D/5.2 Research Degrees Committee charter
Policy Owner | Director, Governance, Legal and Performance |
Approval Date | 24/06/2021 |
Approval Authority | Council |
Date of Next Review | 01/12/2023 |
5.2.1 Purpose
5.2.2 Accountability
5.2.3 Responsibilities
5.2.4 Delegations
5.2.5 Membership
5.2.6 Meeting frequency
5.2.7 Reporting
5.2.8 Procedures
5.2.9 Secretariat
Modification History
5.2.1 Purpose
Research Degrees Committee develops and recommends policies and procedures relating to the governance and management of QUT's Higher Degrees by Research.
5.2.2 Accountability
Research Degrees Committee is an academic committee accountable to University Research Committee.
5.2.3 Responsibilities
Research Degrees Committee undertakes the following responsibilities:
- develops and recommends to University Research Committee to recommend to University Academic Board policies and procedures relating to higher degree research supervision, training and research and course requirements for higher degree research awards at QUT
- advises University Research Committee on the provision and delivery of resources and facilities for research degree training and research, including development of research students’ graduate capabilities
- coordinates the annual Course Reports for higher degree research and reports on outcomes to the University Research Committee
- considers and approves, in accordance with University policy (D/5.3), recommendations from faculties regarding the admission, supervision and examination of higher degree research students
- monitors and approves the progress, supervision and examination of higher degree research students with attention to cohort trends within the University and reports on these matters to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Research)
- monitors and determines policy and good practice in supervisor accreditation within the University relating to higher degree research supervision and reports on outcomes to the University Research Committee
- monitors and determines policy and guidelines for the awarding of higher degree research scholarships funded by the University
- considers applications and, on recommendations from faculties and/or research centres, determines recipients for higher degree research scholarships
- recommends to University Academic Board (or delegate) the award of research degrees to candidates, through Student Administration
- considers nominations for QUT Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Awards and recommends recipients to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Research) for approval.
5.2.4 Delegations
Research Degrees Committee has delegated responsibility to determine:
- whether a higher degree research candidate has completed all course requirements and recommend to the Vice-President (Administration) and University Registrar conferral of higher degree research awards (D/5.3, E/10.1)
- the outcome of a higher degree research candidate’s milestone (D/5.3)
- the outcome of a higher degree research candidate’s under review (D/5.3)
- the outcome of a higher degree research candidate’s show cause (D/5.3)
- allocation of higher degree research scholarships via QUT’s Annual Scholarship Round (D/5.3).
5.2.5 Membership
- A nominee of the Head of Research Portfolio as Chair
- Director, Graduate Research Centre ex officio
- Director, Graduate Research Education and Development ex officio
- Up to three associate academic staff members nominated by the Head of Research Portfolio, where membership is constituted with due regard for breadth of representation
- A nominee of each executive dean with faculty wide responsibility for higher degree research programs
- Two postgraduate students nominated by the Head of Research Portfolio. One student will be selected from the Science, Engineering or Health Faculty, with the second student to be selected from the Business and Law Faculty or the Faculty of Creative Industries, Education and Social Justice. Student appointments will have staggered starting years wherever possible.
Nominated members of the Committee serve a term of office of up to two years. The length of a nominated member’s term of office is recommended to the nominator by the Chair, on advice from the Secretariat.
5.2.6 Meeting frequency
Research Degrees Committee normally meets 6 times per year, ideally on a bi-monthly basis.
5.2.7 Reporting
Following each meeting, Research Degrees Committee reports to the next meeting of University Research Committee.
5.2.8 Procedures
Research Degrees Committee is established in accordance with Council Procedure 1 – Committees.
5.2.9 Secretariat
A nominee of the Vice-President (Administration) and University Registrar is secretary.
Modification History
|
Date |
Sections |
Source |
Details |
| 01.03.22 | D/5.2.5 | Director, Governance and Legal Services | Revised membership provision - term of office for nominated members clarified |
| 24.06.21 | D/5.2.5 |
Council | Revised membership resulting from the committee reform and "Repositioning QUT for a post-COVID world" reorganisation (effective 31.01.21) |
| 10.12.20 | All | Council | Periodic review - revised and modernised charter |
| 12.12.18 | All | Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation) | Revised to include department name change to Office of Research Services |
| 07.12.16 | All | Council | Revised terms of reference to clarify the development and recommendation of policies and procedures for higher degree research awards |
| 15.06.16 | All | Council | Revised terms of reference - removed TOR to determine the outcome of second stage grievance processes relating to higher degree research students |
| 03.11.14 | All | Research Degrees Committee | Periodic review in accordance with committee self-assessment - no change required |
| 29.01.14 | All | Dean of Research and Research Training | Revised membership to remove Director, International Graduate Research |
| 01.03.13 | All | Council | Policy revised - revised terms of reference |
22.06.11 |
All |
Council |
Policy revised - Terms of reference and membership updated |
| 19.02.11 | All | Vice-Chancellor | Policy revised to include approved name change for Office of Teaching Quality to Learning and Teaching Unit |
17.12.10 |
All |
Research Degrees Committee |
Periodic review - no change required |
09.12.09 |
All |
Council |
Revised membership to include Director, International Graduate Research |
05.09.07 |
All |
Council |
Revised terms of reference (endorsed by University Academic Board 10.08.07 and University Research and Innovation Committee 25.07.07) |
|
19.04.06 |
D/5.2 |
Council |
Revised terms of reference and membership provisions (endorsed by University Research and Innovation Committee 01.03.06) |
|
02.06.04 |
D/5.2 |
Council |
Revised terms of reference and membership provisions, in accordance with recommendations of Council Panel of the 2003/2004 Committees Review |
|
26.03.99 |
D/5.2 |
University Academic Board |
Revised membership |
|
03.07.98 |
D/5.2 |
University Academic Board |
Revised terms of reference and membership (effective 1.1.99) |