Welcome to the Postgraduate Association!
My name is Micaela, and I am the Vice President Postgraduates at Cardiff Students' Union. This means that my role is to represent the postgraduate community on matters of education and welfare across the University.
My vision for the Postgraduate Association is for it to be an inclusive space for postgraduates across Cardiff where we can connect with each other and come together to solve issues that affect your student experience. If you would like to contribute to build up and strengthen the postgraduate community please feel free to get in touch with me at VPPostgraduate@cardiff.ac.uk, I am looking forward to hear your ideas!
I will be sending a Postgraduate newsletter every month so keep an eye on your emails! If you would like to know more about my day to day work and keep updated with my work you can find me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or check my progress on my Officer Tracker.
Join A Union
If you are a Postgraduate Research (PGR) student, it is important that you are aware of your rights, have access to training and feel supported in your role which can often toe the line between staff and students. Many PGR students at Cardiff University are members of UCU (Universities and Colleges Union), and have access to free memberships, which is one of the largest Unions in the world.
The UCU Union provides targeted support for Postgraduates who teach, on a wide range of topics including: Employment Rights, Representation, Professional Development, Training and Advice.
The Students' Union works closely with the Cardiff Branch of UCU to ensure appropriate representation and support, but if we could be doing more, please let us know!
Click here for more details about joining UCU.
Know Your Rights!
Since 2018, the Students’ Union has collaborated closely with the University and UCU to establish proper contracts for PGRs engaged in teaching and demonstrating. The aim is to ensure that PGRs receive the rightful recognition and rights equivalent to those of staff members employed by the University.
The transition from a code of engagement to an employment contract marks a significant step forward. Graduate Tutors and Demonstrators will now have comprehensive rights and benefits that are equivalent to staff positions within the University.
Click here to Know Your Rights!
Student Advice
Student Advice in the Students’ Union offers free, independent, impartial and confidential advice to all students at Cardiff University.
You can contact Student Advice about anything, whether you be concerned about your academics, your housing or another aspect of your life! They’re independent from the University so can help with absolutely anything, even if you’re looking to make complaints.
You can get in touch with Advice via email, or by calling 02920 781410 (active Mon-Fri 9am-5pm).
Student Voice & Feedback
At the Students’ Union, we want to empower you to use your voice to improve your experience at Cardiff University.
Student Academic Representatives: Every cohort has at least one Student Rep, they attend the Student Staff Panels (SSP) where they have the chance to provide feedback to the university staff (academics, librarians, catering…). I suggest you identify your Student Rep and annotate the upcoming SSP dates so your feedback can reach your school.
Vice President Postgraduate Students (Sabbatical Officer): Every year a student is elected to represent the postgraduate students at Cardiff University. The VP Postgraduate’s job is to ensure that the postgraduate students are represented in university meetings, to run projects that will improve the postgraduate student experience, and to strengthen the postgraduate community.
Postgraduate Executive Committee: This committee has a fortnightly meeting with the VP Postgraduate where the committee can provide feedback and take the VP Postgraduate accountable. Additionally, this committee supports the VP Postgraduate in creating events for the Postgraduate Association. Applications for the committee are currently open.
Speak Week Campaign: This campaign allows students across Cardiff University to submit their feedback regarding their student experience (transport, course, lectures, recordings, accommodation, catering…). This is the biggest campaign for feedback collection – we get thousands of comments every year! The data collected will be anonymised and will be used by the Sabbatical Officers to create projects and lobby University to action on what students need.
Other Democratic Processes: Check the Democracy webpage to know more about Elections, Student Senate, Scrutiny Committee, and the Annual General Meeting (AGM) which will take place on the 24th of November 2022. All students are invited to attend the AGM and cast their vote on the proposals that will affect their student experience.
If there is any feedback that you would like the VP Postgraduate to work on, please fill up the feedback form.
Give It A Go Events & Trips
The Students’ Union runs the Give it a Go (GIAG) programme which offers you the chance to try a new skill, learn something new or explore an interesting destinations such as Cambridge, Oxford, Stonehenge, and many others! These are usually one-day or weekend trips, where transportation is provided and two GIAG volunteers will be acting as key contacts throughout the trip. Check the upcoming trips on the GIAG webpage.
Jobs & Skills
The Students’ Union offers multiple opportunities for you to develop your skills and boost your CV. This can be via workshops hosted by Skills Development Service, via our Jobshop platform which offers part-time jobs and one-time shifts to students, or via other schemes.
Upcoming Postgraduate Events
Keep your eyes peeled below for some exciting events!
Postgraduate Community
There is a large and active postgraduate community in Cardiff and we are working each year to build on this. Our new Postgraduate Association is a tool that enables all Postgraduates to work together, but we need your assistance to make it successful! If you would like to get more involved or have an idea, get in touch with me at VPPostgraduate@cardiff.ac.uk
Postgraduate Students' Association
This Association represents all postgraduate students at the university. I am working with Postgraduate students across the University to create a platform for socialising, to cultivate a sense of community and support for all Postgraduates during their time here at Cardiff, as well as formal representation of the collective Postgraduate interests. Membership of the Association is automatic for Postgraduates at Cardiff University - you became a member when you enrolled!
Cardiff Students Postgraduate Network
The Cardiff Students Postgraduate Network is a Facebook group for all postgraduate students that seeks to develop an active, strong and vibrant postgraduate community here at Cardiff. The network combines both Research and Taught students in order to develop a supportive research environment as well as promoting the diverse and exciting extra-curricular opportunities available to postgrads. The network gives you the chance to find out about academic and social events, get in contact with fellow students and find out more information about what’s going on in the postgrad community. The PG network is led by the Cardiff Students’ Postgraduate Association, the Vice President Postgraduate Students and the Students’ Union. They are there to listen to your views, to advise, to take effective action, and to support and facilitate your ideas, whether this be for social events or improvements in your academic experience. Don’t forget to join the group to stay updated!