Support for your journey
Postgraduate Student Partnership (PSP)
Overview: The Postgraduate Student Partnership (PSP) program offers a unique opportunity for postgraduate students to collaborate on significant projects that directly impact the UQ community. Through this program, students contribute to meaningful work, helping shape UQ’s services and initiatives, and their efforts have the potential to influence decisions at the highest levels. Successful participants will not only receive recognition for their contributions but may also have their projects proposed to UQ for further development. In addition to gaining recognition, participants stand a chance to receive exciting rewards and perks for their contributions.
Projects for PSP 2024
1. Review of Student Survey
Problem Statement
A current UQ Student Survey is lengthy and complex, leading to a low response rate and rushed, incomplete answers. This compromises the quality of feedback necessary to improve funded services.
Key Objectives
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Simplify the student survey to encourage more student participation.
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Gather focused and meaningful feedback on priority funded services.
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Enhance the decision-making process for fund allocation based on higher-quality student input.
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Increase feedback quality while reducing the time required for students to complete the survey.
2. International Postgraduate Student Integration
Problem Statement
Many international postgraduate students face challenges in adapting to university life at UQ. These challenges often include language barriers, unfamiliar academic expectations, limited social networks, and cultural differences, leading to isolation and difficulty engaging in both academic and social activities.
Key Objectives
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Design and implement programs, like the Postgraduate Jump Starter Program, to help students understand Australian academic expectations and conventions.
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Foster social inclusion and build a supportive community for international students within the broader student population.
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Provide continuous mentoring, workshops, and events tailored to the needs of international postgraduate students.
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Ensure international students feel welcome, supported, and integrated into all aspects of university life—both academic and social.
3. Postgrad Buddy Postgraduate Alumni Mentorship Program
Problem Statement
Postgraduate students often lack access to professional advice and industry insights, making it difficult to choose career paths, build networks, and transition from academia to the workplace. There is a strong need for structured mentorship opportunities that leverage the experiences of UQ alumni.
Key Objectives
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Develop a structured mechanism to match current postgraduate students with alumni mentors who share similar academic or career interests.
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Facilitate the Postgrad Buddy Platform, which will consist of groups of mentors (alumni and postgraduate students who have completed at least two semesters) and groups of mentees (current postgraduate students or those starting their first semester).
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Provide career guidance, professional networking opportunities, and skill development support.
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Establish regular contact and information-sharing through ongoing mentorship relationships.
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Help students choose suitable career paths and enhance their employability by leveraging alumni experiences.
Registration:
As part of the registration process, students are encouraged to select the project that interests them the most and express their motivation for joining. Successful candidates will be notified by email and invited to join a group chat for ongoing collaboration.
The program will be conducted partially in person and online mode, with an exciting launch session and end-of-program celebration held in person.
Application Deadline: 31st October
Program Launch date: 31st October
Program end date: 5th December