HDR Minimum Standard of Resources, Facilities and Other Support Procedure

Intent

This Procedure outlines the minimum standards of resources, facilities and support that must be provided by the College to facilitate the successful completion of Higher Degree by Research (HDR) candidates within required timeframe. It is guided by the Higher Education Standards Framework (HESF) and the Australian Council of Graduate Research Good Practice Principles and Guidelines.

This Procedure addresses HESF Standards 2.1: Facilities and Infrastructure, and 4.2: Research Training.

Scope

This Procedure applies to JCU Australia Colleges enrolling HDR candidates for the research higher degrees offered by the University as defined in the Higher Degree by Research (HDR) Policy.

This Procedure applies to HDR candidates with an enrolment status of either “enrolled” or “under examination” only.

Definitions

Terms mentioned in this document and not defined here are defined in the Higher Degree by Research (HDR) Policy or the Policy Glossary.

College – any organisational unit of JCU that administers HDR candidates.

Procedure

1. Infrastructure

The following facilities will be made available to HDR candidates:

1.1 Workspaces and infrastructure appropriate for the tasks being undertaken, subject to available resources and as described in the Adaptive Workplace Policy or the Space Allocation and Management Policy (as applicable). Workspaces may be shared or assigned and located either within a dedicated HDR hub or co-located within College or research areas. Workspaces can be reassigned.

1.2 Use of a JCU issued computer for internal (on-campus) candidates enrolled full-time.

1.3 HDR candidates using their own computer should refer to the Bring Your Own Laptop Phone or Tablet page.

2. Financial Assistance

2.1 The Dean, Graduate Research and Researcher Development (GRRD) allocates support funds to Colleges each year based on weighted HDR enrolments within program duration (4 EFTSL for PhD, 2 EFTSL for MPhil) and cost category (high or low).

2.2 Colleges will distribute these funds to HDR candidates’ JCU accounts through a transparent process to support research and development expenses.

2.3 Eligible research costs paid from HDR candidates’ JCU accounts must be directly linked to their projects or dissemination of research findings and may include, but are not limited to:

• Photocopying and printing;
• Thesis costs (including printing);
• Reasonable reimbursement for internet charges external to JCU in the case of off-campus HDR candidates. This must be negotiated in advance on a case-by-case basis and approved by the relevant College Dean;
• Essential inter-library loans;
• Reasonable expenses for undertaking approved research at libraries and archives external to the host campus;
• Costs of access to service facilities;
• Data analysis and specialised computer packages;
• Fieldwork expenses appropriate to the research project (sufficient to enable the research to be conducted in accordance with the WHS-PRO-015 Field Trip Procedure;
• Laboratory consumables specific to the research project;
• Publication costs;
• Professional development costs;
• Contribution towards the expenses associated with attending at least one conference associated with the research project at which the HDR candidate is making a presentation (verbal or poster) in accordance with FMPM 740 Travel Policy;
• Other costs associated with the research project as approved by the College and/or any ethics approvals.

3. Contribution to the University’s Research Culture

3.1 HDR candidates are encouraged to actively contribute to the University’s research culture by:

• Attending research seminars led by HDR candidates and staff, and other initiatives such as HDR candidate conferences;
• Engaging with distinguished visitors to the University, in group seminars or individually;
• Networking with other HDR candidates and College staff (where appropriate).

3.2 Colleges will make reasonable efforts to include off-campus HDR candidates in on-campus events.

4. HDR Candidate Induction

4.1 In addition to inductions, orientations, and online resources provided by the Graduate Research School and University, each College, where applicable, should supply College specific information in a College induction..

4.2 The College induction may include the following:

• A tour of the College facilities (where relevant);
• An introduction to relevant staff, including the Associate Dean Research Education (ADRE), and the liaison Librarian appointed to assist the College’s HDR candidates;
• Information on relevant training, including safety training, required to access research facilities or equipment relevant to the research project;
• Information on opportunities for participation in College decision-making processes, including arrangements for electing HDR candidate representatives to relevant College committees.

5. Compliance and Reporting

Each College Dean, through their ADRE, may report to the Research Committee regarding problems with compliance with this procedure.

Related policy instruments

Higher Degree by Research (HDR) Policy

FMPM 740 Travel Policy

WHS-PRO-015 Field Trip Procedure

Schedules/Appendices

Nil

Administration

NOTE: Printed copies of this procedure are uncontrolled, and currency can only be assured at the time of printing.

Approval Details

Revision History