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ICS PGR Committee Terms of Reference

You are here: ICS Home > Postgraduate > Research > Current Students > ICS PGR Committee Terms of Reference

Status and Role
Functions
Composition
Mode of Operation
Reporting
Subcommittees
Terms of Reference

1. Status and role
    
   1. The Division of Information and Communication Sciences Postgraduate Research Committee (referred to as "The Committee") is a Standing Committee of the Division.
       
   2. The Committee's principal responsibilities are
      • to ensure the quality of higher degree research (HDR) programs in the Division,
      • to manage the processes of candidates' commencement, progression and timely completion,
      • to expand the size of the HDR programs in the Division, and
      • to develop policies and procedures associated with postgraduate research,
      • to report to the Division new policies and procedures.

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2. Functions
    

1. To develop policies and guidelines for admission to HDR programs, and to oversee the application and admission process.
    
2. To establish and maintain a Commencement Program for new HDR candidates in the Division. This is to ensure that the new HDR students
   • are aware of ICS/MU structure and facilities,
   • have access to essential information and documents related to HDR, such as OHS practices,
   • have necessary skills in project planning, report writing, communications, IT, and project-specific methods,
   • develop, with their supervisors, a solid project plan within the first six months of full-time equivalent enrolment.
3. To establish and maintain a Progression Program for HDR candidates in the Division. This includes the development of policies for and monitoring the processes of annual reporting, mandatory seminars, nomination of supervisors, show causes and terminations.
    
4. To establish and maintain a Completion Program for HDR candidates in the Division. This includes the development of policies for examiner nomination/selection and monitoring the processes of examiner nomination and thesis submission.
    
5. To establish policies, conditions and management processes for scholarships, including
   • recommendations and ranking for external (e.g. APA) scholarships,
   • selection processes for APA(I), internal (ICS) scholarships, project scholarships and top-up scholarships,
   • policies and guidelines for industry-sponsored scholarships, and
   • policies and guidelines for iMURS and RAACE scholarships.
6. To develop policies and guidelines for financial support for HDR projects. That is
   • To manage the application process for the MU PGRF (to promote the fund, to advise and to mentor applicants, to submit applications and to record applications and outcomes)
   • To advise on policy and recommend distribution of direct ICS funding for HDR projects
   • To develop policy and guidelines for the adequate level of resources and funding for HDR projects.
7. To advise on policy and guidelines for minimum standards of accommodation (desk space etc.) and general infrastructure (IT etc.) to be provided for HDR candidates, and report.
    
8. To develop, maintain, review and oversee HDR management processes through the Division's Research Administrator. These processes include
   • Collection of up-to-date comprehensive data on HDR students that include information on student location, supervisors, enrolment conditions, progression, seminars, examiners, completion or termination
   • Collection of quality assurance data
   • Promotion of and providing publicity for HDR programs in ICS, advertising, the development and the maintenance of the ICS Postgraduate Research website
   • Annual HDR student's satisfaction survey
   • Co-operation with the HDR unit of the university and the International Office.
9. To develop policies and guidelines for industry-collaborative HDR projects.
    

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3. Composition
    
   1. The Division's Director of Postgraduate Research shall act as Chair of the Committee, and is a voting member.
       
   2. The Departments' Directors of Postgraduate Research shall be voting members of the Committee.
       
   3. Division representative on the University Postgraduate Studies Committee shall be a voting member.
       
   4. In addition the Chair of the Division's Postgraduate and Professional Development Program (PPDP) and the Head of Division are voting members.
       
   5. The Division Research Administrator is a non-voting member of the Committee, ex officio.
       
   6. The University Higher Degree Research Unit may send a representative to the Committee as an observer.
       
   7. The postgraduate research committees of other divisions may be invited to send observers.
       
   8. In the event that a Department's Director of Postgraduate Research cannot attend a meeting, the Head of the Department concerned should nominate a member of the Department to attend the meeting and who will be accorded full voting rights.
       
   9. In the event that the Division's Director of Postgraduate Research cannot attend, the Head of Division or person nominated by the Head of Division will act as chair.
       

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4. Mode of Operation
    
   1. The Committee shall meet at least six times per year.
       
   2. A timetable for meetings for a calendar year shall be presented and approved by the Committee in the previous year.
       
   3. The Committee shall be conscious of issues of conflict of interest and apprehension of bias. A Committee member who perceives an issue of possible conflict of interest shall raise it for discussion. The Chair of the Committee may direct the member to be absent, impose some specified limitation on the member's involvement, or conclude that no action needs to be taken.
       
5. Reporting
    
   1. The Committee shall report to the Head of Division and provide written reports for distribution prior to each Division meeting.
       
   2. The committee shall recommend policy and procedures to Division meetings for approval.
       
   3. The Committee is responsible for making recommendations for scholarship ranking, directly to the appropriate university committee, and report to the Division.
       
6. Subcommittees
   The Committee may establish sub-committees consisting of committee voting members, or working parties including co-opted members, to undertake designated tasks and/or to make decisions on specific matters.
    
7. Terms of Reference
   The Committee may recommend the changes to the Terms of Reference to the Division meetings for approval.

    

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