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Aim: Understand how the LC–ECRs Network can strengthen recognition and visibility

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Aim: Understand how the LC–ECRs Network can strengthen recognition and visibility

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What would meaningful recognition and visibility look like for you as an LC–ECR at the UofG?​

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Prompt Questions:​

What specific actions or acknowledgements have made you feel seen or valued as a researcher within your School, College, or the wider university?​

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In which spaces, such as departmental roles, university communications, or research events, have you felt overlooked or misrepresented?​

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What kinds of platforms (e.g. staff profiles, seminar slots, newsletters, or PGR-facing events) would help share your work and journey more effectively across UofG?​

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Whose recognition matters most to you—peers, supervisors, senior leadership, students, and how would that recognition make a difference?

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Theme - Identity Visibility and Recognition

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Aim: Identify ways the network can foster meaningful peer relationships and a sense of belonging

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Aim: Identify ways the network can foster meaningful peer relationships and a sense of belonging

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What helps you feel connected, supported, and part of a community as an LC–ECR?

Prompt Questions:​

When have you experienced a sense of belonging or connection within your School, College, or research group? What made that possible?​

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What types of peer-focused spaces, such as informal meetups or discussion circles—would help you connect with others in similar positions?​

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How could the network create opportunities that go beyond disciplinary boundaries or contract types (e.g. fixed-term, PGR, postdoc, teaching-research hybrid)?​

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What formats would work best for you—regular in-person sessions, online groups (e.g. Teams), or flexible, drop-in events?

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Aim: Identify structural, policy, or cultural barriers that make it harder for LC–ECRs to thrive, and explore how the network can help address them.

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Aim: Identify structural, policy, or cultural barriers that make it harder for LC–ECRs to thrive, and explore how the network can help address them.

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​What institutional systems or practices have created barriers in your academic journey, and how could the LC–ECRs Network help shift them?

Prompt Questions:​

Have you encountered structural challenges—such as funding ineligibility, unclear progression routes, or assumptions related to your age, life stage, or career background?​

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Are there policies, forms, or expectations that feel misaligned with your current role, life stage, or previous career background?​

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Which parts of the university, such as HR, funding bodies, your School, or early-career programmes, could better account for your realities?​

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What practical role could the network play in surfacing these issues or advocating for small but meaningful policy or process changes?

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Aim: Understand how LC–ECRs manage life responsibilities, career shifts, or re-entry into academia, and what supports can ease these transitions

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Aim: Understand how LC–ECRs manage life responsibilities, career shifts, or re-entry into academia, and what supports can ease these transitions

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​How can the LC–ECRs Network support researchers who are balancing life commitments or navigating academic transitions at different stages of their journey?

Prompt Questions:​

Have life responsibilities (e.g. caregiving, health, relocation) affected your ability to engage with research or academic life?​

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What kinds of understanding, flexibility, or peer support would make it easier to balance work, study, and life commitments?​

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If you returned to academia, changed your role, or moved between disciplines, what support helped—or what did you find missing?​

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What specific supports could the network explore—such as phased return options, buddy systems, or more accessible event formats?

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Theme - Life Balance & Transitions in Academic Work

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Life experience - we have wisdom to offer our younger colleagues

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Life experience - we have wisdom to offer our younger colleagues

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Apologising for our age - sometimes we're older than our supervisors! How to reframe our age as positive?

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Apologising for our age - sometimes we're older than our supervisors! How to reframe our age as positive?

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Guilt /balance between PhD and care giver.

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Better publication of LC-ECR network (none of us knew about it prior to this event)

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everybody is different / different circumstances

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difficulties of overworking - make sure you take regular breaks as it can be counter productive to over work (produce poor work, makes mistakes, delete things by accident!!)

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We must embrace and celebrate our age, knowledge and wisdom!

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We must embrace and celebrate our age, knowledge and wisdom!

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We have a lot to share with others because of our life experience

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We have a lot to share with others because of our life experience

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Pros and cons of being care giver (time restricted / limitations so can't work all night)

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explaining to friends and family what it is you actually do (when you need to work and don't want disturbed)

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transition into PhD can be very difficult - if previous role/job was active, part of team.

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awareness of your own anxiety and find colleagues for support in similar situation - though need to be brave to share anxieties and many don't want to do that

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PhD is a long lonely journey - seek out support from colleagues, friends

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There are a lot of offers, but it is overwheming to find the way through them when it comes to career development.

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Supervisors aren't necessarily aware of what's on offer or able to guide you to appropriate opportunities.

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Supervisors aren't necessarily aware of what's on offer or able to guide you to appropriate opportunities.

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In particular, guidance with grant funding.

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In particular, guidance with grant funding.

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Induction - didn't meet needs of expectations of later-life researchers with professional experience

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Induction - didn't meet needs of expectations of later-life researchers with professional experience

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Remote PGRs - expensive to travel to Glasgow, experience needs to be worth it. (Not pizza parties!)

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Remote PGRs - expensive to travel to Glasgow, experience needs to be worth it. (Not pizza parties!)

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Overview of who does what, who to contact is missing

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Overview of who does what, who to contact is missing

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Comms were better a few years ago – email digests replaced with Moodles / Sharepoints resulted in missed opportunities. Oldies like emails better!

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Comms were better a few years ago – email digests replaced with Moodles / Sharepoints resulted in missed opportunities. Oldies like emails better!

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Feels lonely as a remote, later-life PGR.

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Feels lonely as a remote, later-life PGR.

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Always great to hear more about others' research and make connections

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Always great to hear more about others' research and make connections

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Professional skills and experience not recognised or acknowledged.

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Professional skills and experience not recognised or acknowledged.

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Better remote access to support / student services / grad schools

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Better remote access to support / student services / grad schools

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Ineligibility for funding/scholarship as a remote PGR.

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Ineligibility for funding/scholarship as a remote PGR.

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Groups within (or outwith) groups to keep in touch are useful and motivating, e.g. WhatsApp communities, celebrate small successes, ask questions (e.g. help! referencing!)

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Groups within (or outwith) groups to keep in touch are useful and motivating, e.g. WhatsApp communities, celebrate small successes, ask questions (e.g. help! referencing!)

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Expect professional organisation and treatment as a paying customer.

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Expect professional organisation and treatment as a paying customer.

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Teams / Zoom works well when setup properly and regularly scheduled

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Teams / Zoom works well when setup properly and regularly scheduled

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Accessibility and isolation needs were well met in 2020/21 but not maintained when campus-based activity resumed

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Accessibility and isolation needs were well met in 2020/21 but not maintained when campus-based activity resumed

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Online sessions worked well right through Covid – remote students valued these

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Online sessions worked well right through Covid – remote students valued these

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Virtual coffee mornings would be welcomed - flexible, drop in style

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Virtual coffee mornings would be welcomed - flexible, drop in style

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Overview of who does what, who to contact is missing

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Overview of who does what, who to contact is missing

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Assumptions that because we're 'older' we're more resilient v's younger students

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Assumptions that because we're 'older' we're more resilient v's younger students

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Lots of disruption across the last few years - Covid, strikes, marking bans

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Lots of disruption across the last few years - Covid, strikes, marking bans

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As a remote student, online format would be useful.

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As a remote student, online format would be useful.

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Undergraduate experiences have been very variable (some did Open Uni, remote) so coming to research activity has felt like the start of the journey rather than the end

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Undergraduate experiences have been very variable (some did Open Uni, remote) so coming to research activity has felt like the start of the journey rather than the end

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Experience for those who have worked exclusively online has been very isolating

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Experience for those who have worked exclusively online has been very isolating

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An existing initiative that has worked well is the buddy system that was offered in year one and also the recent coffee and connect scheme. However, it would be helpful if we could specify a preference for online and/or in-person meet ups. Not everyone is based near Glasgow and cannot therefore meet in person.

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An existing initiative that has worked well is the buddy system that was offered in year one and also the recent coffee and connect scheme. However, it would be helpful if we could specify a preference for online and/or in-person meet ups. Not everyone is based near Glasgow and cannot therefore meet in person.

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Recognition in the different types of post graduate/ECR's

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Recognition in the different types of post graduate/ECR's

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As an MPhil, coming straight from my undergraduate, I often find that networks discount my experience because I am not doing a PHD

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Opportunities to socialise welcome but sometimes few and far between

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Opportunities to socialise welcome but sometimes few and far between

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Finding UofG PGR comms ageist in their assumptions of the career stage we are at.

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Finding UofG PGR comms ageist in their assumptions of the career stage we are at.

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Opportunities to be on campus definitely give more of a sense of community but not always feasible / accessible – sometimes too far away, cost prohibitive

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Opportunities to be on campus definitely give more of a sense of community but not always feasible / accessible – sometimes too far away, cost prohibitive

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Isolation working P/T. Not based in Glasgow, or Scotland, entirely remote. Feel connected to other students during APR process on campus, and at annual conferences.

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Isolation working P/T. Not based in Glasgow, or Scotland, entirely remote. Feel connected to other students during APR process on campus, and at annual conferences.

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One topic that’s not come up for me today is what experience we can bring to staff / students elsewhere in the uni – I had a career in A.I. (before it was trendy) and product development, and seem to learn very late about events being held in the university that I could have contributed to, but never seem to get the opportunity - possibly as I’m now researching under a different discipline (arts) 

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One topic that’s not come up for me today is what experience we can bring to staff / students elsewhere in the uni – I had a career in A.I. (before it was trendy) and product development, and seem to learn very late about events being held in the university that I could have contributed to, but never seem to get the opportunity - possibly as I’m now researching under a different discipline (arts) 

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Clarifying administrative processes to facilitate our research (e.g., funding availability, self-funded opportunities)  (4 votes)

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Clarifying administrative processes to facilitate our research (e.g., funding availability, self-funded opportunities)  (4 votes)

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Accessible projection for career support and mentoring (which I am now participating @UofG) for PGRs and further levels as Late Career supporters. 

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Accessible projection for career support and mentoring (which I am now participating @UofG) for PGRs and further levels as Late Career supporters. 

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I really like the idea of Grant writing and in person guidance on career planning more specific (2 votes)

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I really like the idea of Grant writing and in person guidance on career planning more specific (2 votes)

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Help with grant writing would be great, not so much in terms of how to write but what to write - knowledge of the research grant system and its politics. (2 votes)

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Help with grant writing would be great, not so much in terms of how to write but what to write - knowledge of the research grant system and its politics. (2 votes)

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Flexible events, online or in-person would work best for us. Regular in-person events may become routine and could become tiring. (3 votes)

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Flexible events, online or in-person would work best for us. Regular in-person events may become routine and could become tiring. (3 votes)

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Career events run in partnership with industrial partners across all sectors. (3 votes)

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Career events run in partnership with industrial partners across all sectors. (3 votes)

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Would be good if age had a higher profile in EDI training. 

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Would be good if age had a higher profile in EDI training. 

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Combat age-related assumptions with more explicit compulsory training units and mention to old age PhD students.

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Combat age-related assumptions with more explicit compulsory training units and mention to old age PhD students.

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Skills development support to communicate past experience across disciplines.  

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Skills development support to communicate past experience across disciplines.  

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Others to recognise and value a complex, multi-discipline career history over several decades prior to PhD study.

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Others to recognise and value a complex, multi-discipline career history over several decades prior to PhD study.

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Resources to help with imposter syndrome, and/or going from career where you feel on top of your game to a new space where you are not the expert, which can feel uncomfortable. 

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Resources to help with imposter syndrome, and/or going from career where you feel on top of your game to a new space where you are not the expert, which can feel uncomfortable. 

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Late career often part-time, have multi generational caring responsibilities (elderly/child caring), financial responsibilities and be working. Not taken into account with University APR procedure where same annual review and word count submission - also regardless of suspension of studies.   

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Late career often part-time, have multi generational caring responsibilities (elderly/child caring), financial responsibilities and be working. Not taken into account with University APR procedure where same annual review and word count submission - also regardless of suspension of studies.   

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University training is now face to face post Covid and often mid-week so not accessible when part time and working. 

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University training is now face to face post Covid and often mid-week so not accessible when part time and working. 

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System still designed for 3 year full time younger students

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System still designed for 3 year full time younger students

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Perhaps a guidance note to help LC-ECR navigate the University systems? 

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Perhaps a guidance note to help LC-ECR navigate the University systems? 

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Note that LC-ECR more likely to encounter life changing events, others/own health etc.

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Note that LC-ECR more likely to encounter life changing events, others/own health etc.

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Definitely a structural barrier guidance and coaching subject specific and discussion around them would be really helpful to over come many isolations and mental struggles.

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Definitely a structural barrier guidance and coaching subject specific and discussion around them would be really helpful to over come many isolations and mental struggles.

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Having this LC ECR space for connecting with others who face similar stage of life challenges; children, aging parents, etc. - share advice, tips on how to mitigate these challenges. (2 votes)

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Having this LC ECR space for connecting with others who face similar stage of life challenges; children, aging parents, etc. - share advice, tips on how to mitigate these challenges. (2 votes)

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having online professional development sessions and workshops etc is really important. Having additional caring and other committments makes it difficult to attend in person a lot of the time.

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Alienating when you are the only person to speak in a tutorial - “Do we belong?”

Welcoming by students across age range

Who do we access opportunities through, and how? No connection?

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Expertise beyond research (11 votes)

What do with previous experience?

Who of us impostor syndrome made larger

We see this opportunities as a privilege

Multi-Disciplinarily Commitment

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Encouragement to attend? By whom?

Circumstances and support - needs bring us together

Time poor! other commitments

Networks? linked in?

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This community is a catalyst for change

Acknowledge other forms of expertise

We come in with different motivations

Know we exist!

"Mature students Community"- does this exist? (5 votes)

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Research is easy, but communication and general support among groups

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Research is easy, but communication and general support among groups

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Beginning with poor/difficult community relation

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Beginning with poor/difficult community relation

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Specific network for different disciplines and schools

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Specific network for different disciplines and schools

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The mentoring system is not set up for us: it should be more flexible. (6 votes)

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The mentoring system is not set up for us: it should be more flexible. (6 votes)

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After school care available from the University would be amazing. (3 votes)

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After school care available from the University would be amazing. (3 votes)

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Policies for leave need to be more easily accessible and flexible for emergencies.

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Policies for leave need to be more easily accessible and flexible for emergencies.

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Balancing at-home responsibility with "more weight" - essential for supportive supervisors.

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Balancing at-home responsibility with "more weight" - essential for supportive supervisors.

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No easy space to connect to people in a similar situation. (4 votes)

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No easy space to connect to people in a similar situation. (4 votes)

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Missing assumed background knowledge - should be possible to sign up for dedicated classes from any school. (4 votes)

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Missing assumed background knowledge - should be possible to sign up for dedicated classes from any school. (4 votes)

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Balancing “Meant" education we have missed” versus life experience we have.

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Balancing “Meant" education we have missed” versus life experience we have.

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Recognition needed from professors of the vast difference in backgrounds of all their students e.g., traditional route vs. LC-ECRs. (3 votes)

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Recognition needed from professors of the vast difference in backgrounds of all their students e.g., traditional route vs. LC-ECRs. (3 votes)

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More visibility for the LC-ECRN to all students.

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More visibility for the LC-ECRN to all students.

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“Required” training courses for skills we have developed years ago. Exemption should be allowed. (2 votes)

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“Required” training courses for skills we have developed years ago. Exemption should be allowed. (2 votes)

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Current policies aimed at early-20s individuals.

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Current policies aimed at early-20s individuals.

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Out of academia barriers – more than 10 years out of work/academia-block to applying for PGR.

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Out of academia barriers – more than 10 years out of work/academia-block to applying for PGR.

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Caring/family structurally blocked – transferring skills to CV-had skills, had no work related for CV. Child care not valued for PGR. (1 vote)

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Caring/family structurally blocked – transferring skills to CV-had skills, had no work related for CV. Child care not valued for PGR. (1 vote)

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Ageism – “too old, not fit for PGR.” (3 votes)

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Ageism – “too old, not fit for PGR.” (3 votes)

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Child care - raising a child with disability not taken into consideration.

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Child care - raising a child with disability not taken into consideration.

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Structural barriers to accessing any support.

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Structural barriers to accessing any support.

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Found IT courses structurally run for under 45-year-olds and Run for Windows users, not Apple Mac users. Need IT access courses for older people. Need help from IT for Apple Mac users + not everyone is IT savvy.  Older people need more IT support. (5 votes)

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Found IT courses structurally run for under 45-year-olds and Run for Windows users, not Apple Mac users. Need IT access courses for older people. Need help from IT for Apple Mac users + not everyone is IT savvy.  Older people need more IT support. (5 votes)