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Graduate Centre

Responsibilities of the Faculty

The responsibilities of the Faculty/Academic Unit include ensuring that:

1. the student meets the requirements set down by the University for admission to candidature, including adequate English language competence in the case of applicants from non-English speaking backgrounds;
2. the proposed research project is appropriate for the degree;
3. the proposed supervisor has sufficient expertise in the area of research, has the time available to offer the student proper supervision and, when it is proposed that a supervisor supervise more than five candidates, that an adequate justification is provided;
4. proper supervision can be provided and maintained throughout the research period, and that proper recognition of that supervisory load is given in the overall allocation of duties within the Faculty;
5. appropriate resources and physical facilities can be provided and maintained throughout the research period;
6. appropriate opportunities are provided, by way of seminars and the like, for students to develop their skills at presenting their work as well as facilitating related social skills such as team work, and that students are encouraged to participate in other appropriate training activities, such as training workshops on safety and health procedures, offered within the University;
7. each candidate has written guidelines concerning Faculty/Unit postgraduate policies and procedures, including resource allocation, in accordance with the Research and Development Board Guidelines for Faculty Postgraduate Research Student Maintenance Funds;
8. each candidate is provided with a Faculty/Academic Unit induction programme in the first semester of candidature, to clarify Faculty procedures and policies, and to discuss the expectations of candidates and staff;
9. mediation takes place when there are problems between student and supervisor;
10. supervisors are encouraged to participate in supervision training activities provided within the Faculty and the University, and that the Faculty provides additional and appropriate training for staff and students;
11. the Faculty Research/Postgraduate Committee administers the Research Student Conference Travel Award, to provide a conference travel award to all eligible research students during their period of candidature, subject to the availability of funds;
12. the Faculty Research/Postgraduate Committee fosters postgraduate research within the Faculty, and provides relevant advice to the Faculty Dean and to the Research Degrees and Scholarships Committee and the Research and Development Board.