Arc PGC Student of the Year Award
The Postgraduate Council (PGC) is proud to host its inaugural PGC Student of the Year Awards, held in conjunction with Graduate Research School (GRS).
The 2021 awards will celebrate the resilience of HDR students to continue their research while contributing to the postgraduate community, despite the considerable challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The PGC and GRS will present awards to successful applicants on the 28th of October 2021. All awardees will be featured on the Arc Newsletter and PGC Website. Nominations close 5pm the 27th of September.
Awards
The Student Awards will acknowledge resilience to continue researching, and commitment to improving the university experience of their immediate research group and wider postgraduate community. Outstanding Award applications will evidence all answers with multiple detailed examples.
The award consists of three categories:
Nominees Award - earned by all applicants. Acknowledged on Arc PGC website.
- Student Award - earned by the top 50% of applicants. Showcased during live event and acknowledged on Arc PGC website.
- Outstanding Student Award – earned by the top 10% of applicants. Showcased during live event and headshot with blurb published on Arc PGC website.
Eligibility
Any currently enrolled candidate in a UNSW Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Professional Doctorate or Masters by Research degree may apply, including those who await their official conferral.
Each student must be nominated by a UNSW HDR student or staff member.
Only individual students may be nominated and not groups or panels of students.
Self-nominations are allowed, and self-nominees must obtain a letter of support from a relevant staff member, such as their Postgraduate Coordinator or Head of School (must use self-nomination form).
Elected members of the 2020 PGC are ineligible.
Application Questions
- Describe the nominee’s efforts to overcome challenges and continue their postgraduate research during the COVID-19 pandemic (100-150 words).
- Describe the nominee’s contributions to UNSW research excellence, such as through publications, awards, conferences and engaging in end-user applications (100-150 words).
Describe the nominee’s contributions to enhance the experience of their immediate research group during the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, supporting other students in navigating challenges, peer mentoring or social event organisation (100-150 words).
Describe the nominee’s contributions to enhance the experience of their wider postgraduate community during the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, through representing students on university committees/boards, commitment with societies, engagement with the wider student community (100-150 words).
Provide a sentence long award title to be read during the award presentation. Include the nominees' most significant contribution for receiving this award. For example, “Serena organised a fortnightly virtual games night during the lockdowns to foster social connections within her research group”.
Judging Panel
- A three person judging panel will assess all nominations.
- The judging panel will consist of a PGC officer, a previous outstanding category awardee and a UNSW academic.
Submission Instructions
To nominate a HDR student please submit via the Student of the Year Microsoft form (Nominating a HDR Student).
To self-nominate please submit via the Student of the Year Microsoft form (Self-Nomination).
All requested information is to be supplied via the Microsoft form, including supporting documents.
Event Access
Tickets available through Eventbrite.
Awardee Correspondence
- Please direct all queries to the PGC Research Office, Liam Cheney or Mariam Soomro (pgcresearch@arc.unsw.edu.au).
