Peer Pastoral Support: Working with Doctoral Students to Co-Create a Supportive Postgraduate Researcher Environment

Abstract

[EN] This paper delves into the inception, evolution, and impact of Peer Pastoral Support Groups (PPSGs) at Newcastle University, specifically within the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty. Originating as a response to the challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the PPSGs were initially designed to mitigate potential loneliness and facilitate socialisation among first-year PhD students. However, these groups continued beyond the pandemic, becoming an integral part of the Researcher Education and Development (RED) program. The paper suggests that the co-creation of support networks is vital in establishing a supportive postgraduate researcher environment.