From left, the Graduate Research School's new Administrator Rachel Bates, new Dean Associate Professor Diane Ruwhiu and new Deputy Dean Professor Rachel Spronken-Smith.
A few staffing changes have taken place at Otago’s Graduate Research School recently- Associate Professor Diane Ruwhiu has become Dean, Professor Rachel Spronken-Smith is the new Deputy Dean, and Rachel Bates is the school’s new Administrator. Internal communications advisor Koren Allpress chats with Diane Ruwhiu and Rachel Spronken-Smith about their new roles.
Associate Professor Diane Ruwhiu is looking forward to the ‘reimagining and reinvigoration’ of Otago’s graduate research space.
Diane, formerly of the Department of Management, is the new Dean of the Graduate Research School. She joined the School as Deputy Dean two years ago, before taking on the role of Acting Dean in October 2023. She officially started as Dean on 1 September this year.
An opportunity to be mentored by the then Dean, Emeritus Professor Dave Baxter, was what attracted Diane to the Deputy Dean role.
“I just thought it would be really challenging but also a really vital way of learning more about how the University, at that higher level, operates.”
She attended a conference hosted by the Australian Council of Graduate Research in April 2023. The topics presented at the conference ultimately inspired her to apply for the role of Dean when Dave left.
“I was at that conference, going ‘wow, this is just amazing’.”
Presenters spoke about the strategic, innovative and exciting work being done around graduate research practises, Diane says. She saw there were ways to improve the experience for Otago students and supervisors, alike, while achieving the outcomes of successful completions.
“I can see it happening, I can see it having relevance for us here. And it was just one of those starburst moments.
“I went, ‘look, I think I could really love this and get my teeth into it and really enjoy it’. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, because the last several years have been difficult for all tertiary institutions. Certainly for Otago, we’re still working at walking our way out of a very difficult period.
“But I thought, I want to be a part of that reimagining and reinvigoration of our graduate research base, because we have such a good platform to build on.”
Diane says the work former GRS leaders, including Charles Tustin and Rachel Spronken-Smith (who is now back as Deputy Dean) put into the GRS in its early days meant Otago was seen as “the gem” and an exemplar of graduate research in a tertiary institution in New Zealand.
“And it really would be, I think, a privilege to build on that and work with Rachel again. To extend it, it’s a wonderful opportunity.”
Working with the talented team at GRS was also a drawcard.
“GRS, as with the wider university, has had a lot of change these past few years. I feel very privileged to work with the GRS team. They are an incredibly talented, knowledgeable and passionate group of people, who give their very best to our mahi. I'm also excited to work with our GRS whānau and the university community to upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles into our work and identity, enhancing the experience of our graduate research students and those that support them.”
It’s the students – being a part of a graduate student’s journey from start to finish – that is Diane’s favourite part of the job.
“Sometimes I get the pleasure of meeting them, at the Deans morning tea, or at a workshop, at a consult to work through issues. Sometimes I don’t meet them in person, but I sign off different parts of their journey. And then I see their names at graduation.
“While I am just one small thread of the korowai that takes care of them while they are with us – seeing them take those steps across the stage is really special.”
Diane says there are three layers to a Dean’s work – that at an operational level, the University level and then at the national level.
She oversees the organisation of the GRS, works with staff on the workshop development programmes, and helps students overcome challenges.
At the University level work includes input into a raft of committees - the Graduate Research Committee, Graduate Research Students Liaison Committee, Research Committee and the Academic Committee Senate on graduate research.
The Dean also has oversight of, and responsibility, for the graduate research regulations of the University of Otago, the value chain of graduate research students’ journey at Otago, and ensuring regulations are being met and that supervisors, students and staff are aware of those regulations and their responsibilities.
“So that’s the Dean’s role, from that sort of real hands-on operational type stuff, right up to the more strategic level at the University.”
The very top layer of her work is her involvement in national conversations around graduate research. The GRS is a member of the organisation New Zealand Deans and Directors of Graduate School which meets annually. GRS also has a presence with the Australian Council of Graduate Research.
“We talk about practices and strategies at each institution because that's where we share and we learn, but we are actually also focused on government policy like Tertiary Education Commission, universities New Zealand, Immigration New Zealand.
“We're often in that conversation space to influence, to clarify some of the way that the legislations, rules and regulations work for us as universities as well. So there's those sort of three layers that the Dean, is involved in.”
Professor Rachel Spronken-Smtih is back in her happy place
The Professor of geography and higher education has returned to the Graduate Research School as Deputy Dean, having been the inaugural Dean of the School from 2013 until 2022, before leaving for a role at Higher Education Development Centre.
“I am loving being back in the Graduate Research School. I think this is my happy place both in terms of teaching and research,” Rachel says.
Working alongside Diane, and the opportunity to continue her own work in research development were key reasons behind her return.
“I am passionate about supporting graduate research candidates – doctoral and master’s – with their research journey and assisting them with their professional and career development.”
As Deputy Dean, Rachel hopes to work with colleagues to rethink how they can better support both graduate research candidates and supervisors.
“We are currently developing some short, engaging, online modules to cover core material, supported by face to face or online sessions. Having material online will enable us to reach more of our stakeholders, as they can engage when they need support.”
Rachel also hopes to support Diane with candidate and staff consultations around tricky issues, policy development and committee work.
The research journey of Otago’s graduate research candidates “generally goes very well”, Rachel says.
“Otago has some of the highest completes rates, globally, and candidates usually enjoy excellent supervisory support.”
However, things can go wrong, and this is where GRS can step in, she says.
“Whether there is a breakdown in a supervisory relationship, a loss of motivation during the journey, difficulty progressing, or unexpected personal circumstances disrupting study, this is where GRS can offer support.”
If a candidate or supervisor is unable to overcome issues through departmental channels, GRS is available for confidential advice, she says.
“And of course, we have targeted support for our Māori and Pacific Island candidates through our Postgraduate Support Advisers – Dr Rachel Sizemore and Inano Taripo-Walter respectively.”
-Kōrero by internal communications advisor, Koren Allpress