Policies and procedures
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APPROVAL: Academic Board, 24 February 2006
AMENDMENTS:
May 2010
REFERENCE AUTHORITY: Deputy Vice Chancellor and Vice President (Research and Innovation)
The University of South Australia is an Australian leader in innovative research conducted in partnership with industry and the professions. Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students, as research trainees, contribute to the University's research culture and research outcomes. and it is a University priority to continuously improve research education within a research-rich environment (UniSA 2005, University Vision Statement).
Integral to a quality research education experience is the provision of effective research management and supervision. Postgraduate Research Degree Supervisors (supervisors) play a central role in guiding HDR students in their research project, ensuring they meet milestones and complete their degrees on time. Responsibility for HDR students' progress is shared across the University and this code outlines the respective responsibilities of those involved in the management and administration of research degrees at all levels.
The term Division or Institute also refers to the Centre for Regional Engagement.
Divisional Research Management Committee (DRMC) means the Research or Research Degrees Management Committee established by the Division, Institute or CRE.
The term Dean, Research also refers to their equivalents in Divisions, Institutes and CRE.
The term Research Degrees Coordinator also refers to their equivalents, including Research Education: Portfolio Leaders and Program Directors: Professional Doctorate (Research).
The University has established the Research Degrees Committee (RDC), a sub-committee of Academic Board, which has the delegated authority in matters relating to research education and training. [View the Terms of Reference.]
The University aims to foster and preserve the scholarly values of curiosity, experimentation, critical appraisal and integrity and to foster these values in its HDR students. All HDR students and supervisors are required to comply with the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (Australian Code), the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (National Statement) and the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes and adhere to high standards of academic research integrity and honesty at all times. [See Clauses 13 and 14 of the Academic Regulations for Higher Degree by Research programs and Appendix 5 attached to the Regulations.]
Research Degrees Committee (RDC) and the Dean of Graduate Studies are responsible for establishing a policy and quality assurance framework for research degrees management and supervision1. The management of research degree programs, including academic regulations of these programs, are generally devolved to the Division and Institute level.
The quality assurance framework will ensure that:
2.1 requirements and entry standards for the research degree are clearly specified and are set to ensure that enrolling HDR students are likely to have the capacity to succeed, given their own commitment to complete;
2.2 rights and responsibilities of HDR students, the University, Divisions, Institutes, Schools and their staff are clearly documented and readily available to HDR students, including policy and academic regulations governing the degree, progress reporting and, where appropriate, scholarship conditions;
2.3 appropriate training in relation to responsible conduct of research is made available to all HDR students;
2.4 standards exist for qualifications, training and support of academic staff who supervise HDR students, and that a process exists by which assistance may be sought should it be required;
2.5 HDR students have access to adequate support, facilities and resources for conducting their research program, including Research Education Support Activities;
2.6 the status of intellectual property and commercial considerations arising from HDR students' research are defined and available to HDR students;
2.7 procedures are in place by which either the HDR student or the supervisor may raise and seek resolution of grievances or appeals;
2.8 there are explicit procedures for the examination process, including clear guidelines for examiners and other parties, outlining institutional expectations for the particular degree and any requirements for confidentiality;
2.9 completion times are monitored;
2.10 RDC is responsible for approving recommendations from Divisional Research Management Committees regarding candidature, making decisions on each HDR student's completion of requirements for the award of a research degree and for recommending to Council that Doctoral degrees be awarded.
Each Division, Institute and the Centre for Regional Engagement (CRE) has a Research Management Committee, the Chair of which is the Dean, Research. Each Divisional Research Management Committee is responsible for monitoring and ensuring the effective conduct of research education management within the area and for ensuring that the area adheres to relevant policies, regulations and codes. Responsibility for research degrees may be delegated to the Dean, Research who normally chairs the DRMC. The Dean, Research is required to complete authorisations at various points of candidature in accordance with the academic regulations.
Through the DRMC, the Dean, Research will:
3.1 make academic decisions and consequent recommendations to RDC on matters pertaining to postgraduate research including HDR student admissions, scholarships, research proposal assessments, performance reviews, variations to candidature and examinations;
3.2 working with the Research Degree Coordinator to oversee matters related to the supervision of HDR students;
3.3 monitor and report on HDR student progress within the Division/ Institute/ CRE;
3.4 report on corporate planning targets and quality assurance mechanisms within the Division/ Institute/ CRE;
3.5 determine whether staff members meet the eligibility criteria to supervise at the relevant level, in accordance with Research Policy RES 18.0 Register of Current Higher Degree by Research Supervisors;
3.6 ensure that each HDR student has a principal and associate supervisor appointed and ensure that all supervisors are sufficiently expert in the area of research to be able to offer the HDR student quality supervision;
3.7 make every endeavour to locate another supervisor in the event that alternative supervisory arrangements are required;
3.8 provide a research-rich education environment by contributing to Research Education Support Activities to foster the development of Research Degree Graduate Qualities and productive intellectual, professional and ethical relationships between staff and HDR students and among HDR students;
3.9 address grievances or appeals involving Research Degree Coordinators, supervisors and HDR students in accordance with University policy and regulations.
The Institute Director and Head of School, will assign responsibility for:
4.1 appointing a senior academic staff member to act as Research Degree Coordinator who will represent the area as a member of the Divisional Research Management Committee;
4.2 ensuring that adequate resources are provided to assist Research Degree Coordinators and supervisors in the performance of their duties;
4.3 ensuring research degree coordinators provide HDR students with relevant information upon commencement of candidature, including:
4.3.1 policy/ guidelines governing ethics, compliance, intellectual property, authorship, research misconduct and copyright;
4.3.2 support, facilities and resources available to HDR students within the University;
4.3.3 appeal, at risk and grievance procedures;
4.4 negotiating supervisor workload at commencement of candidature such as to provide the HDR student with appropriate and adequate supervision throughout candidature, and renegotiating as required. Such workload is to be distributed between the principal/ co supervisor and associate supervisor(s);
4.5 ensuring each HDR student has resources available according to the Statement of Minimum Resources for HDR students and providing project-specific funds for the HDR student to conduct the research project in accordance with the approved research proposal;
4.6 in conjunction with the Dean, Research, appointing a substitute supervisor where a supervisor is absent for six weeks or more;
4.7 ensuring that a local area OHSW & IM system that is aligned with the University's OHSW & IM Plan is in place for each HDR student to follow.
The Research Degree Coordinator is responsible to the Head of School/ Institute Director for the oversight of all matters related to the supervision of higher degree by research (HDR) students. The Research Degree Coordinator reports higher degree research activities to the Division's Dean, Research.
The Research Degree Coordinator is responsible for:
As a member of the Division's Research Management Committee, Research Degree Coordinators:
Supervisors are expected to supervise their HDR students in accordance with the responsibilities below, to foster research integrity and maximise the opportunities for timely and successful completions by:
6.1 being familiar with, abiding by and guiding HDR students in relation to the University's policies, procedures, regulations, guidelines and codes relevant to higher degrees by research, including intellectual property, ethics and compliance, authorship arrangements, copyright and research misconduct and Research Degree Graduate Qualities;
6.2 remaining aware of current supervisory practices and the policy environment by participating in supervisor development and awareness programs provided by the University , as per RES Policy 18, Register of Current Higher Degree by Research Supervisors;
6.3 establishing with the commencing HDR student and review as necessary the mutual expectations and obligations outlined in the Welcome Checklist and Statement of Agreement;
6.4 providing the resources for their HDR students to undertake their proposed program of research in their School/Institute/Centre;
6.5 communicating/meeting regularly with their HDR student in order to provide timely advice and guidance in all matters related to research conduct and overseeing all stages of the research process, including identifying the research objectives and approach, obtaining ethics and other approvals, conducting the research and reporting the research outcomes in appropriate fora and media;
6.6 satisfying themselves that the research methods and outcomes of those HDR students under their supervision are appropriate and valid;
6.7 ensuring that, prior to data collection, ethics and compliance approvals for the research program as necessary have been obtained, and that the HDR student adopts ethical and safe working practices in places of study and work and complies with occupational health, safety, welfare and injury management guidelines;
6.8 establishing supervisory responsibilities and reporting processes for the associate supervisor, who provides support to the principal supervisor: The associate supervisor should be involved as soon as practicable in the development of the HDR student's research proposal and should maintain a level of communication with the HDR student and the principal supervisor to allow adequate supervision whenever necessary;
6.9 establishing supervisory responsibilities and reporting processes for co-supervisors. Within a co-supervisory team, responsibilities should be established and agreed to as soon as practicable in the development of the HDR student's research proposal. Co-supervisors should maintain a level of communication with the HDR student and each other to allow adequate supervision whenever necessary;
6.10 commenting critically and constructively, and in reasonable time, on the content of drafts of the thesis. Monitor the HDR student's writing style to help avoid plagiarism and to ensure appropriate presentation of written material. Refer the HDR student to appropriate resources and assist with preparation of the research proposal;
6.11 providing academic support and guidance, and helping HDR students to create strategic academic networks by putting them in contact with relevant researchers and other HDR students in their discipline;
6.12 completing the bi-annual progress review and reporting requirements of the University and advising the HDR student on preparation for and performance in these reviews and reports;
6.13 monitoring the HDR student's performance and ensuring the HDR student is promptly made aware of inadequate progress or insufficient work by providing detailed feedback that identifies problems, establishing agreed timelines and milestones by which to measure performance, and conducting additional reviews of progress as required;
6.14 encouraging and supporting HDR students to publish and present their work where appropriate;
6.15 ensuring that HDR students receive appropriate recognition and credit for their research;
6.16 contributing to examination procedures by:
6.17 encouraging and supporting HDR students' career aspirations and planning and help them develop the personal and professional capabilities that will enhance their career options.
All HDR students are required to comply with the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (Australian Code), the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (National Statement) and the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes and adhere to high standards of research integrity and honesty at all times.
HDR students are required to demonstrate a professional attitude towards their research by:
1 See Policy Res 15.1 Quality Assurance and Improvement in Higher Degrees by Research
