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Approval of research courses and units for research degrees
Research Graduate School Committee evaluation and approval procedures for postgraduate research degree and unit proposals, amendments and disestablishments
Preamble
These procedures for the evaluation and approval of new degree and unit proposals and amendments to courses and units provide operational guidelines for the work of the Research Graduate School Committee. The role of the Research Graduate School Committee is to seek Academic Board approval/endorsement for the establishment and amendment of postgraduate research courses/degrees and units with particular reference to objectives, evaluation, student assessment, teaching, research and resource implications. In fulfilling its role, the Research Graduate School Committee is guided by the university’s academic policies relating to courses/degrees and units. The procedures set out in this document ensure consistency with policy, while maximising streamlining and devolution.
These procedures have been specifically designed to assist associate deans responsible for research degrees or equivalent, who represent their faculty on the Research Graduate School Committee, administrative officers (postgraduate research programs) and course and unit convenors with the procedures relating to:
An overview of the evaluation and approval process
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The evaluation and approval processes at faculty level for all forms of postgraduate research course/degree and unit proposals are established by the faculty but must include the formal approval of the faculty research degrees committee (or equivalent) and faculty board (or, where faculty regulations permit, by a faculty executive committee). While internal faculty procedures are a matter for each faculty to determine according to its own needs and circumstances, a possible model for faculty level procedures is included.
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In the case of new postgraduate research courses/degrees and new units, a Research Graduate School Committee evaluation team (normally the Steering Committee, augmented by other independent nominees, as appropriate) must certify that the proposals conform to the academic policies of the university prior to approval by faculty board/executive.
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Where postgraduate research course/unit proposals from one faculty may involve an overlap of interest with another faculty, the proposal must be forwarded to the relevant associate dean responsible for research degrees, or equivalent of that faculty. Certification that consultation has occurred and agreement reached on areas of concern must be recorded on the proposal coversheet/memorandum.
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cross-faculty postgraduate research course/degree/unit proposals must receive the approval of both faculty boards/executives.
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Minor amendments to existing postgraduate research masterscourses/degrees, and minor amendments to existing research masters units, and the disestablishment of research masters units are approved at faculty level and reported to the Research Graduate School Committee for noting.
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All other proposals require the endorsement of the Research Graduate School Committee and approving/noting by Academic Board as appropriate. These include:
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- all new postgraduate research course/degree and unit proposals;
- major amendment(s) to existing postgraduate research courses/degrees/units;
- minor amendment(s) to doctoral and MPhil courses/degrees and units;
- disestablishment of research masters, MPhil and doctoral courses/degrees and MPhil and doctoral units.
The role of Research Graduate School Commmittee's Steering Committee Reviewers
Overview
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The Research Graduate School Committee’s Steering Committee reviewers provide non discipline-specific ‘peer-review’ quality assurance that postgraduate research courses/degrees and units are consistent with university policy. (Reviewers should seek clarification of issues within proposals that appear to be inconsistent with that policy.) If these issues are not resolved by consultation with the relevant faculties then they are raised for discussion at Research Graduate School Committee.
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Peer-review of the research content and appropriateness of the pedagogy for the discipline area generally occurs at the faculty level, where the discipline expertise resides. However, for areas of overlapping interest or which cross discipline boundaries, postgraduate research course/degree and unit proposals are sent to the associate dean (postgraduate research programs) or equivalent of the other interested faculty for consideration.
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