PGR Wellbeing and Action Learning Sets

Objectives

Portsmouth Action Learning Sets (PALS) are a new initiative developed as part of the Office for Students funded postgraduate researcher (PGR) Wellbeing Project aimed at promoting PGR wellbeing and social support. The PALS framework was co-constructed through a participatory action research approach with a small group of PGRs that formed part of the project steering group. The PALS are currently being piloted by two groups over the summer vacation, with an initial rollout in one faculty (Humanities and Social Sciences) and through a Graduate School Development Programme session on Surviving and Thriving in Academia. The purpose of this session is to show how participants are engaged in the process of selecting topics to be included in a future Vitae Researcher Development Framework mental health and wellbeing lens. We will then demonstrate key aspects of a PAL in action drawing on input from the PGR pilot and give a demonstration of the online resources that have been developed to support PALS. We will conclude with a discussion of how these interventions and resources could be used to support PGRs in different faculty and departmental contexts in the next academic year. This session is relevant to supervisors, FRDCs, DRDCs and any other staff in PGR facing roles.