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The University community and you

Research can be lonely. Perhaps it is the nature of working in a highly specialised field or perhaps it is an inability to spend much time on campus. In an increasingly corporatised higher education system, some research students confront a competitive environment that may limit the sharing of ideas and knowledge.

Unlike some overseas research degrees,

Australian research degrees currently incorporate little, if any, coursework. This can mean it is more difficult for research students to link up with other students and the academic community.

Many postgraduate research students feel isolated at some point during their candidature. Without a sense of belonging and support, successfully completing a research degree can seem that much more difficult. With increasing pressure to complete within a minimum time frame, making good connections and harnessing support in the University will make it that much easier. Traditionally, collegiality was prized and universities shared ideas and knowledge that assisted and inspired research. Collegiality engendered a sense of belonging to an academic community, and a feeling of support not only in academic but also non-academic activities.

Today universities face new challenges in maintaining a sense of collegiality within their communities. Postgraduate research students are now more diverse in age, culture, gender, family and socioeconomic background, family responsibilities and employment status. More students study part-time and the majority do not receive scholarships to cover their living expenses. Identification with the University community may also be weakened as more students balance study with work, family and other commitments.

The University of Sydney community is now scattered across several city and regional and rural campuses, research institutes and hospitals. Students may feel part of a faculty or campus, but may be unaware of the support, services, academic and social life available within the broader University community to which they are entitled.

All of these reasons make it worthwhile for research students to forge connections with other students, your Department, Faculty and University. A sense of dislocation and distance from an academic community can be as much a state of mind as a geographical reality.

Connecting with your Department, School and Faculty

It is important to recognise that collegiality and a sense of belonging arise when students take an active interest in their Department or School. These local connections can be an important source of information and provide support and advice if you run into trying times (such as the loss of a supervisor, requiring new direction for your research or changes in funding or resources). Collegiality can be fostered, firstly by contacting your Postgraduate Student Representative (Postgraduate Rep) for your Department/School or Faculty. Some schools or faculties have postgraduate student associations and these may provide immediate and useful contacts. Postgrad Reps represent postgraduate students at various committees and meetings and have a key role in raising issues for students within the Faculty.

If you do not know who your Postgraduate Rep. is, ask your Faculty Office.

SUPRA organises a range of events throughout the year specifically for postgraduate students at the University of Sydney to come together for social and political aims. SUPRA events are published in the Postgraduate Student Calendar, on the SUPRA website and through our weekly e-bulletin, eGrad.

Subscribe to SUPRA for free and automatically receive eGrad, featuring weekly updates on social events and important information for postgraduate students.

Collegiality is also built by participation at orientation programs and inductions within departments or faculties specifically aimed at research students. These aim to ensure research students are systematically oriented to their Department or School following admission to their degree. Such programs should ensure

More assistance

More information on services is available in Appendix A: Extra Info and Support SUPRA

Phone (02) 9351 3715

Email <[email protected]> University Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Phone (02) 8627 8433 or 8627 8437 <http://sydney.edu.au/

current_students/counselling> The Learning Centre

Phone (02) 9351 3853

Email <[email protected]> <http://sydney.edu.au/stuserv/

learning_centre/> The Thesis Whisperer

<http://thesiswhisperer.com/> that students are aware of their rights and

responsibilities, that they know the full extent of facilities, funding and services available to them, and know who to speak to about any concerns they have. These programs also provide new students with the opportunity to be introduced to researchers within their field who are further advanced.

Be alert to common ways that collegiality is built within Departments and Faculties, including email bulletins or email discussion lists, seminar series specifically for research students and staff, learning circles, joint academic/research student morning teas, invited guest speakers, etc.

Connecting with other students across the University of Sydney

SUPRA has organised postgraduate ‘connect’ conferences designed to help students make connections across disciplines and with postgraduate colleagues. The conferences have focused on encouraging postgraduate presentations alongside keynote academic addresses. Many Faculties hold conferences or symposiums for their own research students, and SUPRA has actively supported these. Digital connection with other students Many research students are find like-minded and accessible peers online. A popular blog used by many students is The Thesis Whisperer, a newspaper style blog which is published once a week and dedicated to helping research students everywhere.The blog is edited by Dr Inger Mewburn, and features useful and entertaining observations on the world of the thesis writer under themes such as ‘Getting things done’, and ‘You and your supervisor’, by contributors from around the world.

Individual student advice or assistance – no matter where you are

If you are feeling isolated, have a concern with your studies and do not know who to talk to, consider contacting SUPRA to talk with a Student Advocate. We are independent of the University

and provide a professional and confidential service. Whether you are on campus, or

elsewhere including overseas, so long as you are enrolled as a student in a postgraduate research degree, SUPRA will listen to you and provide assistance to the best of our ability and resources. You may wish to consider contacting the

University Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS), if you are feeling isolated or finding it hard to connect with others in the academic community and want to speak with someone. CAPS provides various workshops and ebooks for postgraduate research students.

The Learning Centre provides workshops on getting the most out of your

The Thesis Guide

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