Dctral Framewrk Guidelines UTS Framewrk fr Dctral Educatin UTS Business Schl Higher Degree Research 1. Intrductin The UTS Framewrk fr Dctral Educatin is a UTS-wide initiative directed twards imprving the research educatin experience and capabilities f students, as well as psitining UTS as a leader in researcher develpment. The UTS Framewrk fr Dctral Educatin prvides a structured dctral prgram which has tw main aims: supprting the advancement f knwledge thrugh riginal research furthering the develpment f the dctral student as a researcher This dcument establishes the principles n which the UTS Dctral Framewrk is implemented within UTS Business Schl. Key features f the UTS Dctral Framewrk include a three stage assessment prcess and the creatin and maintenance f a Dctral Study Plan (DSP). This dcument is designed t prvide an verview f prcedures fr implementatin f Dctral Study Plans, as well as general guidelines fr each f the three stages f assessment integral t the Dctral Framewrk. Individual Discipline Grups may impse additinal requirements, but the prcedures utlined herein represent the minimum applicable requirements fr all UTS Business Schl dctral students. 2. The Stages The UTS Dctral Framewrk cmprises three stages which reflect prgressively enhanced advanced disciplinary knwledge and research skills, as well as relevant cgnate-disciplines. These three stages are summarized by the Dctral Study Plan (DSP) which prgressively recrds elements, activities and utcmes that facilitate and reflect researcher develpment apprpriate t the individual students needs. Stage ne fcuses n Research and Develpment within Structured Guidelines. Activities include cursewrk, ther frms f training, wrkshp participatin, etc. The candidature time fr Stage 1 is nrmally between 2 t 3 semesters fr full-time study r 4 t 6 semesters fr part-time study. Stage tw fcuses n Research and Develpment within Self-Determined Guidelines. The candidature time fr Stage 2 is nrmally between 1 t 2 semesters fr full-time study r 2 t 4 semesters fr part-time study. Stage three fcuses n Research Infrming and Enlarging the Field. The candidature time fr Stage 3 is nrmally between 1 t 2 semesters fr full-time study r 2 t 4 semesters fr part-time study. Refer t Sectin 6 fr the guidelines n Stage Assessments. 3. The Supervisry Panel The Supervisry Panel shuld cnsist f at least 3 members the Chair (Principal Supervisr), an Alternate Supervisr, and a C-Supervisr. All three members must register r already have registered with the UTS Supervisr Register. The Principal Supervisr must be a member f UTS UTS Business Schl UTS Dctral Framewrk Guidelines (Octber 2014) 1
Business Schl, the Alternate Supervisr may be external t the Schl but must be a member f UTS, but the thers may be external t the Schl r UTS. The Panel shuld be frmed by the Principal Supervisr in cnsultatin with the HDR Crdinatr and/r the Head f Discipline Grup. The Supervisry Panel can be reviewed and revised as necessary. 4. The Dctral Study Plan Each student and the Supervisry Panel will design their wn Dctral Study Plan (DSP) using the UTS Business Schl template s that it meets their individual develpment needs. The cntents f the DSP will take accunt f the knwledge and skills needs f the dctral student at the different stages f their candidature. Put simply, the DSP is a plan f activities that the student undertakes in each stage f candidature. Activities will include (but nt be limited t) frmal cursewrk, audited curses, seminars, cnferences and the like, as well as planned research activity (particularly in stages 2 and 3), as well as any ther frmal r infrmal activity relevant t the student s needs and which is agreed with the Supervisry Panel. A DSP must be structured s as t ensure a balanced range f experiences fr the student, while als aiming at clsing any gaps in necessary knwledge/skills, as well as building n each student s existing strengths. The DSP is a living dcument that new Dctral students cmmence develpment f in the initial meetings with the Supervisry Panel. The DSP shuld then be changed, added r edited by the students as they prgress in their candidature, in cnsultatin with their Supervisry Panel via regular meetings. Each student and their Supervisry Panel are jintly respnsible fr keeping the latest versin f the DSP electrnically. The DSP shuld be submitted t the UTS Business Schl Research Office fllwing Stage Assessments and mid-year and end-f-the-year Reviews f Prgress. Individual Discipline Grups may require a submissin f the DSP at certain times. The Business DSP template will be sent t each new student and their Supervisry Panel. 5. Review f Prgress Graduate Research Schl Review f Prgress Guidelines The bjective f a review f prgress is t review prgress (i.e. achievement) against the gals that have been set fr the student fr the semester, t highlight any issues r prblems that need t be addressed and t set new gals fr the rest f the candidature. UTS Business Schl requires all eligible students t submit a review f prgress by the end f every semester. Eligible students will include all currently enrlled part time and full time students, with the exceptin f the fllwing students: students wh are n Leave f Absence; students wh have cmpleted an assessment in the review perid; r students wh have submitted a thesis fr examinatin in the review perid. The review f prgress cmpnent is included in the last page f the Business DSP template. Students shuld review their DSP with their Supervisry Panel, sign the Review f Prgress page, and submit the updated DSP with the Review f Prgress page t the Business Research Office. Failure t submit the DSP fr Review f Prgress will be deemed as unsatisfactry prgress fr that semester. The Respnsible Academic Officer (RAO) may deem prgress as satisfactry r cnceded UTS Business Schl UTS Dctral Framewrk Guidelines (Octber 2014) 2
satisfactry in the absence f a DSP where there is cnfirmatin frm the Chair f the Supervisry Panel that the DSP has nt been submitted due t exceptinal and unfreseen difficulties. In such a circumstance, the Principal Supervisr shuld submit the last versin f the DSP available with a statement f reasn, cnfirming that the prgress is satisfactry, r cnceded satisfactry. The pssible utcmes f the review f prgress will be satisfactry, cnceded satisfactry, r unsatisfactry. UTS Business Schl will frward all Review f Prgress utcmes t the Graduate Research Schl. 6. Assessments Dctral students will be assessed fr cmpletin f stages cnsistent with Graduate Research Schl Candidature Assessment Guidelines. Students shuld refer t the specific assessment requirements n assessment dates, criteria and cmpnents in their research areas fr each Stage Assessment. 6.1. Stage One Cmpletin f Stage ne frmally cnfirms the candidature. 6.1.1. Assessment Date The assessment fr this stage shuld nrmally be cnducted after the 2 nd r 3 rd semester f full-time candidature r part-time equivalent. 6.1.2. Assessment Criteria The candidate shuld be able t demnstrate the fllwing: an ability t select, analyse, synthesise and critically evaluate relevant material and literature pertaining t the field f study; understanding f key cncepts, prblems, issues in relevant literature; substantiatin f the chice f research tpic/questins and its significance as an riginal cntributin t the advancement f knwledge in the field f study; justificatin f prpsed research design and methds; understanding f resurce implicatins; understanding f ethical implicatins; adptin f a suitable theretical r cnceptual framewrk fr the prpsed study; a capacity and feasible plan t cmplete the prpsed research prject within the prescribed time fr the degree. 6.1.3. Assessment Cmpnents The assessment fr this stage shuld cmprise f: Relevant written material demnstrating the assessment criteria in 6.1.2, as well as evidence f successful cmpletin f activities agreed within the DSP fr Stage 1. In cnsidering whether stage 1 has been successfully cmpleted, the Assessment Panel may have regard t the fllwing cnsideratins as t whether the candidate can (r is likely t be able t): Define the research questin Adequately analyse relevant literature UTS Business Schl UTS Dctral Framewrk Guidelines (Octber 2014) 3
Develp apprpriate research methdlgy Recgnize ptential prblems, risks and ethical issues Satisfy the timeline fr Stages 2 and 3. An updated Dctral Study Plan; and A presentatin t the Assessment Panel. 6.1.4. Assessment Panel Assessment will be rganised within the relevant Discipline Grup/s. The Assessment Panel shuld be chaired by the HDR Crdinatr r a nminee and shuld cnsist f at a minimum, the Supervisry Panel. The Assessment Panel shuld decide if they are satisfied that the assessment criteria in 6.1.2 have been achieved. Individual Discipline Grups may require certain assessment cmpnents t be presented t a wider audience. 6.1.5. Assessment Outcmes The utcme f the assessment will be either satisfactry r unsatisfactry. A satisfactry utcme will cnfirm the candidature. An unsatisfactry utcme will result in ne f the fllwing recmmendatins: Reassessment f candidature within 6 mnths; r Discntinuatin f PhD candidature and transfer t Masters by Research; r Discntinuatin f HDR candidature. 6.1.6. Assessment Reprt The assessment reprt shuld be submitted t the Business Research Office and shuld include the fllwing: Business HDR Assessment Reprt; and Dctral Study Plan. 6.2. Stage Tw Cmpletin f Stage tw frmally cnfirms prgressin f the candidature. 6.2.1. Assessment Date The assessment fr this stage shuld nrmally be cnducted in the 4 th r 5 th semester f full-time candidature r part-time equivalent. 6.2.2. Assessment Criteria The candidate shuld be able t demnstrate the fllwing: an ability t present emerging findings in a written frm apprpriate t the discipline; an ability t critically analyse emerging findings in the research; sufficient justificatin f the develping thesis including the capacity t receive and respnd t critical feedback. 6.2.3. Assessment Cmpnents The assessment fr this stage shuld cmprise f: Written material demnstrating the assessment criteria in 6.1.2 and addressing the fllwing sectins: UTS Business Schl UTS Dctral Framewrk Guidelines (Octber 2014) 4
Aims f the research Overview f the literature Methdlgy and experimental design Prgress t date Timeline fr cmpletin Updated Dctral Study Plan; Evidence f apprval fr Human Ethics, if applicable; and A presentatin t the Assessment Panel in an pen wrkshp within the Discipline Grup (i.e., all members f the Discipline Grup shuld receive the written material and be invited t attend). The exact duratin and frmat f this presentatin will be determined by each Discipline Grup. 6.2.4. Assessment Panel Assessments shuld be rganised within the Discipline Grups. The Assessment Panel shuld be chaired by the HDR Crdinatr r a nminee and shuld cnsist f at a minimum, the Supervisry Panel and ne/tw independent expert/s in the field f research frm within UTS Business Schl. The Assessment Panel shuld decide if they are satisfied that the assessment criteria in 6.2.2 have been achieved. 6.2.5. Assessment Outcmes The utcme f the assessment will be either satisfactry r unsatisfactry. A satisfactry utcme will cnfirm the advanced prgress in the candidature. An unsatisfactry utcme will result in ne f the fllwing recmmendatins: Reassessment f candidature within 6 mnths; Discntinuatin f PhD candidature and transfer t Masters by Research; r Discntinuatin f HDR candidature. 6.2.6. Assessment Reprt The assessment reprt shuld be submitted t the Business Research Office and shuld include the fllwing: Business HDR Assessment Reprt; and Dctral Study Plan. 6.3. Stage Three Cmpletin f Stage three frmally cnfirms readiness t submit. 6.3.1. Assessment Date The assessment fr this stage shuld nrmally be cnducted in the 6 th r 7 th semester f full-time candidature r part-time equivalent befre the candidate submits the thesis fr examinatin. 6.3.2. Assessment Criteria The candidate shuld be able t demnstrate the fllwing: a capacity t prvide a well-argued descriptin and defence f the thesis; a sufficient cntributin t the relevant literature. In additin, the final written draft f the thesis must be able t demnstrate the fllwing: UTS Business Schl UTS Dctral Framewrk Guidelines (Octber 2014) 5
a structure apprpriate t the genre; clear and chesive writing; accurate grammar, spelling, and punctuatin. 6.3.3. Assessment Cmpnents The assessment fr this stage shuld cmprise f: Draft thesis; Updated Dctral Study Plan; and A wrkshp-style presentatin t the Assessment Panel within the Discipline Grup (i.e., all members f the Discipline Grup shuld receive the written material and be invited t attend) alng with any interested Faculty members. The presentatin shuld demnstrate the assessment criteria in 6.3.2. 6.3.4. Assessment Panel Assessments will be rganised within the Discipline Grups. The Assessment Panel shuld be chaired by the HDR Crdinatr r a nminee and shuld cnsist f at a minimum, the Supervisry Panel and ne/tw independent expert/s in the field f research frm within UTS Business Schl. The Assessment Panel shuld decide if they are satisfied that the assessment criteria in 6.3.2 have been achieved. 6.3.5. Assessment Outcmes The utcme f the assessment will be either satisfactry r unsatisfactry. A satisfactry utcme will cnfirm readiness t submit the thesis. An unsatisfactry utcme will result in ne f the fllwing recmmendatins: Reassessment f candidature within 6 mnths; Discntinuatin f PhD candidature and transfer t Masters by Research; r Discntinuatin f HDR candidature. The student will be allwed t submit the thesis fr examinatin nly if a satisfactry utcme is achieved. 6.3.6. Assessment Reprt The assessment reprt shuld be submitted t the Business Research Office and shuld include the fllwing: Business HDR Assessment Reprt; and Dctral Study Plan. UTS Business Schl UTS Dctral Framewrk Guidelines (Octber 2014) 6