance Committee as appropriate. Where a member is unable to attend a meeting, they should inform the Clerk in advance and nominate an appropriate delegate. Delegates must be adequately briefed, provided with the relevant papers in good time, and expected to contribute fully on behalf of the School.

Reporting line/parent committee and interface with other committees:

Formal reporting line: University Research Committee (URC)

Interface with other committees/groups:

School Research Committees; Quality Assurance Committee; Student Recruitment Committee; University Education Committee; Student Support & Experience Committee; Employability and Entrepreneurship Committee; PGR Representatives Group.

Frequency and timing of meetings:

A minimum of four meetings per session, normally preceding meetings of the University Research Committee. Meetings between 9:30am – 4:30pm in accordance with University Policy.

Publication of Papers:

The agenda and meeting papers will be made available at least one week prior to meetings of the PGRC. Where these papers are draft, this will be clearly identified.

Updated: 27 August 2025

 

Membership

Convenor: Stuart Piertney (Dean of Postgraduate Research)

Clerk: Georgi Chichkov (PGR College Coordinator - Culture & Environment)

Email: pgrc@abdn.ac.uk

Membership (2025 - 2026)

Dean for Postgraduate Research: Stuart Piertney

PGR Director for Business School: Jie Wu

PGR Director for School of Biological Sciences: Paul Hallett

PGR Director for School of Divinity, History, Philosophy & Art History: Ben Marsden

PGR Director for School of Education: Archie Graham

PGR Director for School of Engineering: Mehmet Kartal

PGR Director for School of Geosciences: Charlotta Hillerdal

PGR Director for School of Language, Literature, Music & Visual Culture: Johannes Heim

PGR Director for School of Law: Peter Cserne

PGR Director for School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition: Samantha Miller

PGR Director for School of Natural & Computing Sciences: Laurent Trembleau

PGR Director for School of Psychology: Patric Bach

PGR Director for School of Social Sciences: Isabella Kasselstrand

PGR Student representatives (members of the Doctoral Representative Group)

Dean for Student Support & Experience: Jason Bohan

Dean for Quality Assurance and Enhancement: Steve Tucker

In Attendance:

PGR College Manager: Lucy Leiper

PGRC Environment and Culture Manager: Rhiannon Thompson

Head of Marketing & Campaigns: Brian Hussey

Assistant Registrar (Postgraduate): Robert Findlay

University Librarian (also representing DDIS): Simon Bains

Head of Careers and Employability Service: Rhona Gibson

School Administration Manager: Melanie McCann

Membership (2024 - 2025)

Dean for Postgraduate Research: Stuart Piertney

PGR Director for Business School: Audrey Paterson

PGR Director for School of Biological Sciences: Paul Hallett

PGR Director for School of Divinity, History, Philosophy & Art History: Ben Marsden

PGR Director for School of Education: Archie Graham

PGR Director for School of Engineering: Mehmet Kartal

PGR Director for School of Geosciences: Charlotta Hillerdal

PGR Director for School of Language, Literature, Music & Visual Culture: Johannes Heim

PGR Director for School of Law: Peter Cserne

PGR Director for School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition: Sam Miller

PGR Director for School of Natural & Computing Sciences: Ekke Ullner

PGR Director for School of Psychology: Patric Bach

PGR Director for School of Social Sciences: Isabella Kasselstrand

2 PGR Student representatives (members of the Doctoral Representative Group)

Dean for Student Support & Experience: Jason Bohan

Dean for Student Recruitment (UK and/or International) - tbc

Dean for Quality Assurance: Steve Tucker

In Attendance:

PGR College Manager: Lucy Leiper

PGRC Research Culture & Environment Manager: Rhiannon Thompson

PGR Marketing and Recruitment representatives: Ashar Ehsan

Assistant Registrar (Postgraduate): Robert Findlay

University Librarian (also representing DDIS): Simon Bains

Head of Careers and Employability Service: Rhona Gibson (representative)

School Administration Manager: Kate Smith / Karen Slesser (on rotation)

Membership (2023 - 2024)

Dean for Postgraduate Research: Stuart Piertney

PGR Director for Business School: Audrey Paterson

PGR Director for School of Biological Sciences: Paul Hallett

PGR Director for School of Divinity, History, Philosophy & Art History: Léon Van Ommen

PGR Director for School of Education: Peter Mtika

PGR Director for School of Engineering: Mehmet Kartal

PGR Director for School of Geosciences: Charlotta Hillerdal

PGR Director for School of Language, Literature, Music & Visual Culture: Vincent Greenier

PGR Director for School of Law: Peter Cserne

PGR Director for School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition: Val Speirs

PGR Director for School of Natural & Computing Sciences: Ekke Ullner

PGR Director for School of Psychology: Patric Bach

PGR Director for School of Social Sciences: Isabella Kasselstrand

2 PGR Student representatives (members of the Doctoral Representative Group)

Dean for Student Support & Experience: Jason Bohan

Dean for Student Recruitment (UK and/or International) - tbc

Dean for Quality Assurance: Steve Tucker

In Attendance:

PGR School Manager: Lucy Leiper

PGRS Engagement Manager: Rhiannon Thompson

PGR Marketing and Recruitment representatives (tbc)

Assistant Registrar (Postgraduate): Yvonne Gordon

University Librarian (also representing DDIS): Simon Bains

Head of Careers and Employability Service: Tracey Innes

School Administration Manager: Kate Smith / Karen Slesser (on rotation)

 

Minutes

2024/2025

2022/2023

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