Theme: Exploring Preparedness for Postgraduate Studies
Date: 17-18 March 2025
Venue: Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre

The Enabling Quality in Postgraduate Education (EQPE) project, funded by DHET, and the Community of Practice for Postgraduate Education and Scholarship (CoP PGES), an initiative of the Advancing Early Career Researchers and Scholars (AECRS) Programme, hosted a colloquium on preparedness for postgraduate studies. The gathering consisted of university participants from across the sector and representatives from DHET, USAf, and national councils.

This colloquium delved into the critical dimensions of preparedness of all role players, seeking to answer the following questions:

• How can postgraduate students be better equipped to navigate the challenges of advanced study?
• What practices, strategies, and support systems do supervisors need to effectively guide, mentor, and inspire their students?
• What cultures, policies, infrastructure, and resources are essential for creating an institutional environment that nurtures postgraduate education?

Through keynote addresses and opportunities for discussion with colleagues across the system, this colloquium had attendees engage in meaningful dialogue, with collaborative problem-solving, and the development of recommendations for enhanced postgraduate education experiences.

• Postgraduate study leaders from SA universities assemble to share ideas
• National Plan targets versus sector realities — Dr Nomakwezi Mzilikazi highlights provocative tensions
• Targeted PhD numbers raise many questions at a recent colloquium
• Happy students with well-being are more likely to graduate, says Professor Liesel Ebersöhn
• AI may not do your literature review, but it will identify the gaps, says Dr Nompilo Tshuma
• Research leaders develop an action plan for students and the sector’s well-being

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