Conversations with SGS
Conversations with SGS is a series of monthly sessions for faculty in administrative roles in graduate education at the unit level to come together to share experiences, learnings and incorporate best practices into our work. We plan to provide highlights after every session.
Session #1
Re-imagining Graduate Education
Joshua Barker
Dean, School of Graduate Studies and
Vice-Provost, Graduate Research and Education
Highlights from Dean Barker
Discussion of key SGS values that underly our work
Inclusive excellence
Student-centred innovations
Collaboration and caring
Discussion of priorities for next five years
Ongoing COVID-19 adaptation and recovery: support and flexibility
Successful implementation of:
- Centre for Graduate Mentorship and Supervision
- Centre for Graduate Professional Development
- Healthy Labs and Research Spaces
- Tri-Campus Review recommendations
- Guidelines for research opportunities with industry
Continue to streamline SGS processes based on equity, diversity and inclusion and mental health considerations
Discussion of building a strategic plan for the graduate community. Some possible elements introduced:
Engage in curricular and program renewal to build resilience and increase relevance
Facilitate and celebrate public scholarship and multi-disciplinary learning and exchange
Improve access, equity, and inclusion (pathway from admissions to graduation)
Conduct review of graduate activities on our “4th campus” (affiliated hospitals and institutes)
Grow graduate studies at UTM and UTSC
Highlights from break out group discussions
Need to focus on pathways for under-represented students
Need to foster the graduate student supervisory relationship and address poor supervision at all levels (department/division, SGS) Need to diversify career pathways and definition of success for graduate student training
Graduate education provides meaningful and unique experiences through:
- Knowledge acquisition
- Career advancement
- Personal Development