Faculty of Science

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Faculty of Science TechnologyRESEARCH DEGREES
Colin BoxallClare Altham
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PURPOSE

• To brief Faculty of Science Technology on new
  research procedures, especially those pertaining
  to research degrees
• Procedures combine good practice from both
  predecessor Faculties

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PURPOSE

• To brief Faculty of Science Technology on new
  research procedures, especially those pertaining
  to research degrees
• Procedures combine good practice from both
  predecessor Faculties

CONTENT

• Faculty Committee Structure Terms of Reference
• The Faculty Research Degrees Sub-Committee -
  FRDSC
• Research Degree Quality Assurance
  Administration
• Stages of a Research Degree
• The documentation
• Induction and the Programme of Related Studies
• Q A

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VC, Directorate SMT
ACADEMIC BOARD
Student Access Committee
Research Knowledge Transfer Committee
Student Experience Committee
Academic Standards Quality AssuranceCommittee
FACULTY EXECUTIVE TEAM
FACULTY RESEARCH KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER COMMITTEE
Faculty Health Safety Ethics Committee
Faculty Quality Committee
Faculty Teaching Learning Committee
Faculty External Activities Committee
URDSC
FRDSC Health
FRDSC AHSS/LBS
FRDSC SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY
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VC, Directorate SMT
MEETS ONCE A MONTH Research Commercial
Strategy Oversee governance strategies Identify
influences on Research Knowledge
Transfer Identify KPIs for Depts / Centres and
monitor progress against them Strengthen research
commercial culture Identify good
practice REPORT TO FET ON ALL OF ABOVE
ACADEMIC BOARD
Student Access Committee
Research Knowledge Transfer Committee
Student Experience Committee
Academic Standards Quality AssuranceCommittee
FACULTY EXECUTIVE TEAM
FACULTY RESEARCH KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER COMMITTEE
Faculty Health Safety Ethics Committee
Faculty Quality Committee
Faculty Teaching Learning Committee
Faculty External Activities Committee
URDSC
FRDSC Health
FRDSC AHSS/LBS
FRDSC SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY
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VC, Directorate SMT
ACADEMIC BOARD
Student Access Committee
Research Knowledge Transfer Committee
Student Experience Committee
Academic Standards Quality AssuranceCommittee
FACULTY EXECUTIVE TEAM
MEETS SIX TIMES A YEAR Assumes business of
previous 2 FRDSCs Terms of Reference merged
informed by AQaSU 1 RDT and 1 research active
staff from each DEPT
FACULTY RESEARCH KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER COMMITTEE
Faculty Health Safety Ethics Committee
Faculty Quality Committee
Faculty Teaching Learning Committee
Faculty External Activities Committee
URDSC
FRDSC Health
FRDSC AHSS/LBS
FRDSC SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY
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Promote high quality research degrees Ensure
training in research other skills Ensure all
students have access to adequate
resources Ascertain research conducted in
appropriate governance framework Make
recommendations to URKTC, Dean, PVC Research on
above
VC, Directorate SMT
ACADEMIC BOARD
Student Access Committee
Research Knowledge Transfer Committee
Student Experience Committee
Academic Standards Quality AssuranceCommittee
FACULTY EXECUTIVE TEAM
MEETS SIX TIMES A YEAR Assumes business of
previous 2 FRDSCs Terms of Reference merged
informed by AQaSU 1 RDT and 1 research active
staff from each DEPT
FACULTY RESEARCH KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER COMMITTEE
Faculty Health Safety Ethics Committee
Faculty Quality Committee
Faculty Teaching Learning Committee
Faculty External Activities Committee
URDSC
FRDSC Health
FRDSC AHSS/LBS
FRDSC SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY
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Faculty Committee Structure - Research
FACULTY EXECUTIVE TEAM
Faculty Research Knowledge Transfer Committee
Research Support Office
Faculty Research Degrees Sub-Committee
Faculty Research Student Committee
Faculty Academic Admin Resources Units
Dept Research Degree Tutors
Heads of Department
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Faculty Committee Structure - Research
Science FRSC and DT Grad School Parliament
merged Rep based - 3 meeting / year, 1 open. RDTs
attend all Chaired by Dean To discuss any and all
issues relating to RS experience Terms of
Reference Ensure quality effectiveness of
supervision support Identify strengths
weaknesses and to spread good practice Address
issues of concern
FACULTY EXECUTIVE TEAM
Faculty Research Knowledge Transfer Committee
Research Support Office
Faculty Research Degrees Sub-Committee
Faculty Research Student Committee
Faculty Academic Admin Resources Units
Dept Research Degree Tutors
Heads of Department
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Returning to the FRDSC what does it oversee
and administer?
FACULTY ENROLMENT INDUCTION TRAINING (incl
RSO) REGISTRATION PROGRESSION TRANSFER
(MPhil-PhD) SUSPENSION EXTENSION WITHDRAWAL MODE
CHANGE CHANGE TO SUPERVISORS ANNUAL
REPORT (QUALITY)
ADMISSION (Research Support Office)
EXAMINATION (Research Support Office)
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STEP-BY-STEPADMISSIONS
Three types of studentself fundingfunded -
internallyfunded - externally, with
contract funded - exclusively by research
council studentship
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Externally Funded (both types)

• E.g. Research Councils, Industry, Charity, Health
  Service Trust etc

Bid assembled costings generated using
pFACT
Fac Governance Form Single HoD signature
Uni External Funding Submission Form HoD Dean
(lt250K)
Bid successful
Fac Governance Form IN FULL
Uni External Funding Contract Approval Form RCA
co-ordinator Dean (lt250K)
Contract signed (Dean or RCA co-ordinator) NB
not Research Council Bids
Set up account (resources unit)
Recruit Student
governance form inspected
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Internally or Student Self Funded
Student Self Funded Student applies
Internally Funded Identify source of
funds Advertise (RSO for forms) Student(s) applies
Recruit Student
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Recruitment - All Routes
Student applies application form received
Interviews conditional offer made
Fac Governance Form IN FULL
RDSC0 by supervisory team
Passed to RDT May call in referee to check
viability of project
RDSC1 Issue authorised by RDT supervisory team
completes
RDSC1 RDSC0 passed to RSO
RSO issues Offer Letter
Student accepts offer and is admitted
governance form inspected
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Recruitment EXCEPT
Student applies application form received
Interviews conditional offer made
Interview documentation passed to RSO
RSO issues Offer Letter
Student accepts offer and is admitted
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Research Governance Form

• Complete as soon as possible
• Can then be treated as a passport at contract,
  account and admission stage
• The governance forms and RDSC0 and RDSC1 look
  like this

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Research Governance Form

• In case of admission, if governance form is
  complete, then its attachment to RDSC0 means that
  sections 11a, 13, 14 and 15 do not need to be
  completed just referred to the governance form.
• Note treat the recommended word counts in
  section 7 of RDSC0 as guidelines less is better
  and makes recruiting practices in those
  disciplines where there are student shortages
  more competitive.
• However, RDT ( referee if consulted) can ask for
  more detail if feels content too scant to make an
  informed judgement as to project viability

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What are these Referees?
Referees will be involved at three points 1. If
requested, advising HoD RDT as to robustness of
programme of study summarised on form RDSC0 2.
Refereeing registration proposal (appointed at
admission) 3. Evaluating quality of transfer
report (appointed at registration) Referee pool
comprised of all experienced supervisors in
faculty plus RDTs nominees Subject specialists,
so concentrate on the science and appropriateness
of proposal for a research degree. (although not
expected, can highlight governance issues if see
fit) (and for those projects whose funding has
been secured by refereed application to outside
agency, only look at appropriateness of proposal
for a research degree)
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Faculty of Science Technology Referee Pool
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Back to the guideSTEP-BY-STEPENROLMENT
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ADMISSION 1st ENROLMENT

• Students can only be ADMITTED on 1st Oct, 1st
  Jan, 1st Apr, 1st Jul
• End of Admissions Process is First Enrolment
• Enrolment is where fee payments are confirmed
• Returning students to enrol online
• New students to enrol on Monday 9th Oct,
  following RSO induction
• followed by new, 2 day induction programme with
  input from each department
• Induction programme repeated 16th 17th April
  2007 for Jan Apr starters
• Induction programme as follows

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STEP-BY-STEPREGISTRATION
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REGISTRATION

• Registration Form (RDSC2) is in TWO PARTS
• Academic Issues looked at by referee
• Governance Issues looked at by Chair
  Secretary
• By time registration occurs, DoSs will have
  completed
• RDSC0
• RDSC1
• Faculty Research Governance Form
• Simply, these now appended to RDSC2 SAVES DoS
  TIME
• When registration ready, DoS passes UNSIGNED
  RDSC2 to referee.
• Once refereeing complete, DoS passes SIGNED RDSC2
  to FRDSC by Clare. Referee passes Referees Form
  to FRDSC by Clare
• NOTE Form adapted from both Faculties. Referee
  does not attend FRDSC
• Forms look like this

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STEP-BY-STEPThe in between every
yearANNUAL MONITORING PROGRESSION
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ANNUAL MONITORING

• NOTE NO QUARTERLY REPORTS ON STUDENTS
• Primary Tool of Annual Monitoring Student
  Progress File
• Meetings of DoS Student documented BY STUDENT
  6 FT, 3 PT
• File reviewed by DoS Student in Apr, passed to
  RDT in May.
• Recommendation passed to Progression Meeting of
  FRDSC in June
• Progress (re-enrols in Oct)
• Referred (to FRDSC meeting in Sept)
• Deferred (to appropriate meeting)
• File redrafted using Science DT files. Now
  contains 5 sections
• 1 Student Details
• 2 Record of Qualifications Experience
• 3 Checklist of one off activities (update
  on completion of activity)
• 4 Checklist of annual activities (update on
  completion of activity)
• 5 Research student supervision records (inc
  Research Supervision,
• Supervisory Team and RDT Progression
  Report Forms)

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STEP-BY-STEPThroughout programmeRESEARCH
STUDENT TRAINING PROGRAMME
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TRAINING PROGRAMME

• Research Skills Meeting Generic Skills (day 1)
  Publishing Conferences (day 2)
• Scientific Writing and the Use of English
  (external consultant)
• Enterprise
• Career Skills Workshop (1 day event)
• A Guide to the Examination Process Written
  Oral
• Qualitative/Quantitative Research Methods
• Faculty Research Conference (1 day event)
• Teambuilding Event (1 day event, external
  consultants)
•  

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TRAINING PROGRAMME

•   Compulsory for all new starters from Oct 06
  but allowed to complete the full programme over
  their first 2 years.
• Exemption if students have accredited learning or
  sufficient subject experience in the areas
  covered by the skills training components
• PDRAs are invited to attend any of these events.
• Returning students encouraged to attend as many
  events as possible.
• Replaces DT Autumn School, Univ Cert in Research
  Methodologies and PgCert Foundations of Research.
• Validated Faculty Training Programme
  (incorporating Probationary modules) to be
  developed during 2006/07 for implementation in
  2007/08. Will be liaison across whole Faculty

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STEP-BY-STEPThe next big stepTRANSFER
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TRANSFER

• ONLY FOR PHD STUDENTS OCCURS AFTER 15-18 MONTHS
  FTE
• Procedure involves
• Completion of transfer report to supervisors
  satisfaction
• Completion of form (RDSC3), especially
• The Abstract (identical to that in report, inc.
  progress to date and description of work to PhD)
• The Supervisors report (esp assessments of
  progress to date and evidence of work at PhD
  standard)
• UNSIGNED form and report then forwarded to
  referee
• Once refereeing complete, DoS passes SIGNED RDSC3
  and Transfer Report to FRDSC by Clare.
• Referee passes Referees Form to FRDSC by Clare
• NOTE Form adapted from both Faculties. Referee
  does not attend FRDSC
• Forms look like this

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STEP-BY-STEPOther stepsSUSPENSIONEXTENSIO
NEXAMINATION ARRANGEMENTS
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Key Faculty Contacts Admin

• Clare Altham, Academic Admin Unit, Ext 3744,
  Email cealtham_at_uclan.ac.uk
• Reporting Officer to FRDSC, FRSC, and FRKTC
  co-ordination of Faculty research student
  enrolment plus Faculty induction and training
  events.
• Sue Avanson, Academic Admin Univ, Ext 3477,
  Email savanson_at_uclan.ac.uk
• Principal Officer (Academic)
• TBC, Faculty Resources Unit, Ext 3365
• Senior Administrator for Projects, mainly
  financial admin of Research Non-Research
  projects, including Commercial IGA help
  support in prep of research commercial bids.
• Lesley Nixon, Faculty Resources Unit, Ext 3482,
  Email lnixon_at_uclan.ac.uk
• Principal Officer (Resources)

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Key Faculty Contacts - Academic

• Mike Holmes, Head of Dept of Physics, Astronomy
  Maths, Ext 3561, Email mcholmes_at_uclan.ac.uk
• Chair of Faculty Research Knowledge Transfer
  Committee
• Colin Boxall, Dept of Forensic Inv Sci, Ext
  3530, Email cboxall_at_uclan.ac.uk
• Chair of Faculty of Science Research Degrees
  Sub-Committee.
• Alexis Holden, Head of Research Knowledge
  Transfer, Ext 3521, Email ajholden_at_uclan.ac.uk
• Support in development of income generating
  projects advice on project costings quotes,
  project governance issues (for research and
  commercial projects) pertaining to insurance,
  contracts and IPR.
• Research Degree Tutors
• Psychology John Fisk Peter Henzi
• Physics Tim Cawthorne
• Natural Resources Mark Toogood (Preston), Andrew
  Ramsey (Penrith)
• Biological Sciences, Forensic Investigative
  Science, Pharmacy Jai Singh
• Technology Ian Sherrington Martin Varley
• Computing Peter Gray
• Built Environment Vladimir Karlin

Key Central Contacts - Admin

• Fiona Mair, AQaSU, Ext 5015, Email
  fmair_at_uclan.ac.uk
• Principal Officer (Research Degrees)
  compilation of AQA Manual Research Degree
  Programmes (Foster Building)
• Barbara Richardson, Research Support Office, Ext
  4284, Email brichardson_at_uclan.ac.uk
• Admissions (Research Support Office
  Chandler Building)
• Carol Mills, Research Support Office Ext 4285,
  Email cmills_at_uclan.ac.uk
• Examinations, Secretary to University
  Research Degrees Sub-Committee (Research Support
  Office Chandler Building)

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Key Information - Research

• Faculty Student Handbook and Progress File
• Faculty Manual
• Faculty Website
• University Code of Conduct for Research Degrees
• University Code of Practice for Supervision,
  Examination Admin of Research Students
• University Faculty proforma
• see Research _at_ UCLan webpage for University
  proforma/documents http//www.uclan.ac.uk/other/r
  egistry/research/index.htm