Dr Ayham Jaaron outlines how Business and Law is strengthening its PGR community through collaboration, development opportunities, engagement and student feedback.
The postgraduate research experience is shaped by academic progress, professional development and the connections students make during their studies.
In the Faculty of Business and Law, we are continuing to develop our PGR community through activities linked to feedback from the Postgraduate Research Experience Survey, or PRES. The survey gives us valuable insight into the experiences of our doctoral researchers and helps us identify areas where further support is needed.
Our current work focuses on creating more opportunities for students to share their research, learn from one another, build professional skills and contribute to faculty discussions.
Expanding the BAL PGR Annual Conference
The BAL PGR Annual Conference will take place on 29 and 30 June 2026. For the first time, it will run over two days, with plans to develop it into a summer school during the 2026/27 academic year.
The conference will include a PGR poster competition, parallel presentation sessions and a policy showcase involving local authorities and industry partners.
These activities will give doctoral researchers experience of presenting their work to different audiences and responding to questions and feedback. The policy showcase will also allow students to discuss how their findings could inform policy and professional practice.
The conference is an important opportunity for researchers across the faculty to meet, exchange ideas and learn more about the range of work taking place within Business and Law.
Creating opportunities for informal connection
PGR coffee mornings have been introduced to give students a regular and informal opportunity to meet other researchers, share experiences and hear from recent graduates.
Sessions in February and May 2026 included contributions from Dr Emmanuel Odumosu and Dr Salem Alateyyat. They spoke about managing challenges during doctoral study, maintaining progress and publishing research.
Their advice gave current students a practical view of the later stages of the doctoral journey. Further coffee mornings are planned throughout the year and will cover different aspects of PGR study.
These gatherings are also helping students build relationships outside their immediate research areas and supervisory teams.
Supporting peer learning through Research Circles
Research Circles, led by BAL PGR representatives, are held each month and provide a space for students to discuss research methods, share knowledge and work through common research challenges.
The sessions are shaped by the interests and needs of the students taking part. They allow researchers at different stages of their studies to learn from each other and discuss topics that may not always be covered in formal training.
Regular peer-led activity is helping to create stronger links between PGR students and encourage more open discussion about the research process.
Developing research communication skills
The BAL Three Minute Thesis competition took place on 18 March 2026. The competition asked doctoral researchers to explain their research clearly and accessibly in three minutes.
Jessica Hutchinson was awarded first place, Salem Alateyyat took second place and Yulduz Mazhitova came third. They also represented the Faculty of Business and Law at the Doctoral College 3MT Final.
Taking part in 3MT helps researchers consider how they explain their work to audiences outside their subject area. These communication skills are valuable when presenting at conferences, speaking to external organisations and applying for future roles.
The competition also gives us an opportunity to recognise the quality and range of doctoral research taking place across the faculty.
Listening to our PGR students
PGR forums are also now held twice a year and provide a direct channel between doctoral researchers and the faculty’s PGR leadership team.
Students can raise concerns, share feedback and suggest improvements to the PGR experience. The forums also give the faculty an opportunity to explain current developments and respond to the issues raised.
Recent graduates are invited to contribute to some sessions, offering advice on professional development, careers and completing a doctorate.
The feedback gathered through the forums, alongside PRES results and discussions with student representatives, continues to shape our priorities.
Continuing to strengthen the community
The activities introduced across the faculty are helping to create a more connected PGR community.
Our next steps include developing the annual conference, increasing opportunities for collaboration and continuing to involve students in decisions about PGR activity.
The progress made so far has been supported by students, PGR representatives, supervisors, recent graduates and colleagues across the faculty. Their involvement is helping us create a research environment where doctoral researchers feel connected, informed and supported throughout their studies.
For more information about what support is available for our Doctoral College Researchers visit Supporting Our Researchers.