Good Research Practice

3.0  Education of Young Researchers - PhD, MPhil, Taught Master's

The Director of Postgraduate Studies holds a two-day annual induction event for new postgraduate students at the start of each session, and those students starting their research at other times of the year may attend this event when it is next held. In addition, the Director has overall responsibility for a number of Research Training Modules, in collaboration with departments, which are delivered as part of the postgraduate training programme. He also produces, and regularly updates a booklet - Code of Practice for Research Postgraduates, which falls within his strategy document on The Training of Postgraduates. Training needs are tailored to the requirements of the different Research Councils.

The Faculty Research Postgraduate Monitoring Committees meet in July and in February each session to monitor research postgraduate progress. As part of this process the Committees also review the Departmental Handbooks produced by each Department within the Faculty to give guidance to its PGs, and to explain all of the procedures for monitoring progress, for supervision and mentoring, and for dealing with any complaints or cases of unfair practice which may arise.

The question of supervision is under constant review, through the Office of the Director of PG Studies, through the Faculties, and through the Personnel Office in terms of developments in the training and accreditation of postgraduate supervisors.

Departments also hold their own subject-specific induction events, produce their own Handbooks for Postgraduates and oversee the education of their young researchers through departmental Directors of Research, and Departmental Postgraduate Co-ordinators. It is recommended practice within the Institution to have two supervisors for a PhD student, or else to have one supervisor and one independent assessor, and terms of reference for these supervisors should be built into the Departmental Handbooks for members of staff, as well as the handbooks for PGs. At the departmental level practices vary, but a common element is the provision of training modules (e.g. research skills, communications skills, professional skills), regular provision of seminars by outside speakers and a wide range of training courses available through Information Services. It is also usual for PGs to give several presentations on their work over the course of their studies and to have opportunities to attend, and to participate in academic conferences.