Listening, learning and acting to improve the PGR experience at Leeds Beckett

What the results told us

This year, 330 of you responded to the Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES 2025), giving us a 55 per cent response rate. That is consistent with 2023 and gives us a strong foundation to understand what is working well and where we can continue to grow.

The overall story is one of quiet, steady progress, with satisfaction rising to 83.6 per cent, a small but meaningful increase.

Supervision remains our strongest area, with 89 per cent of respondents highlighting the knowledge, guidance and developmental support of their supervisors. Confidence in research skills is also climbing, now at 89 per cent, with growth in areas such as critical thinking, methodology and research integrity.

Access to physical and digital resources remains strong, and many of you said you now feel more confident managing your own professional development.

At the same time, we know there is more to do. The results show that feelings of community (55 per cent) and research culture (56 per cent) remain below benchmark averages. In simple terms, too many PGRs still feel disconnected from the wider research environment, and some feel they have fewer opportunities to engage with networks.

Within the data, there are also important nuances. PGRs who identify as disabled report lower satisfaction across research culture, community and support. This gap matters, and it is shaping how we design our next steps.

These findings are a reminder that building a positive research culture takes time and care. They also reflect our university values of inclusivity, integrity, collaboration and ambition - values that guide how we listen, how we act and how we create opportunities for every researcher to thrive.

Our institutional response

In response, our institutional focus is clear. The actions outlined here form part of our university-wide response to PRES 2025. Each School will also review its own results and develop local actions tailored to its specific context. Together, these responses form a shared commitment to strengthening the PGR experience across the whole university.

At an institutional level, our focus is on areas that cut across all disciplines and cohorts: research culture, community, development, training and communication.

What we have done so far

Work to strengthen the PGR experience has already begun, shaped by what we continue to learn from your feedback and from earlier surveys. Over the past year, we've focused on turning insight into action and building on the things that matter most to our research community. Some of the key developments include:

• Launching a comprehensive PGR training programme aligned to the Vitae Researcher Development Framework and shaped by PGR input
• Creating more opportunities to connect through a series of community events designed by and for PGRs, offering spaces to share experiences, swap strategies and build networks across disciplines
• Development of a writing retreat programme which offers residential and online sessions to support focused writing time and build connections among PGRs at different stages of their research
• Enhancing visibility of PGR research through stronger representation at our annual Festival of Research and Knowledge Exchange and through the LBU Research Voices blog
• Introducing new communication channels including our monthly PGR newsletter and the LBU PGR Teams Community, providing a space for updates, discussions and peer-to-peer support
• Developing a Career Development Programme that includes group sessions and one-to-one career advice appointments tailored specifically to doctoral researchers
• Offering more flexible training options, including twilight sessions to better support part-time PGRs

Together, these actions are beginning to build a stronger sense of visibility, belonging and connection, important steps toward a more inclusive research culture.

What happens next

We are not done listening, and we are certainly not done acting. Over the next year we will be:

• Hosting focus groups with part-time PGRs to understand their specific needs, from scheduling to wellbeing, to help shape support that genuinely works
• Exploring how we can make sure the wider university support offer, from wellbeing to careers, is accessible and relevant to the PGR community
• Expanding our mentoring programme to include PGRs, creating new opportunities for guidance and professional connection
• Continuing to highlight PGR research through institutional events, seminars and communications
• Developing our training offer further, combining live and self-paced options so that every PGR, whatever their circumstances, can engage meaningfully with development opportunities

Why this matters

Behind every percentage point are real experiences, moments of motivation, challenge, pride and doubt. The insights you share help us create a university that reflects who you are and what you need.

Research culture is not built through surveys or action plans alone. It is built through shared effort, honest conversation and a community that keeps showing up for one another.

So once again, thank you for sharing your voice.  It helps us keep improving, keep questioning and keep building a research environment rooted in respect, inclusion and curiosity.

You can read more about the PRES 2025 results and institutional action plan on our website.