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Autonomous and collaborative research work

This is the fourth of the Research Degree Graduate Qualities.

4. can work both autonomously and collaboratively as a researcher within a particular discipline or professional area and within wider but related areas.

 

Introduction

The fourth generic quality covers the two learning modes of autonomy and collaboration. For the higher degree by research (HDR) student the context is ‘as a researcher within a particular discipline or professional area and within wider but related areas’. Indicators of learning autonomy would be the exercise of intellectual independence or self-direction and the acquisition of the principles of project management. Indicators of collaboration would include the ability to participate in a research team, thereby gaining experience of working with others through taking up differing roles within groups. Working with others may also be achieved by the  preparing part of a proposal for funded research.

Learning autonomy will be adequately assessed through the reviews of progress, as they should show competent advancement in the research, while collaboration can be assessed by reports on the HDR student's participation in a research team and decision making in a funded research proposal, and in communicating with peers during work-in-progress seminars or in addressing peers and other researchers in the immediate discipline area and related areas in team meetings.

To ensure that these qualities of autonomy and collaboration are being developed along with communication skills, a requirement for continued enrolment will be the giving of yearly work-in-progress reports at one or more professional conference, staff seminar, or a discipline-based seminar or forum, where feedback and dialogue would be expected.
 

Generic indicators

A research degree postgraduate will:

 

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