Postgraduate Researcher Reps

If you are interested in becoming a PGR Rep, contact your graduate school Manager, or for any queries, please contact academicsupport@luu.leeds.ac.uk. LUU always welcomes applications from students of various backgrounds in order to ensure we have a diverse range of voices representing the student population.

What is a PGR Rep?

PGR Reps influence the decisions made by schools, research institutes, and faculties. They represent and re-present the views, experiences and concerns of other PGRs and work in partnership to secure changes which make the University a better place to work and study.

Who do they represent?

All postgraduate researchers enrolled on a degree programme in your home school, research institute, CDT, or other administrative cluster. 

How do they represent them?

PGR Reps have a seat at all meetings where decisions are made about the experience and administration of postgraduate researchers where they can raise ideas, issues, and concerns as well as feedback on other plans. This will at least include a school PGR Forum, a Faculty Graduate School Committee, and the central University Graduate Board though reps will also be invited in to other discussion.

Where these formal processes do not lead to change, reps may work alongside each other and LUU to campaign proactively on issues which they and their constituents care about.

What skills might they need?

PGR Reps are leaders within their cohort group and should expect to have, develop, or acquire the following skills from the University’s Leadership Excellence Behaviours.

• PGR Reps will act purposefully and be able to recognise where the actions and activity of the University do not align with its goals and values. They will need their work to be informed by evidence and insight. 

• PGR Reps will be creative and innovative as they find ways of bringing their communities closer together and propose new ways to reach common goals. 

• PGR Reps are collaborative. They work as part of a team of reps in their immediate area, as part of a network of reps across the university, and in partnership with academic and professional colleagues at the University and LUU to create change.

• PGR Reps need to communicate well to ensure that their cohort trusts them with their feedback and are appraised of developments, as well as to convince decision makers to act in the best interests of PGRs.

What support is available?

LUU will offer training for all new reps and continuous development opportunities. They will offer ongoing support for reps including guidance on boundaries and referrals. They will provide opportunities for reps to meet with each other and with senior University staff and meet with reps as required to give advice and take up issues. 

Graduate Schools will ensure reps are invited to the appropriate meetings where they can provide feedback and ideas. They will provide other administrative support by agreement.  

Schools will support reps in activities relating to their role, including facilitating PGR Forums and providing suitable channels for reps to communicate with their cohorts. 

Directors of PGR will meet with reps once per semester to discuss issues. 

Why become a PGR Rep?

• Achieve peer-led change for your cohort

• Develop skills including communication, self-confidence, diplomacy, feedback collection, public speaking, organisation and advocating for others 

• Ensure a voice for often underrepresented PGRs across the University

• Networking opportunities with Academics, Support Staff, and other Reps across the University

• Recognition for your contributions, including eligibility for awards as part of Celebrate Week and a certificate

Who should apply?

• Anyone with a passion for improving the research culture in their faculty

• Those with the ability to communicate with a diverse range of researchers, academic and support staff

• Those with the ability to listen to, and represent, diverse viewpoints without bias

• Those with an interest in contributing to team initiatives

What will I be doing?

PGR Reps have a seat at meetings where decisions are made about the experience and administration of postgraduate researchers. They can raise ideas, issues, and concerns as well as feeding back on other plans. 

Meetings vary between Graduate Schools but can include a PGR Rep Central Forum with the International & Postgraduate Students Officer and the Dean of the Doctoral College, a Faculty Graduate School Committee and the possibility to sit on Graduate Board. Reps will also be invited into other discussions as and when necessary.

Where these formal processes do not lead to change, Reps may work alongside each other and LUU to campaign proactively on issues which they and their constituents care about.