Organising a Multidisciplinary Postgraduate Colloquium

The Warwick Postgraduate Colloquium in Computer Science (WPCCS) is an annual event for research students in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Warwick. The aims of the colloquium are to provide: (i) an experience of a conference setting for students, (ii) a place to practise presentation skills, (iii) a place to receive feedback and suggestions on their research, and (iv) an opportunity to learn about research being performed by other attendees. WPCCS has been held annually since 2003, but since 2016 many changes have been made to the event; in particular the introduction of networking aids (such as conference guides and lanyards), a new venue, the introduction of guest speakers and various efforts to encourage attendance. Meanwhile the number of submissions has increased, placing strain on the colloquium’s schedule and budget. In this paper the organising committees from 2016, 2017, and 2018 reflect critically on the experience WPCCS delivers to the attendees. We present an examination of what worked well, what did not work, and what we would like to try in the future, with the aim that these experiences are useful to the organisers of similar events.