2009 Nomination Guidelines for Awards for Excellence for
Higher Degree by Research Supervision
Each year the University calls for nominations for at least one award to recognise
and encourage sustained excellence in the supervision and support of Higher
Degree by Research students.
Nomination process
All applicants must be nominated by members the academic community
and in accepting nomination agree to provide an application according to the
following Guidelines.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- be University of Adelaide academic staff (includes persons with affiliate,
adjunct or clinical status)
- have supervisory responsibilities for research higher degree students,
including normally at least five years as a principal supervisor
- not have received the award in the previous six years.
Where exceptional circumstances exist an Executive Dean may draw to the attention
of the Selection Committee's attention a staff member with less than five years
experience as a principal supervisor. In such cases the Selection Committee
will determine if an application would be appropriate.
Application
Applications must be completed in accordance with these guidelines and should
be accompanied by a completed nomination form signed by three nominators, at
least one of whom should be a member of academic staff and one a current or
former research student.
Each application must include the names of at least four referees, which can
include the nominators. Referees must be prepared to provide written statements
on the applicant's research higher degree supervision, and must include:
- the Head of School (Executive Dean if the applicant is a Head of School)
or the Postgraduate Coordinator (Head of School if the applicant is the Postgraduate
Coordinator)
- someone who has been a member of an supervisory team with the applicant,
and/or a research colleague who can comment in detail on the applicant's
supervision of research higher degree students
- one currently enrolled research higher degree student who is supervised
by the applicant
- one research higher degree student who was supervised by the applicant
and awarded the degree.
Applicants who have previously received the Award must provide evidence of
supervisory excellence since the earlier award.
Application Form (doc 86kB)
Application Form (pdf 39kB)
Selection criteria
Applications will be assessed against the five criteria set out below. The criteria
reflect a range of areas in which supervision excellence can be demonstrated,
taking into consideration the responsibilities of supervisors outlined in the
Research Student Handbook.
Applicants should address each criterion in turn and so build the profile that
best highlights their particular personal strengths as a research higher degree
advisor. Applicants are not expected to demonstrate excellence in all of these
areas; however, in determining awards the Selection Committee will look for
major contributions to HDR education across a range of supervisory and student
support activities.
1. The extent and range of supervision activity
Which may include: the number of candidates supervised, the number of completions
and the range of projects supervised; the nature of the research program and
academic profile that attracts high calibre research students.
2. The outcomes for students
Which may include: supervision practices that lead to research projects and
research theses judged by examiners to be of outstanding quality; supervision
practices that lead to students publishing books, chapters and articles, presenting
papers at prestigious conferences, and winning prizes and awards; supervision
practices that ensure students successfully complete their research and thesis
writing in a timely manner. Applicants should include an analysis of examination
outcomes, indicating the % of theses supervised which were passed without
major amendments or with special commendation.
3. Support for the development of students as individuals
Which may include: the engagement of research students in the broader intellectual
life of the school/discipline, faculty and University; support and encouragement
for students to develop as independent researchers; support and encouragement
for students to develop the full range of graduate attributes. Applicants
are encouraged to identify contributions to the development of international
students and special efforts made to help them adjust to the University research
environment where English is for many not their first language.
4. Support for students' career development
Which may include: the induction of students into the national and international
research communities in their fields; the mentoring of students in their career
development following completion of their research higher degrees and the
facilitation of building professional networks
5. A contribution to the development of excellent supervision practices
within faculties or the wider University
Which may include: the mentoring of staff new to supervision; involvement
in and contribution to supervisor workshops and training; development of faculty
and school/discipline policies and programs to enhance the postgraduate community
and the quality of the environment for postgraduate research.
Selection process
Applicants will be assessed on the basis of their applications and written references.
Short listed applicants may be interviewed. The Selection Committee for the
Award will be the Dean
of Graduate Studies (Chair) and the Research Education and Development
Committee.
Essential documentation
All applicants must provide the following documents. Please adhere to the following
style guidelines when preparing the written statement:
- Page Margins: L=1.5; R=1.5; T=1.5; B=1.7
- Font: Times New Roman 11pt with 13pts of space (leading) or Verdana 9pt
with 13pts of space (leading)
- Alignment: Justified or aligned left
Application form: The completed application must be signed
by the applicant and the Executive Dean of the Faculty or a delegate, as well
as the nominators.
Written statement: The candidate's written statement is
the central element in the nomination. It provides the opportunity for candidates
to describe their supervision and demonstrate its excellence. It should provide
an overview, followed by a discussion of each of the five selection criteria,
each under a separate heading.
The overview provides the opportunity for nominees to commence the written
statement with a focus on the specific character of their supervision. It
is recommended that the overview be no more than one page and that it include
the nominees' educational philosophy and beliefs, a description of the supervisory
context and an integrated summary of the claims relating to the selection
criteria. The majority of the written statement should be devoted to addressing
each of the five criteria in turn. Nominees must provide evidence in support
of their claims against these criteria. The written statement is limited to
9 A4 pages in total.
References: Four references, of no more than one A4 page
each, must be provided by people who are able to comment on the nominee's
supervision against the selection criteria as already indicated in point 2:
Application.
Selective curriculum vitae: The curriculum vitae should
outline the nominee's educational qualifications, career history, research
activity and supervisory experience in relation to the criteria. The curriculum
vitae is limited to four A4 pages.
Optional supporting materials
Applicants may include selected supporting materials provided they are appropriately
referenced in the written statements and are demonstrably relevant to the case
proposed by the applicant.
Examples of supporting materials might include:
- Examiners' reports which reflect on the quality of your supervision
of the thesis
- Evidence of participation in relevant professional development activities
- Evidence of contributions to the literature on supervision
Only one copy of supporting materials is required. This should be separately
packaged and labelled as Supporting Material. The label should also include
the name of the applicant/nominee and the date.
Presentation
There is no advantage in elaborate presentation of nominations. The nomination
form is adequate as a cover page. If optional (physical) supporting materials
are to be included, these should be separately packaged and labelled as Supporting
Teaching Material. The label should also include the date and the name(s) of
the nominee(s). The package should be sent to Barbara Brougham, CLPD, Level
2, Schulz Building to arrive by 5.00pm Friday, September 11.
Please do not bind the application in any way, other than a staple
in the top left hand corner.
Lodgement and processing of applications
The nomination should be sent as a .pdf file by email to Barbara
Brougham, Executive Officer, Committee for Learning & Teaching Awards
- to arrive by 5.00pm on Friday, September 11.
Receipt of all nominations will be acknowledged by email. If you do not receive
a confirmatory email within a week of submission, please contact barbara.brougham@adelaide.edu.au
Notification
Receipt of all nominations will be acknowledged by email by the Executive Officer,
Committee for Learning & Teaching Awards. If you do not receive a confirmatory
email within a week of submission, please contact Barbara
Brougham or phone 0437 649 976 (mobile); 08 8303 4721.
|
