Responsibilities of Research Student Monitors
A Research Student Monitor is appointed to each research student’s supervisory committee from outside the candidate’s school to perform two functions.
- 1.
Ensure that all procedures relating to the candidature are fulfilled, especially with respect to the confirmation of candidature and pre-completion seminar processes.
To fulfill this responsibility a Research Student Monitor should:
- a)
Read the candidate’s research proposal
- b)
Attend the candidate’s confirmation of candidature seminar and pre-completion seminars
- c)
Chair the post-seminar discussions in each case. These discussions should be attended by the relevant Head(s) of School, Head of Discipline and principal and other supervisors.
- d)
Fill in the confirmation of candidature and pre-completion seminar documentation, obtain all necessary signatures and forward the documentation to the Graduate Research School.
While it is desirable that a Research Student Monitor is from a discipline cognate with that of the candidate, exceptions to this practice inevitably occur. If the Research Student Monitor is concerned about aspects of the candidate’s proposed research, these concerns should be aired in the post-seminar discussions with the relevant Head(s) of School, Head of Discipline, principal and other supervisors (rather than at the seminar itself) and should be noted on the relevant form. In cases where irreconcilable differences in opinion persist, the Research Student Monitor may recommend that the confirmation of candidature proposal and/or other relevant documentation be sent by the Graduate Research School to an external expert nominated by the Head of School for formative advice.
- 2.
Provide independent advice to a candidate when the candidate who encounters a problem that s/he prefers not to discuss with the supervisor, Postgraduate Liaison Officer or Head of School.
In such cases, the Research Student Monitor should be mindful of the University’s grievance procedures.
If a research candidate formally requests the removal of a supervisor from his/her Supervisory Team, the candidate’s Research Student Monitor should negotiate a solution which is acceptable to all parties.
