The responsibilities of the principal supervisor of a research component of a postgraduate coursework award include:
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planning an appropriate research project with the student. This planning will initially include: |
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- evaluating the feasibility of the proposed area of research; |
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- discussing the value of the research; |
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- ensuring that the scope of the research is appropriate to the weighting of the research component and to the award; |
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- ensuring that he or she has the necessary knowledge/expertise to effectively supervise the student in the area chosen; |
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- ensuring that adequate resources and funding will exist to support the research; |
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Where an interview or meeting or discussion is required under this policy, and the student is unable to attend, this may be conducted by an alternative process. |
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becoming well acquainted with the student's academic and/or professional background so that if the student needs additional skills and/or knowledge to undertake the proposed research project, the student can be informed how these might be acquired; |
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suggesting ways that the student can make the most effective use of time. This will include planning of the research project, suggesting appropriate research methods/techniques to be used and ensuring the availability of library resources in the field and bibliographical and technical assistance; |
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making the student aware at the beginning of any theoretical, methodological and/or philosophical assumptions held by the supervisor that might impact on the research project or the working relationship between supervisor and student; |
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informing the student about any planned leave (or retirement) within the duration of the research project and the arrangements made to provide effective supervision during such an absence; |
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ensuring the student's research project has appropriate ethical and/or biosafety approval (if applicable), that the student is aware of issues of intellectual property and that the student's research project is conducted in accordance with the University’s occupational health and safety requirements; |
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ensuring the student is aware at the start of the candidature of any confidentiality agreements that are associated with the proposed research;
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maintaining close and regular contact with the student and establishing at the beginning the basis on which contact will be made. This will facilitate the supervisor's role in advising the student on the pace of progress, and ensuring that a reasonable timetable is set to permit the research project to be completed in the appropriate time; |
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requiring written work from the student on a pre-arranged and agreed schedule so that his or her progress can be assessed at regular intervals. Constructive and critical comments should be made on any written work presented to the supervisor. In each instance, a turnaround time for any submitted work should be established; |
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ensuring that any criticism is given in a constructive, supportive and sensitive fashion; |
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fulfilling administrative obligations regarding the student's enrolment in the research component which includes supporting the student in relation to outside organisations and funding agencies; and ensuring appropriate access to the facilities of the AOU; |
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monitoring carefully the performance of the student relative to the standard for the postgraduate coursework award, and ensuring that inadequate progress or work below the standard generally expected is brought to the student's attention. The supervisor should assist with developing solutions to problems as they are identified; |
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being alert to developments in the research area that might require expenditures not initially identified. The supervisor should keep in touch with the research to ensure that resources are available; if the research develops in such a way as to require additional resources, the matter should be brought immediately to the attention of the Executive Dean of the Faculty, and where appropriate, Office of Research and research funding bodies; |
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informing the course coordinator of any difficulties and problems experienced by the student which are likely to impede progress. If a problem is not resolved, the relevant Head of AOU (or nominee) should be consulted. The relevant Head of AOU and Executive Dean of the Faculty should be notified in writing of continuing problems; |
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immediately informing the Head of AOU (or nominee) should the supervisory relationship break down. In such an instance, the Head of AOU should ensure that other supervisory arrangements are made to the satisfaction of the student. Where the supervisor is the Head of AOU, the Executive Dean of the Faculty shall ensure that satisfactory supervisory arrangements are made; |
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commenting critically on the content and the drafts of the research component and, at the time of submission, checking that the research component is properly presented, conforms to the specifications for the research component and is of sufficient standard to be, prima facie, worthy of examination; and |
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advising the faculty of the names and credentials of suitable examiners; |
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ensuring that the student is aware that all publications and presentations that arise directly from research undertaken for a higher degree at Flinders University, whether published or presented during a higher degree candidature at Flinders University or subsequently, must carry a Flinders University attribution. These requirements do not preclude additional attribution to other appropriate institutions. |
