Postgraduate Students Association (PGSA) is an organisation formed to represent all postgraduate students (i.e. Honours, Masters and Ph.D.) at the University of Cape Town. PGSA It plays a major role in ensuring that the well being of postgraduate students is taken seriously by the University. For this reason the PGSA relies on the support of all postgraduate students as it strategically places itself in most of the University structures of influence. Consistent with the mission of UCT, the PGSA is directed towards addressing the challenges facing postgraduate students in our society in areas of research, education and social development. The revival of the PGSA took place in consultation with major stakeholders within the University community. A working group took this process further until September 1998 when an Interim Executive Committee was set up. The role of this committee was to come with the constitution and to pave the way for the official launch of the association. The Interim Executive Committee will operate until May 1999 when a general meeting will be convened to elect permanent office bearers.
The overall objective of PGSA is to attain and preserve a high quality of postgraduate education for students at the University. This can be addressed under the following categories of action and involvement:
2.1. To address issues of concern to postgraduate students, such as:
- Quality of research supervision
- Intra and inter departmental communication, as well as inter university communication
- Course content/structure
- Examination procedures
- Research funding strategy
- Career development policies and information emanating from the University
- Availability and quality of research infrastructure; and
- To enhance the general welfare of postgraduate students
2.2. To promote initiatives whereby the above issues can be addressed at the appropriate level within the structure of the University.
2.3. To canvass attitudes and represent the University postgraduates on a range of wider issues affecting the quality of postgraduate education at the University.
2.4. To constantly evaluate the roles and socio-political context of postgraduate education in South Africa.
2.5. To organise social functions for postgraduate students.