Division Research Management Committees
Introduction
At the divisional level, the top level of decision-making relating to
research degrees is the Division Research Management Committee (DRMC).
The Division Research Management Committee has the most complex set of
roles and responsibilities within research degree management. They are
responsible for monitoring and ensuring the effective conduct of
research training within the division in accordance with an approved
Division Research Management Plan (DRMP).
Division Research Management Plan
Division Research Management Plans (DRMP) are approved by Senior Management Group and are the key documents for monitoring quality in research degrees in the University. The DRMP articulates how the division intends to manage its research degree programs and deal with all matters relating to the management and supervision of higher degree by research (HDR) students within the division. These include:
- membership of the Division Research Management Committee
- entry standards for potential HDR students
- structured program details for all new HDR students
- the ability of the division to provide adequate physical space, other facilities and resources, including library facilities
- the qualifications, training and support of supervisors within the research degree and that the division have appropriate staff listed on the Register of Postgraduate Research Degree Supervisors
- procedures relating to the appointment of supervisors, acceptance of research outlines, approval of research proposals, review of annual progress reports
- conduct of seminar programs, resolution of grievances, and all aspects of the examination process
- equity considerations.
Responsibilities
The Division Research Management Committee is responsible for approving and making recommendations to University’s Research Degrees Committee on the following academic matters relating to research degrees:
- admission to candidature
- approval of research outlines and research proposals
- approval of variations to candidature (eg leave of absence, change of study load and/or mode, extensions to candidature, withdrawal from candidature, upgrading from Masters to PhD etc)
- termination of candidature
- appointment of principal and associate supervisors and replacement supervisors (if required)
- resolution of HDR student grievances
- approval of annual progress reports
- approval of examiners
- scholarship allocation
- admission of staff to the Register of Postgraduate Research Degree Supervisors
It is also the responsibility of the Division Research Management Committee to ensure that:
- practices outlined in the Code of good practice: Research degrees management and supervision, the DRMP and other relevant research policies and practices are adhered to
- senior academic staff member(s) are appointed as Research Degrees Coordinators (RTF file), who are responsible for overseeing research degree supervision and for monitoring the progress of HDR students
- HDR students meet the academic and other requirements set down by the University for admission to candidature
- the division is appropriate for the research to be undertaken, and has the space, facilities and resources the candidate may need for successful completion
- the proposed research is appropriate in scope and character for the degree and that the expected research is feasible in terms of time, facilities, equipment, technical and resource staff, source material and funding for the expected duration of the research study
- a Principal and an Associate Supervisor are appointed for each HDR student in accordance with the good management practices outlined in the Code of good practice: Research degrees management and supervision and that the supervisors are sufficiently expert in the area of research to be able to offer to the candidate proper supervision
- a structured program is implemented for new HDR students so that each HDR student is made aware of the requirements of and, is given assistance in, preparing a research proposal
- ethical conventions and the necessary ethical approval are in place prior to commencement of work
- procedures for the location of original data are initiated and maintained
- procedures by which they make representation to the Research Degrees Coordinator if they believe that their work is not proceeding satisfactorily
- safety procedures appropriate to the situation are initiated and maintained
- opportunities exist for interaction and development of profitable intellectual relationships between academic staff and HDR students, and among HDR students
- all candidates participate in division or school activities as is appropriate, eg staff seminars, HDR student seminars and conferences
- an appropriate procedure is established for dealing with unresolved conflicts between Research Degrees Coordinators and HDR students, and supervisors and HDR students, in line with the University policy and which enables either the Research Degree Coordinator, the supervisor or the HDR student to terminate the relationship without fear or prejudice
- the examination process is conducted promptly in an expeditious and correct manner, including the early selection of appropriate examiners
- appropriate procedures are established to manage the examination of a candidate’s thesis
- recommendations are made to the Manager: Research Education and Training in Research and Innovation Services regarding the continuation of candidature for each HDR student based on recommendations made by the relevant Research Degrees Coordinator as related to the annual review of the HDR student's progress information obtained by the Planning Unit and Research and Innovation Services in relation to the performance indicators for HDR students is monitored
- a database is established for retrieving information about the
publications/conference presentation that evolve between an HDR student and his/her supervisor during or following completion of the
degree.
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