|
|
|
|
|
|
D/5.1 Management of postgraduate research programs |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5.1.1 Postgraduate research programs 5.1.1 Postgraduate research programsQUT offers postgraduate research programs at Masters and Doctoral levels, including Professional Doctorates in some faculties. This policy applies to the management of postgraduate research programs. QUT is committed to the development and provision of postgraduate research programs that support and stimulate rigorous and significant research training activities and internationally benchmarked outcomes. Research training, supervision and reporting requirements of the University are intended to encourage a vigorous and dynamic interdisciplinary research culture. QUT recognises that research and research training are intimately connected and that to ensure successful outcomes these activities need to take place in an environment where the appropriate expertise and resources exist. Broad definition of postgraduate research programs in terms of entry standards, duration, and depth and breadth of study are provided in C/3.2 . Postgraduate research programs are developed around the DEEWR definition of 'Research Higher Degree ' where coursework components should not exceed one third of the program, as detailed in the Research Training Scheme Guidelines . Also provided in C/3.2 are definitions of related programs such as undergraduate honours and postgraduate coursework programs, which contain elements of research training and may provide pathways to postgraduate research programs. University Research and Innovation Committee, in addition to its role in the development of all policy on research matters, is responsible for all policy regarding research based postgraduate studies. In the case of research master and professional doctorate programs, faculty academic boards administer the individual courses but submit rules and an annual report to Research Degrees Committee (see C/4.6 for details of course performance reports). In the case of the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program, Research Degrees Committee is directly responsible for policy implementation and for the day-to-day administration of the program. 5.1.2 Location of research higher degree programsDoctoral degree candidates are normally only accepted for programs within approved research structures in order to ensure that adequate resources, particularly library collections, are available to underpin a doctoral program and that adequate supervision can be provided. The enrolling entity for a postgraduate research program is a faculty; however the research may be carried out in an institute or in external industry or research organisations. 5.1.3 Coordination of research trainingAll research training programs are coordinated at faculty level, usually by the Assistant or Associate Dean (Research) or nominee. While institutes do not enrol research students they do coordinate aspects of the administration of research training programs in collaboration with faculties. Institutes initiate and manage institute-specific support and training activities for research students who are members of institutes. Faculty academic boards report on the full suite of their research training programs within the annual Faculty Academic Program Report (see C/4.6.4 ) which includes, if appropriate, a report on participating institute programs and scholarships. The coordination of research training programs includes overview and administration of the academic advising, admission, induction and candidature of research students and contribution to the improvement of the research training environment through:
While day-to-day administration of research training programs may occur in faculty research centres and groups, or in schools which enrol research students directly into research programs that are not recognised as centres, the overall responsibility for coordination lies at faculty level. A faculty level research coordinator, designated according to the location of the nominated principal supervisor, will coordinate supervision of students who are enrolled across more than one faculty. Similarly where there is supervision across schools, the faculty nominates a designated coordinator for each student. 5.1.4 Postgraduate research supervisorsSupervision of all research higher degree candidates shall be conducted according to the QUT Code of Good Practice for Postgraduate Research Studies and Supervision ( D/5.4 ) (see also D/2.6 QUT Code of Conduct for Research ). Supervisor accreditation has been implemented at QUT. It establishes a base line of qualifications for supervision across the University and acknowledges the continuing involvement of supervisors in research training. Research Degrees Committee, on the recommendation of the relevant head of school and executive dean of faculty, will in exceptional circumstances consider and approve an application from a staff member who is not a member of an approved research structure, or external to the University, to supervise a doctoral student. If approved, the supervisor's name will be added to the QUT Register of Approved Research Supervisors maintained by the Secretary, Research Degrees Committee. Approval authority for PhD supervision and responsibilities of supervisors are described in the PhD Regulations (MOPP Appendix 9) . Supervisors are approved by heads of school for the purpose of Masters (Research) and Professional Doctorate (Research). 5.1.5 Postgraduate research programs infrastructureQUT is committed to ensuring that students have access to the appropriate resources for effective and timely completion of their research studies. To this end arrangements can be set in place for students to study at QUT using on campus facilities, to access facilities offered by organisations associated with QUT on or off campus, or to study externally using the resources of an external organisation with support from an external supervisor. 5.1.6 Quality assurance and standardsPolicy on postgraduate research studies is strongly influenced by the Australian Universities Quality Agency and the Australian Government's Research Training Scheme guidelines and Research Quality Framework. QUT endorses the Australian Universities guidelines on Procedures to Ensure the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Degree Studies, on which QUT has based its own Code of Good Practice for Postgraduate Research Studies and Supervision at QUT ( D/5.4 ) and Research Training Quality Assurance System.
The Research Training Quality Assurance System is available from the Research Students Centre website. Related DocumentsMOPP C/3.2 Award classifications MOPP C/4.1 Development and approval of research degree programs MOPP E/4.1 Student admission MOPP E/4.3 Enrolment programs MOPP D/5.5 Handling grievances of postgraduate research students Modification History
|
