Governance

Committees Reporting to Senate

The Research Degrees Board

Composition

Chair - Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research)
Vice-Chair - Director of Postgraduate Studies
Deans of Arts, Science, Social Sciences (ex officio)

One nominated person per Department (who should be the departmental Director of research students or postgraduate studies, or, in the case of departments which combine responsibility for higher degrees with responsibility for staff research, the Director of Research).

The Board shall also have the power to co-opt additional members

In attendance - The Academic Secretary, Senior Assistant Registrar, other members of the staff of the Deans' Office as necessary.

Terms of Reference

To approve, on the recommendation of Faculties, schemes of research for all postgraduate Research students and any subsequent changes together with issues relating to administration of research students.
To deal with administrative issues regarding the examining of research degrees and, where appropriate to bring them to the attention of Academic Affairs Committee.
To consider reports from the Faculties on the outcome of assessment undertaken during the year for all postgraduate research students and, on the recommendations of the Faculties, determine outcomes.
To oversee applications from Departments for extensions to time-limits to candidatures. Applications to be considered first by a meeting of the Deans and the Director of Postgraduate Studies.
To keep under review procedures (which are external to the Board) for the consideration of appeals from students
To oversee recommendations for the appointment of External Examiners.
To identify issues arising from the reports of External Examiners and departmental responses thereto.
To receive reports from the Research Training Board of Studies.
To oversee issues relating to research training and to make recommendations on Quality Assurance and Quality Enhancement policies for research training and report to Academic Affairs Committee.
To participate in the approval of new schemes/courses/initiatives relating to research training via the Chair of the Board.
To monitor submission rates to meet approved targets and to consider statistics and performance indicators, particularly regarding submission completion and withdrawal rates.
To receive reports from the Research Students' Consultative Committee.
To receive reports from such groups as shall be established from time to time to respond to the requirements of Research Councils
To be responsible for making recommendations on issues relating to UWA Postgraduate Research Studentships, particularly on the criteria to be applied annually for such awards.
To be responsible for monitoring the management of Research Council grants for skills training for postgraduate research students.
To disseminate information on postgraduate research activities and develop liaison with Research Councils, UK Grad, and other bodies who sponsor postgraduate research.
To identify opportunities for collaboration and develop procedures and frameworks for ensuring joint exercise of quality assurance.
To establish any working groups as appropriate.
To undertake any other work as appropriate

Reporting Lines

The Board shall meet four times a year and shall report to Academic Affairs Committee on all matters apart from individual student progress and examination results, which shall be reported directly to Senate.