Languages, Literatures and Cultures

Supervision  

Reported satisfaction rates were high (between 75-88%), , and on consultation with MA students, there is an issue with Masters thesis supervision during the summer. Early thesis writing workshops are not attended as frequently as we would hope for. MA Students tend to wish for more support short before completion, which is the only time when supervisors can go on leave. We are exploring a model of sequencing  distinct elements of thesis writing between April and early July, to take pressure of the last weeks. 

HoS 

Research Culture 

Satisfaction scores were low in the CASSCS survey, which we believe is caused by the disruption of events that Postgraduate students normally participate in (master classes by Visiting fellows, etc) due to first the Pandemic and then the Cyberattac. We have responded by offering Postgraduate Panels on our School Research dayand supporting students to organise Webinars and online summer workshops. 

We are also organising Academic Writing sessions for Postgraduates and early career staff. 

HoS, Research Committee 

Progress and Assessment  

Satisfaction scores in this area were over 60% in CASSCS, and are likely higher in SLLC, with good completion rates. In the assessment of Master Theses we have encountered issues around plagiarism (essay mills) that we need to address more systematically. 

Staff have attended training sessions to tackle this. 

Teaching and Learning Committee 

Research Skills  

PhD students have access to sufficient support, either through modules in the structured PhD programme and their supervisors. In the MA space, this is more challenging due to condensed timeframe and a high number of international students coming from a wide variety of academic settings. We offer support sessions to cover the basics, but a College wide approach to this would be more efficient. 

Teaching and Learning Committee, Research Committee 

Other Transferable Skills 

Satisfaction scores were over 60% in CASSCS, and our students expressed satisfaction especially with our provision of additional certificates in Applied Linguistics and Translation (TRADOS, subtitling) 

N/A 

Responsibilities and Supports 

No additional needs at School level were identified, but existing supports could be offered more efficiently at College level, so that all Schools could share their expertise and support would be less fragmented and/or duplicated. 

This could be an element of a streamlined Graduate School 

VD Graduate Studies with Heads of Schools 

Personal Outlook 

Students are nervous about their future, we have started to set up sessions with the Careers Office specifically for Postgraduate students 

 PhD and MA thesis supervisors 

COVID-19 Questions 

Covid-19 was certainly disruptive, but students were thankful of mitigating measures such as extended submission deadlines and fee waivers. Our next research day in April will be in person and workspaces on campus are coming back into stream. Many international students, however, benefited from the ability to take modules and attend events abroad, and we are retaining some of these options, especially in consideration of the challenges of the Galway rental market. 

HoS 

Development Opportunities   

See point 8. 

In addition, ENLIGHT offers the opportunity to organise experiences abroad for Postgraduate students (Erasmus Mundus), which is an area we will explore in the coming year. 

HoS, Erasmus Coordinators 

Motivations 

Some of our MA´s are geared towards careers in professional services (Embassies, Foreign Affairs Office, EU), others are interested in careers in Academia. It remains important to us to offer a variety of assignments catering for these different groups. 

Module Coordinators 

Career 

See point 11.