School of Graduate Research (SGR) Implementation Project

SET Supervisor Training Workshop

Monday 1 June 2009

2

To support RMIT researchers and research students to become “one of Australia’s top research universities, internationally known for our applied focus and for excellence in

research and research education in our chosen fields”.

To support RMIT researchers and research students to become “one of Australia’s top research universities, internationally known for our applied focus and for excellence in

research and research education in our chosen fields”.

1. Ensure research quality and focus1. Ensure research quality and focus

2. Develop and support research student excellence

2. Develop and support research student excellence

3. Ensure research relevance and scope3. Ensure research relevance and scope

R&I Portfolio Plan

Our visionOur vision

Goals Goals

Strategies 2009Strategies 2009

2.1 Establish School of Graduate Research2.2 Improve research student supervision2.3 Improve research student skills2.4 Manage research student administration

2.1 Establish School of Graduate Research2.2 Improve research student supervision2.3 Improve research student skills2.4 Manage research student administration

3.1 Align research with industry engagement framework3.2 Promote and support collaborative approaches to research3.3 Align research with international strategic framework3.4 Strengthen research in Vietnam3.5 Increase relevance and productivity of international partnerships3.6 Collaborate with university, government, industry and community to apply sustainability principles

3.1 Align research with industry engagement framework3.2 Promote and support collaborative approaches to research3.3 Align research with international strategic framework3.4 Strengthen research in Vietnam3.5 Increase relevance and productivity of international partnerships3.6 Collaborate with university, government, industry and community to apply sustainability principles

R&I supports research that isR&I supports research that is Collaborative/

undertaken in partnership

Cross-disciplinary

Internationally relevant

Informed by sustainability principles

4. Service excellence4. Service excellence

4.1 Staff engagement4.2 Effective resources management4.3 Planning and quality assurance4.4 Marketing and communications 4.5 Reporting and compliance4.6 Policy development4.7 Information management

4.1 Staff engagement4.2 Effective resources management4.3 Planning and quality assurance4.4 Marketing and communications 4.5 Reporting and compliance4.6 Policy development4.7 Information management

1.1 Implement Research Institutes1.2 Implement Excellence for Research in Australia (ERA) Framework1.3 Increase research capacity1.4 Increase research income1.5 Implement internal schemes/programs to support researchers1.6 Align research services

1.1 Implement Research Institutes1.2 Implement Excellence for Research in Australia (ERA) Framework1.3 Increase research capacity1.4 Increase research income1.5 Implement internal schemes/programs to support researchers1.6 Align research services

3

What are the Operating Principles behind the SGR?A ‘vision and operating principles’ workshop was held in February 2009.

The diagram displays the key points of why RMIT needs a SGR and what it should encompass.

Quality HDR- Enrolments- Experience

- Timely completions

Safety Net

Quality supervision/quality

assurance role

Research Culture ensure that HDR are central part of

this culture

Trouble-shooting

HDR administration

processes that are clear, consistent

yet flexible

Advocacy role – SGR advocate for

HDR students within broader

university context

Beacon/central point

of contact/counter

Training (for administrators, supervisors and HDR students)

Providing and coordinating resources for

students

Policy – Assessment of

internal and external policies

4

What are the expected benefits of the SGR?

The SGR Implementation Project will result in:

• The establishment of the RMIT School of Graduate Research

• Increased clarity around processes and accountabilities

• Increase service delivery due to simplification and streamlining of processes

This will help RMIT to:

• Provide efficient end-to-end administration for HDR students

• Increase postgraduate research student satisfaction

5

What are the SGR Projects we’ve identified?

• Admissions and Scholarships

• Candidature Management

• HDR Services

–Supervisor registration and training

• Data Management

• Statutes, Regulations, Policies and Procedures

• External (benchmarking)

• Examinations

• Space

• Web

• Resourcing and Reporting

• Launch of the SGR

6

What’s the current system of supervisor registration and training?

• Centrally managed supervisor register

• Registration is required to supervise HDR candidates

• Four categories of registration membership

• Registration maintained by completion of two approved professional development activities annually

• Professional development activities offered centrally by the GRO as well as by academic Schools

7

What reviews have been done on it so far?

• In 2006 the Quality Consultancy Unit undertook a review of research supervision at RMIT

• In 2008 further work was conducted in this area:

–Review of current HDR practices

–Paper developed and discussed at Working Conference, titled ‘Transforming Our HDR Practices…Working Towards a Constructive Culture’

• Data available from ongoing reports such as:

–Postgraduate Research Experience Questionnaire (PREQ)

–Ongoing Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (OPRES)

–Research Student Exit Survey

8

What’s emerged as our challenges?

• How to differentiate between what experienced supervisors and novice supervisors need

• How to best provide induction of new supervisors

• How to provide opportunities for supervisors to share and learn from best practice

• How to best recognise quality supervision

• How to best determine eligibility for registration and registration maintenance

• Improving HDR student satisfaction

• How to make most training voluntary and of added value

9

What are we going to do about them?

• Identify best practice at other Universities

• Retain our strengths in light of best practice

• Develop paper over the next month for consultation that outlines possible options to address the challenges

• Move away from culture of compliance to a culture of professional development

10

Key Contacts

• SGR Project Team:

– Dean, SGR - Prof Ian Palmer, ian.palmer@rmit.edu.au

– Project Manager - Susanne Tzamouranis, susanne.tzamouranis@rmit.edu.au

– Senior Coordinator - Fiona Nolan, fiona.nolan@rmit.edu.au

– Research Fellow – Inger Mewburn, inger.mewburn@rmit.edu.au

– Senior Advisor, Planning – Jess Lee-Ack, jessica.lee-ack@rmit.edu.au