AGC News 4 May - 17 May 2007
Table of Contents
Examination of Thesis
Staff and students are asked to note some changes which have been made in the
procedures relating to examiners and arbitrators. Your co-operation in ensuring
all relevant staff and students are familiar with the following would be very
much appreciated.
" NOTIFICATION OF INTENTION TO SUBMIT" and "NOMINATION OF EXAMINERS"
FORMS
You will all be aware that at the time the student is preparing to lodge the
:"Notification of Intention to Submit" form with the Graduate Centre,
the supervisor(s) and student are expected to discuss the pool of potential
examiners. However, whilst it is acceptable for the student to be aware of the
names of the pool of examiners, the student is not to be advised of the examiner(s)
finally recommended by the School or appointed by the University. Following
the discussion between supervisor(s) and student, the student should lodge the
completed "Notification of Intention to Submit" form.
One of the responses, by the Graduate Centre, to the lodgement of this form,
is to request examiners' details from the School/Discipline. We ask that at
least four examiners be nominated (on the "Nomination of Examiners"
form).
THIRD EXAMINERS
This is important because, in the event that the thesis is required to be sent
to a third examiner, the services of the reserve(s) listed on the form will
be utilized.
Sometimes School/Disciplines will be asked to provide additional nominations.
This may be necessitated, for example, by the fact that no reserves were nominated
on the "Nomination of Examiners" form, or the reserve(s) is/are from
the same institution as the first two examiners (and nominated examiners must
not be from the same institution), or the reserve(s) have been utilized already
because the first two nominees declined the invitation to examine.
Again, it is expected that the supervisor(s) and student will discuss the pool
of potential examiners. However, whilst it is acceptable for the student to
be aware of the names of the pool of examiners, the student is not to be advised
of the examiner(s) finally recommended by the School or appointed by the University.
Following discussion between supervisor(s) and student, the School arranges
for the student to complete and lodge the "Third examiner Objection/No
objection" form.
Please note that the appointment of the third examiner cannot proceed until
the Graduate Centre has received both the "Nomination of Third Examiners"
form from the School and the "Objection/No objection" form from the
student.
ARBITRATION
On occasion - for example, where there is a stalemate in the examination process
because the examiners' recommendations are such that a consensus decision cannot
be made, or in cases where the Research Education and Development Committee
(REDC) considers it expedient to appoint an arbitrator instead of a third examiner
- the thesis will be sent to an arbitrator.
Once again, it is expected that the supervisor(s) and student will discuss
the pool of potential arbitrators. However, whilst it is acceptable for the
student to be aware of the names of the pool of arbitrators, the student is
not to be advised of the arbitrator(s) finally recommended by the School or
appointed by the University. Following discussion between supervisor(s) and
student, the School arranges for the student to complete and lodge the "Arbitrator
Objection/No objection" form. Please note that the appointment of the arbitrator
cannot proceed until the Graduate Centre has received both the "Nomination
of Arbitrators" form from the School and the "Arbitrator Objection/No
objection" form from the student.
PLEASE NOTE that the "Nomination of Examiners" and "Notification
of Intention to Submit" forms only are available from the Graduate Centre's
web page (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/graduatecentre/policy/).
Should the examination process progress to a third examiner and/or arbitration
stage, the "Nomination of Third Examiners", "Nomination of Arbitrators",
“Third Examiner Objection/No objection" and "Arbitrator Objection/No
objection" forms will be sent to the relevant School/Discipline.
Research Tuesdays
The Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor James McWha, is delighted to invite
you to the University’s new Research Tuesdays lecture series.
This monthly series of public lectures is designed to provide an opportunity
for the University’s leading researchers to engage with business and community
leaders about pressing issues of the day.
Venue and Time
Research Tuesdays will be held in the Napier Building (Lower Ground) on the
North Terrace campus at 5.30pm, and will run for approximately one hour. Admission
is free.
Bookings
Email: research.tuesdays@adelaide.edu.au
Phone: 8303 3692
Relevant information about the lecture can be accessed at: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/lifeimpactresearch/researchtuesday/
Professional Development for Research Students
Researcher Education and Development: RED for students
Workshops coming soon
'Self-editing for research writers with English as an additional Language'
Weds 2, 9 &16 May 4:00 - 6:00 pm (all to be attended)
'Preparing and presenting seminars' Wed 23 May 4:00 - 6:00pm
(for research students EXCEPT current IBP students)
And more
Enrol online: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/graduatecentre/rep/student/
Also find via this link details of the RED Online Modules (topics including
writing research proposals and advanced citation skills) and our list of 'high
relevance' web-links.
For enquiries, email margaret.cargill@adelaide.edu.au
Endeavour Awards:
Applications for DEST's 2008 Endeavour Awards have opened, with a closing
date of 31 July. The awards fund Australian undergraduate and postgraduate students
to study for a period overseas, and overseas applicants to spend some time studying
in Australia. The awards include student exchanges, research fellowships and
executive awards. The University is keen to receive a sizeable number of these
awards, so academic staff should encourage students to apply. Details can be
accessed at http://www.endeavour.dest.gov.au/summary_endeavour_awards/default.html
Ethics Centre Student Membership
The Ethics Centre of South Australia (ECSA) is a collaboration between the
three South Australian universities and is supported by the State Government.
ECSA has seven research themes, drawing on expertise from the three universities,
to conduct research and to provide education and advice on ethical issues: Public
Policy, Professional Practice, Research Ethics, Indigenous Ethics, Health Care,
Science and Technology, and Ethical Theory.
We are organising an informal gathering for post graduate students whose research
topics include ethical theory or issues. This meeting will provide an opportunity
to meet with academics from across the three universities who are interested
in ethical theory and issues, and to meet with other students conducting similar
research.
If you are interested in attending, or would like to know more about ECSA
and becoming post graduate student member, please contact the Director, Emeritus
Professor Robert Crotty (robert.crotty@unisa.edu.au
or 8463 6198) of ECSA Project Officer, Danni Nicholas-Sexton (danni.nicholassexton@unisa.edu.au
or 8226 7291).
Commonly Asked Questions
Do I have the right to object to possible examiners?
The answer is, "Yes, you do". Rules 28 and 30.1 clearly cover
your right to discuss possible examiners with your supervisor and to object
if you consider it necessary. However your objection is NOT a veto. The "Notification
of Intention to Submit" form requires you to indicate whether or not you
have any objections. It is too late to object once the examination is initiated
and your consent at the time you notify the Graduate Centre of your intention
to submit is taken as final
If I am required to revise and resubmit my thesis will it go back to
the original examiners?
The answer to this is generally yes. Rule 29.3 indicates that as far
as possible the thesis will be examined by the original examiners.
From time to time one of the original examiners may decline to re-examine a
thesis in which case your school and supervisor will be requested to provide
a list of other suitable examiners and again you have the right to object to
these suggestions within the constraints noted above.
Must a resubmitted thesis be sent to two examiners?
This will depend on the outcome of the initial examination. If the
two examiners require the thesis to be revised and re-submitted it must go back
to two examiners, and as noted above this is usually the two examiners who conducted
the first examination.
If only one examiner requires the original thesis to be revised and re-submitted
then it will be sent back to that examiner only.
Who decides if a thesis should be resubmitted if the examiners disagree?
This decision is made by the Dean of Graduate Studies on the advice
of the Student Matters Sub-committee(SMS) of the Research Education and Development
Committee (REDC). SMS comprises a group of senior research-active supervisors
as well a postgraduate student representative. SMS considers each case on its
merits.
|
