A Higher Education revolution

Postgraduate study in Britain is now more dynamic and exciting than ever before. Britain is moving fast to shake off old preconceptions of elitism and privilege to provide a system which is open, accessible and of a world class standard. Postgraduate numbers are increasing faster than any other group in higher education and the opportunities to take part in this have widened with an expansion of the whole sector.

There are also comprehensive safeguards for quality which have been increased in recent years. The whole of higher education is monitored by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) (http://www.qaa.ac.uk/). Performance indicators also exist which can help you compare standards between institutions. The two main indicators are the Research Assessment Exercise (http://www.rae.ac.uk/) and Subject Review (administered by the QAA) which measures teaching quality and departmental service provision to students. Every department is assessed and graded in both areas.

Bear in mind, though, that this information can misrepresent what your experience might be at a particular institution. For example excellent supervision for research can be found at institutions which receive lower RAE ratings. Similarly, academics at high rated departments may be of international standard but this may also mean that they have less time for you individually.

Most postgraduates in the UK are studying for Masters qualifications lasting one or two years. These courses serve a range of needs from vocational training to a preparation for further research. One characteristic common to all is the opportunity to work in small groups and contribute to an exciting mix of ideas and experience.

Teaching and learning on taught courses may be in the form of essays, project work, industrial or business placements, problem-solving classes, lectures, tutorials or discussion groups. They may also include a project or research dissertation which you work on individually or as part of a group.

It is important that you check the content of courses and are sure that they are suitable for you. Courses with the same title may be very different in=heir aims and methods and different institutions have different strengths.

British Universities have a long and respected tradition for research. Many=asters courses contain a research element and some are dedicated to research with little or no formal teaching. The most advanced form of postgraduate research is doctoral work which is intensive and needs strong commitment in terms of time, dedication and finance. Full time study at this level will take at least three years.

Whatever course you choose research in the UK is characterised by close contact with academic staff and personal research supervision either working with one or two academics or part of a research team. This very much depends on the subject area you are working in.

Research training is provided to support your work and the aim here is to provide you with skills appropriate to your research but also to help you gain generic skills in research methodology and an understanding of your subject as a whole.

Whatever your course you will have the opportunity as a postgraduate to develop your skills both formally and informally. All institutions offer a range of supplementary courses in addition to the training and teaching you will receive as part of your study.

Often what is not recognised are the skills you will develop informally through studying in another country at postgraduate level. Postgraduate study will enable you to develop your personal skills in areas such as presentation, report writing, organising work effectively, managing others and communicating ideas clearly.

The UK Government is in the process of making it easier for international students to work while studying. Your institution will be able to provide you with more information here but, as long as it does not conflict with your course, this can be a good way to subsidise your study and experience more of life in the UK.

For research students in particular there are often opportunities to teach at an undergraduate level while you are doing your research. This can be an exciting and rewarding experience but remember it can also be very time consuming. Make sure you receive proper support and training from the institution as this will make your teaching easier and more enjoyable to both you and your students.

It is important to remember that when you are studying your academic work is only part of your life. All institutions in Britain have an organisation run by students and usually known as the students¹ union or association. They are a focus for student life and provide social and sporting facilities as well as acting as the voice of students at the institution. Most institutions have a postgraduate society and a wide range of other clubs and societies.

The first places you should go for information and support are your institution and its student union. The national body for postgraduates in the UK is the National Postgraduate Committee (NPC) (http://www.npc.org.uk/) which is an independent organisation offering support, advice and guidance to student unions and institutions.

The United Nations World Conference on Higher Education (1998) recognised that there is an unprecedented demand for and expansion of higher education across the world. Social, cultural and economic benefits come directly from participation in higher education and issues such as access, funding, training, quality, research, teaching and employment are providing challenges to all countries. Partnerships are being developed between business, industry, government, academia and individuals which break down the traditional barriers=o access and ensure that higher education is a vibrant and active part of society.

There is a real commitment in Britain to widening opportunity and expanding=he role that higher education plays in society and the world. This is an exciting time to be part of a learning revolution that can benefit you as an individual and society as a whole.

Contact
Address...................11 Onley Street, Norwich, NR2 2EA
Telephone..............01603 473487
E¹mail......................jehoad@dircon.co.uk

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