We are a group of dedicated research students who have a commitment to developing a culture of research, scholarship and inquiry amongst postgraduates in the Faculty.

The Postgraduate Education Social Work Student Association (PESSA) was formed in October 1994 and its Constitution was approved at a meeting of postgraduate students in May 1995. PESA arose from a perception among Faculty of Education postgraduates that an Association more attuned to their needs would better support their learning experience. In 2003, PESA represented approximately 800 postgraduate students in the EdD, PhD, MPhil, MEd (Coursework) and MTeach programs. In 2004, the renamed group PESSA (The Postgraduate Education and Social Work Students Association) extended its work and brief to incorporate research students in the newly formed Faculty of Education and Social Work.

As many postgraduates in the Faculty are part-time students, one of PESSA's main responsibilities is to ensure that postgraduate study is not a solitary experience. It will continue to develop its role of bringing together postgraduate students into a scholarly community of learners. To this end, PESSA works for postgraduates in a number of ways.

Welcome to the PESSA Workspace.

You can find information for postgraduate students

Have a look at our forum and subscribe to receive the bulletin board or general PESSA news

Have a look at the events and activities coming soon to PESSA

There's also a space for links to other web sites we think are useful

Do you have a special interest? Want to join a group? Have a look at the Special Interest Groups that PESSA has to offer

Who are we? Put some faces to the names of the PESSA executive

Or just download the most recent PESSA Newsletter