POSTGRADUATE STRUCTURED MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK FOR A 48 MONTH FULL-TIME PHD PROGRAMME

Transcription

1 POSTGRADUATE STRUCTURED MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK FOR A 48 MONTH FULL-TIME PHD PROGRAMME The framework for postgraduate supervision outlined herein has three key components: of a strong interactive relationship between and supervisor(s); Monitoring of progress and supervisor performance at School level by the Head of School () acting, where appropriate, through a College Postgraduate Officer (CPgO); Ensuring quality assurance of postgraduate progress, education, training and development across Schools by a University-wide monitoring system. It is intended that the Framework will be modified by Schools and Colleges to suit their needs while retaining a core element to ensure consistency of quality supervisory practice. APPLICATION, ADMISSION AND INDUCTION PROCEDURES FOR POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH STUDENTS PROCESS Applications PT; FT; OS All research degrees and Reg Pg s Detailed consideration of application (with interview if possible) Recommendation (School) Offer; Reject Decision (University) Offer; Reject Registration Identity Card Induction (University) Induction (School and College) Qualifications Experience References Funding Language Competence Project Identification/Suit ability Student/Supervis or Compatibility Financial implications or Rep Facilities suitability Conditional Unconditional Control check Fees source Financial support IPR agreement Univ Regs Monitoring procedures Registry Registry Welfare Information School rules Safety Demonstrating/ Teaching Skills College Induction Programme Coll Pg Officer/ Safety Adviser Support Services

2 POSTGRADUATE STRUCTURED MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK: MONITORING PROCESS YEAR 1 MONTH 1 MONTH 3 MONTH 9 BY MONTH 12 PROCESS Research Training Needs 1 st Postgraduate al Meeting 2 nd Postgraduate Topic Agreed Analysis Meeting Arrangements with supervisor(s) Resources Good Research Practice decided Transferable skills Subject specific skills Early warning meeting, if Transfer or discontinue if appropriate for next six of Research Research 1st al Report to School with comment by Objectives: i) in depth academic review ii) establishment of research and thesis plan iii) report on academic progress iv) understanding of good research practice Decision on continuation or transfer Support Services Meeting with, Coll Pg Officer or other experienced supervisor (not s ) Meeting with and School Research (See Note 2)

3 Note 1: Student Training Requirements - 48 Month PhD : Computing skills - Use of: spreadsheets, databases, statistical packages, data analysis software. Information retrieval - Literature awareness, extracting information from databases, library work, information science/technology. Commercial appreciation of research - IPR, copyright, patent law. Presentation skills - Writing skills, writing of CV, thesis writing, poster making, seminar presentation, learning through teaching, mock interview. Personal & Financial Skills - Team working, budget management, leadership, project and time management, problem-solving. Subject Specific Skills (to be identified by Schools/Colleges) Demonstrating/Teaching Skills - to include training in the assessment of s Registration on specific taught courses where appropriate (possibly leading to a PG Certificate or PG Diploma in Research Methods) University of Aberdeen s Guidelines on Good Research Practice Note 2: College Postgraduate Officers are not expected to attend all presentations to the School Research ; rather, they should satisfy themselves that oral presentations have been undertaken.

4 YEAR 2 MONTH 13 MONTH 15 MONTH 21 BY MONTH 24 PROCESS Training Needs Analysis Reset Review of research Research 3 rd Postgraduate Attendance at external conference Talk or poster 4th Postgraduate Industrial visit Secondment Academic visit (As appropriate) 2nd al Report to School with comment by Objectives: i) review of research and thesis plan ii) report on academic progress Decision on continuation or transfer Coll Research (See Note 2) Meeting with Meeting with Coll PG Oficer

5 YEAR 3 MONTH 25 MONTH 27 MONTH 33 PROCESS Training Needs Analysis of research 5 th Postgraduate Attendance at external conference Reset Review Research for next six Talk or poster 6th Postgraduate for next six Industrial visit Secondment Academic visit (As appropriate) Meeting with and Meeting with and Coll Research (See Note 2)

6 YEAR 4 MONTH 37 MONTH 39 MONTH 42 ONWARDS PROCESS Training Needs Analysis Reset Thesis Plan Finalisation Review of research Research 7 th Postgraduate Meeting with Completion of research Notice of PhD thesis submission External/internal examiners identified and appointed Career advice CV writing Mock interview MONTH 45 MONTH 48 ONWARDS (See Note 3) 8th Submit PhD thesis Postgraduate Progress update on thesis Completion on schedule? Identify objectives Mock oral examination Coll Research (See Note 2) Meeting with and Supervisor (s) () Postgraduate Registry

7 Note 3: Students should make every effort to submit their thesis by month 48. However, it is acknowledged that this may not always be achieved. Where submission does not take place by the end of a s registration period, the and supervisor are responsible for maintaining regular contact and for ensuring that the thesis is submitted at the earliest opportunity. Postgraduate s should be submitted during the post-registration period (i.e. during the writing-up stage). The successful implementation of the structured management framework described depends upon postgraduate supervisors being suitably prepared for their role (Note 4) through attendance at a training course which would include inter alia the following topics:- Note 4: Staff Training Requirements: Regulatory aspects - University regulations, Research Council regulations, School requirements, monitoring processes, health & safety regulations. Project management - Team working, financial management, time management, interviewing techniques, counselling, professional development, oral examinations, report, dissertation and thesis writing. Commercial aspects - IPR, patenting procedures, technology transfer, entrepreneurial skills Admissions - recruitment and selection procedures.