Re-Cap of the Inaugural CROPSNet Event
The launch event for the Collaborative Research for Online Postgraduate Studies Network (CROPSNet) took place on Tuesday 10 September 2024, with over 30 higher education professionals from six different UK institutions in attendance. The network is the first of its kind, and the success of this initial event has provided a very strong springboard for future CROPSNet activities.
CROPSNet emerged from the work undertaken by the Student Wellbeing in IGHI Postgraduate Education (SWIPE) team (Dr Christa Hansen, Dr Annie McKirdy, Joe Kerr, and Julien le Jeune d’Allegeershecque), who have been working to improve the way in which the IGHI support the mental health and general wellbeing of its online students. In the scope of SWIPE’s projects, the team realised there was a lack of both guidance and peer-reviewed research not only on the topic of the mental health and wellbeing of online postgraduate taught (PGT) students, but also on the topic of how to best deliver online PGT programmes. Furthermore, there was no forum for professionals involved in the teaching and delivery of online PGT programmes to share best practice and collaborate.
Launching CROPSNet
CROPSNet aims to bring together professionals involved in online PGT programmes to share best practice, discuss current issues, and collaborate on projects or research ideas to improve the evidence-base for online PGT teaching. The launch event focused on “The Mental Health & Wellbeing of Online PGT Students”. The SWIPE team from IGHI were first to present, providing an overview of the work they have undertaken since early 2023 and the resulting report. Jenny Husbands, Teaching Fellow and Senior Tutor at Imperial’s School of Public Health, then delivered a session on “Pastoral Support for large PGT Online Programmes”. Attendees then took part in a group discussion to share their experiences on organising online socials for online PGT programmes, as well as their thoughts on the particular challenges faced by students undertaking online PGT study.
The next presentation was delivered by Dr Julie Langan-Martin, Course Director for the MSc in Global Mental Health and Director of Education of the School of Mental Health & Wellbeing at the University of Glasgow. Dr Langan-Martin’s talk provided valuable information and guidance on “How to Approach the Teaching of Sensitive Topics in Online Settings”. As CROPSNet aims to not only foster collaboration among higher education professionals, but also with students engaged in online PGT study, event organisers were delighted to then welcome Damian Larkin and Connor Qui to take part in a student panel. Both Damian and Connor are students on the IGHI’s online PGDip in Digital Health Leadership, and attendees were able to listen to them discuss their experience of being an online PGT student and how it impacted on their mental health & wellbeing.
In the event’s final presentation, Jenny Crow, Digital Education Team Manager at the University of Glasgow, shared insights from her PhD research on “The Role of Belonging in Online Postgraduate Education”. CROPSNet coordinator Julien le Jeune d’Allegeershecque then ended the day with some closing comments and information on future plans.
The CROPSNet team wishes to thank all of the presenters who were involved in the launch event, as well as the audience who were engaged throughout the day and provided valuable contributions. The CROPSNet team are now aiming to build on this excellent start by developing an online presence and providing a space for CROPSNet members to connect and collaborate.
Join the network
Anyone interested in joining the network and keeping up to date with its activities can do so by signing up for the CROPSNet newsletter. For general questions about the network or the work of the SWIPE team, please contact SWIPE@ic.ac.uk or jlejeune@ic.ac.uk.
Read ‘Interim Report into a Proposed Student Mental Health & Wellbeing Strategy’