Advisor of the Year Awards

Aims:

These awards aim to encourage and reward staff who excel in the supervision of research degree at the Doctoral, Masters and/or Honours levels.

Scope:

Each year awards of $1,000 will be offered. Up to three awards will be made annually to:

  • the Early Career Advisor of the Year,

  • Primary Advisor of the Year and to

  • Advisory Panel of the Year.

The number of awards will be at the discretion of the Selection Committee in consultation with the Deputy-Vice-Chancellor Research.

Recipients may elect to receive the award personally, or have the funds directed to a University account, or any combination of the above. Where money is taken personally, taxation is payable on the amount and will be deducted by the University before payment.

Eligibility:

All academic and research staff of the University (including adjunct staff) on the Register of Advisors Levels 1 and 2, are eligible except previous winners of any of the awards who are ineligible until three years have elapsed since they received an award.

"Research Supervision" includes the range of support activities involved in assisting Research Higher Degree or Honours candidates

Project component must be at least 12 points

to undertake successful original research and to complete a thesis, dissertation or other research products.

Policy and Procedures:

  • Nominations will be made on the relevant nomination form

  • Nominations will be solicited as follows:

    • The awards will be discussed at the induction days for research higher degree candidates;

    • In July each year The Chair will write to all research higher degree candidates to ask if they wish to nominate their Advisor or their Advisory Panel;

    • The Chair will write to all graduating research higher degree candidates in the letter congratulating them on the award of the degree to ask if they wish to nominate their Principal Advisor or Advisory Panel for an award;

    • In July each year The Chair will write to Heads of School to ask if they wish to nominate a staff member;

  • The Chair will refer the student nominations from HDR candidates to the Associate Dean Research/Research Training as appropriate for the faculty /campus and the Head of School for comment and for support by the Head of School;

  • The Graduate Research School will provide the data on Advisors to supplement applications supported by the Head of School/ Associate Deans Research /Training.

Selection Process

The Selection Panel will consider all relevant material (including relevant university records as required) and present its decision and the associated rationale to the Deputy-Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation) for approval. The Deputy-Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation) will present successful nominees with their awards and report their names to the University Council.

The Selection Panel will consist of:

  • Dean of Graduate Research Studies (Chair);

  • Associate Deans Research (or nominees);

  • Deputy Deans Graduate Research Studies (Townsville and Cairns);

  • Representative from Postgraduate Student Association, or nominee.

Not all members of the Panel are to be of the same gender. Where the gender criterion is not met or if there are conflicts or interest, the Chair of the Panel may nominate another staff member to serve on the panel.

Important Information for Nominators/Nominees:

In considering nominations, the Panel will:

  • Look for outstanding performance;

  • Assess nominations on the basis of the submissions and JCU records. However, the Panel will reserve the right to consult or interview the nominators and/or nominees as appropriate, and may refer to up to two research higher degree candidates from a list of up to five research higher degree candidates or recent graduates who have a good knowledge of the nominee's research supervision activities in the two years prior to nomination;

  • Disregard any previous unsuccessful nominations;

  • Take no account of the frequency distribution of Awards to particular Faculties or Divisions.

The Selection Panel reserves the right not to grant any or all of the awards should it judge the selection criteria not to have been met to a sufficiently high standard. The Selection Panel will evaluate a variety of factors and seek evidence of the nominee's sustained performance in research supervision in areas from the following list that are appropriate to the nomination:

Criteria:

  • Interest, enthusiasm and vitality in research supervision;

  • Professional and systematic approach to research supervision;

  • Willingness to seek and respond to feedback from colleagues and candidates about research supervision;

  • Mentoring of other less experienced staff in relation to research supervision;

  • Involving candidates in a structured program of research seminars and research group/lab meetings as appropriate, and providing them with access to relevant distinguished visitors, faculty staff and other postgraduate students;

  • Contribution to general improvements in the standard of postgraduate research in the University.

  • Command of subject matter in the field and the ability to select and explain subject matter at levels appropriate to research degree candidates;

  • Ability to arouse curiosity, to be challenging and to stimulate independent research and the development of critical thought;

  • Keen and supportive participation in guidance, advice and feedback to candidates, and in understanding their needs;

  • Accessibility to research degree candidates;

  • Ensuring research degree candidates receive an appropriate orientation to research ethics and to relevant University services, policies, procedures and opportunities;

  • Assisting research degree candidates to develop a clear and achievable research plan, and ensuring regular monitoring of progress.

Completed Nomination Forms must be submitted to the Dean, Graduate Research Studies by 15 August each year.

Related Documents, legislation or JCU Statutes

Advisor/Advisory Panel of the Year Nomination Forms:

  • Approval Details

Policy sponsor:

Dean Graduate Research School

Approval authority:

Offer Responsible for Research & Innovation

Version no:

11-1

Date for next review:

30 June 2017

  • Modification History

Version no.

Approval date

Implementation date

Details

09-1

June 2009

Endorsed by Research Committee

Barbara Pannach last updated this page on 23 Jul 2012.