Skip navigation

University of Cambridge / Site Map / What's new? / Contacts

You are in:  Home » Services » Students » Research Students » FESRA History

FERSA History and Structure

History

The Faculty of Education Research Students' Association began as an enterprise between Professor John Gray and several research students, to support the development of excellence within the Faculty's burgeoning student research community. Prior to the establishment of the association, students at the Faculty had already shown great initiative in developing the lunchtime seminar series and the prominent Kaleidoscope conference.

In March 2007, several open meetings for all PhD and MPhil students were conducted to discuss how to increase opportunities for student participation and success, with Professor Gray and the Kaleidoscope chair, seminars organisers and PhD representative in attendance. It was decided that a students' association should be founded to establish new initiatives; to support the activity organisers within a network; and to forge links between activity organisers and student reps.

In the first year of its establishment, FERSA has extended the Faculty's postgraduate research activities with a second seminar series, an external exchange programme and student-led research groups. It meets once a term to give student representatives and activity organisers a forum in which to share ideas and knowledge about the research student community. In March 2007 the FERSA website was launched as part of the Faculty web pages. FERSA communicates with its members through a weekly email newsletter and further encourages networking through organising social events that include both students and academic staff.

Structure

FESRAstructure

The FERSA committee comprises activity organisers and student representatives. It is managed by a chairperson with support from a secretary. The chairperson and secretary are responsible for conducting the election processes for the activity organisers whilst the Faculty coordinates the elections of the student representatives. Each activity organiser and student representative has a distinctive role to play in developing the student research community within the Faculty. The structure of the committee allows for its members to support each other and communicate with each other about students' needs.