Becoming an Advisor
A strong working relationship between the HDR candidate and their advisor(s) is crucial to the successful completion of their research degree. To be effective, advisors must be available to supervise HDR candidates and to encourage and assist them to produce a thesis that constitutes a substantial and original contribution to knowledge in the field of study. Policies and procedures with respect to supervision of JCU HDR candidates are designed to promote healthy working relationships and thus enhance the learning and research experience of the candidate.
HDR Advisors Professional Development Program
JCU offers a range of workshops to support HDR Advisors:
JCU Staff and Adjuncts should attend this workshop if:
- You are interested in becoming an HDR advisor but have not yet applied for membership
- You have not supervised an HDR candidate through to completion
- You are new to JCU and have supervised at least one HDR candidate to successful completion as a Primary Advisor at another institution.
Workshop overview:
- Hear from a panel of experienced advisors
- Learn about JCU policies and Procedures for Research Education
- Research integrity with particular emphasis on HDR matters
- "The Good Doctorate" video
- e-Resources for JCU HDR Advisors including the Epigeum Supervisor Module
Workshop Dates
| Date | Location |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 10 March 2020 at 8:50am to 3:30pm | Townsville - 17-151 |
| Thursday 26 March 2020 at 8:50am to 3:30pm | Cairns - Zoom |
| Thursday 13 August 2020 at 8:50am to 3:30pm | Zoom |
| Tuesday 25 August 2020 at 8:50am to 3:30pm | Zoom |
| Monday 7 December 2020 at 8:50am to 3:30pm | Zoom |
*** If you are unable to attend the dates above, please register your interest so we can notify you when more sessions are made available.
To register your attendance please complete the online form. If you have any questions please contact Emma Landy
Policies, procedures and practices for advising JCU research candidates change over time, and it is important for all advisors to stay up to date. Therefore, we ask all who are on the Register of Advisors to update their knowledge once every four years.
Secondary and Primary Advisor Update
- Read the JCU HDR Advisor's Handbook and complete the online quiz consisting of 10 multiple choice questions (see instructions below)
Primary Advanced and Advisor Mentor Update
Based on your activities over the last four years, you have the following options:
- Complete the Self Review, or
- Provide a Portfolio indicating advisor related developmental activities that you have engaged in over the last four years, or
- Read the JCU HDR Advisor's Handbook and complete the online quiz consisting of 10 multiple choice questions (see instructions below)
Instructions on how to access the online quiz in LearnJCU
- Log into LearnJCU
- Choose "Organisations"
- Choose the "Higher Degree by Research Advisor Organisation". If you do not have access to this organisation, please email the grs@jcu.edu.au and you will be added (please quote your JC number in the email)
- Click on UPDATE: Online Advisor Training Quiz (left hand side)
- Read the JCU HDR Advisor's Handbook
- Complete the quiz - you must score 10 out of 10
- Send an email to grs@jcu.edu.au to ensure your registration is extended.
For advisors qualified to increase their level on the register.
Increasing your level to Primary Advisor
- Prepare a 500 word reflective consideration of each of the following (1) "Managing Progress" and (2) "Continuing your supervisory development" from on-line course "Advising Higher Degree by Research Candidates" available on the Higher Degree by Research Advisors Organisation on LearnJCU
- Prepare a Statement of Advisory Expectations, exemplar
Increasing your level to Primary Advanced Advisor
- One HDR supervision completion as primary or secondary advisor (details required if external to JCU)
- Complete the portfolio task in "Working with an advisory team or mentor" available on the Higher Degree by Research Advisors Organisation on LearnJCU (see attached)
Task template - Primary Advanced
Increasing your level to Advisor Mentor
- Two HDR supervision completions with at least one as the primary advisor (details required if external to JCU)
- Prepare a Statement of Advisory expectations (exemplar) aligned to the status of Advisor Mentor that speaks to your role in building candidate and advisor capacity. Please include a comment on how you build research communities and collaborations through your advisory work.
Task template - Advisor Mentor
Next step
Provide written work to your College ADRE for checking along with your completed application form. Your ADRE must support your application to increase your level and then forward the application and written tasks to grs@jcu.edu.au.
** If you do not have access to the online course in LearnJCU, please email grs@jcu.edu.au and ask to be added to the Higher Degree by Research Advisor Organisation, and provide your jc number.
The role of the Chair of the Candidature Committee is to chair the meetings associated with the formal assessments of the progress of an individual HDR candidate and to make recommendations to the Dean, Graduate Research with regard to the outcomes of such evaluations in association with the Independent Academic. These recommendations should be informed by the Advisory Panel but the Panel members should not be present when recommendations are decided.
A Registered Advisor wishing to become Chair of Candidature Committee is asked to speak with their ADRE about the potential for taking on this role. ADRE's may also contact Registered Advisors to request they consider undertaking the role. ADRE's in evaluating the suitability of a registered advisor to become Chair will consider their previous experience as an advisor and examiner, and their role in the College. To be eligible to Chair, the registered advisor is required to view this short video on chairing milestone committees. Please email to request an in-person briefing, for one or more advisors, if this is preferred. Once the advisor has viewed the video they should email confirmation of viewing and as required request further contact to discuss their readiness for the role.