Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies 2025-28 Partnership + Action Plan
The Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) is developing a 2025-28 Partnership + Action Plan, which will outline how GPS will work together with graduate students, postdoctoral scholars and our campus community partners in service of shared goals and where GPS will focus its efforts and resources in 2025-28.
2025-28 Partnership + Action Plan Consultations Summary
| What Happened | What We Heard | |
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| Graduate student and postdoctoral scholar engagement |
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| University senior leadership engagement |
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| Graduate administrator engagement |
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| Graduate academic ecosystem engagements |
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| 2025-28 Partnership + Action Plan launch |
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The plan will identify goals, objectives and indicators of success for GPS in 2025-28, including:
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Student Journey Mapping Workshop Summary | July-August 2024
What Happened
The Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) is developing a 2025-28 Partnership + Action Plan, which will outline how GPS will work together with graduate students, postdoctoral scholars and our campus community partners in service of shared goals and where GPS will focus its efforts and resources in 2025-28.
As one step in this multi-part process, we are engaging with our community of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars to gain insight into your journeys. In early July, we distributed a survey to gather your perspectives on your experiences in your master's, PhD or postdoctoral programs. Following the survey, we held in-person sessions on Aug. 7 to explore and have conversations about the experiences you shared.
What We Heard
You provided rich and valuable feedback that will help us illuminate the student and postdoctoral scholar journeys and accurately reflect your experiences in doing so at the University of Alberta. While each academic journey is unique and filled with transitions, including new beginnings, endings and personal life changes, a few key themes emerged from our conversations:
- It was affirming to see your journeys reflected in writing/visuals, and while each experience is unique, there are common experiences shared by all.
- Participants were grateful that the student and postdoctoral scholar experience will be central to GPS’s new partnership and action plan.
- There was a sense of community gained by coming together as an interdisciplinary group of students and scholars.
We've gathered some words of wisdom from fellow students and postdoctoral scholars who participated in the student journey mapping workshop. Here’s the advice they shared on building community, activities to explore in Edmonton and impactful lessons learned along their journeys so far:
Ways to Build Community
- Host dinner gatherings and invite your guests to bring a friend.
- Build community virtually by reading the latest news and meeting people online. Read Edmonton related blogs, follow Edmonton social media accounts and groups on Facebook like Curiocity Edmonton or read posts in local subreddits on Reddit.
- Seek opportunities to make interdisciplinary connections across the university (e.g., faculty student groups, Graduate Students’ Association (GSA), Falling Walls Lab, Three Minute Thesis and Images of Research).
- Attend workshops — check out this list of GPS workshops.
- Get involved! Participate in activities you like to meet people who share your same interests.
- Connect with your program advisors, even if you don’t need help immediately.
- Be curious about your classmates and take the initiative to build a community within your class.
- Build a relationship with your supervisor and get to know them personally.
Things to Do in Edmonton
- Explore Edmonton’s River Valley and the many parks, restaurants and walking trails around the area.
- Attend one of Edmonton’s 50 yearly festivals (e.g., Fringe, Edmonton Folk Music Festival, Winter Whyte Light Up, Heritage Festival).
- Visit Alberta’s many federal and provincial parks (e.g., Elk Island, Banff, Kananaskis, Wabamun Lake).
- Try downhill skiing in the winter at Rabbit Hill, Sunridge or Snow Valley.
- Attend an improvisation class through Grindstone, Rapid Fire Theatre or at the U of A.
- Go rock climbing at Boulders Climbing.
Impactful Advice
- When things get tough, remind yourself why you started your research or program.
- Don’t focus on the entire mountain ahead of you — take it one step at a time.
- Finish tasks promptly so your workload doesn’t compound into much bigger work.
- Say yes to trying new things. Step out of your comfort zone and embrace new opportunities — that’s where the magic happens.
- Prioritize your well-being and self-care alongside your schoolwork. Balance is key.
- Don't hesitate to ask for help and advocate for your needs to faculty and fellow students. Even if your question or issue seems minor, others have likely faced the same challenge. Most people are happy to assist, but they won’t know you need support unless you speak up
- Make it a habit to write or work toward your academic goals every day, in small and manageable ways.
- Take advantage of the campus resources available to you (e.g., mental health, writing, research).
- Be kind to yourself and others, and keep a positive attitude.
- If you’re experiencing imposter syndrome, remember you’re here for a reason. You are enough, even on the days it doesn’t feel that way.
What’s Next
As we continue developing GPS's Partnership + Action Plan for 2025-28, we will be consulting with colleges, faculties and senior administrators in the coming months. The plan is set to launch in Winter 2025, and we’re excited to share more with you then.
Senior Leadership Consultation Summary | June-October 2024
What Happened
We engaged senior university leaders in conversations about collaboration across portfolios and the impact we will make together in the future. We’ve summarized the feedback here, acknowledging that much of the collective enthusiasm for what’s ahead cannot be fully captured in writing.
Campus Community Partners consulted:
- Provost & Vice-President, Academic
- Deputy Provost, Students & Enrolment
- Deputy Provost, Academic
- College Deans
- Vice-President, Research & Innovation
- Vice-Provost & Dean of Students
- Vice-Provost & University Registrar
- Vice-Provost & Associate Vice-President, International
- Vice-Provost, Programs
What We Heard
Key Themes
- There have been noticeable changes in response to the recommendations from the 2023 External Unit Review of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research.
- There is a strong desire for GPS to take a leadership role in shaping graduate education on campus and represent the collective voice for graduate and postdoctoral programs, students and scholars.
- GPS’ guiding principles of collaboration, impact, professionalism and human centeredness are resonating with the campus community’s expectations and needs.
- There is excitement and momentum about collaboration among the campus partners involved in graduate and postdoctoral studies to improve integration in service of the student and scholar experience.
What our Campus Community Partners think will happen when graduate and postdoctoral studies across campus is at its best:
- Increased graduate student enrolment
- Increased retention and graduation rates
- Increased industry engagement in work integrated learning
- Timely international admissions, resulting in fewer program deferrals
- Increased percentage of graduates who get jobs in their field and/or create startups
- Increased number of scholars and graduates who create measurable impact (startups, inventions)
- Increased resource efficiency and effectiveness across graduate programs and courses
- Improved U of A reputation
- GPS is the default partner for all campus parties involved in graduate education
- GPS amplifies the collective interests of graduate and postdoctoral students, scholars and education on campus
- Outstanding student and scholar experiences, demonstrated by:
- Personal and professional growth and development
- Quality of programming
- Equity and accessibility
- Ease of access to institutional supports and resources
What our Campus Community Partners think collaboration between GPS and campus partners looks like when it’s at its best:
- Recruitment and enrolment strategies informed by data
- More joint and interdisciplinary programs
- Clear roles and contributions — less duplication and more collaboration between GPS and campus partners
- Information shared in a timely, transparent and efficient way
- Students and scholars:
- Receive integrated services that enable a consistent standard of experience across faculties and within colleges
- Experience clear and effective communication pathways
- Are aware of and satisfied with the services available to them
What our Campus Community Partners think of priority roles for GPS to play in 2025-28, from highest priority to medium priority:
- Innovator
- Data-Informed Strategic Partner
- Champion
- Developer
- Quality & Equity Steward
- Process & Policy Steward
- Integrator
- Graduate Administrator
- Wayfinder
- Mediator
What’s Next
In November, we will be consulting with the academic ecosystem, where we’ll explore GPS’ updated vision, purpose and guiding principles, discuss how we work together to achieve our shared priorities and identify where best to focus our efforts in the coming years. This process is designed to involve our GPS campus community partners in a collaborative and transparent way. This approach is consistent with how we intend to work together to deliver on the plan we co-create.