Learning and Teaching Centre

HDR Supervisor Registration

The University requires that all staff supervising higher degree research (HDR) candidates register as a research supervisor.

Can I register?

You can register as a higher degree research supervisor if you are:

  • research active
    and
  • currently supervising HDR, or have supervised an HDR (or equivalent) candidate to completion since 2001
    and
  • attended the Colloquium for Research Supervision (or equivalent).

Co-supervisor nominations: Research active academic staff who have not yet been a principal or associate or co-supervisor would normally be nominated by the Divisional Dean as a co-supervisor with mentoring from a principal supervisor. Following the mentoring program the staff member may be appointed as an Associate Supervisor or Principal Supervisor. Exceptions may be nominated by the Dean of Division.

Do I have to renew my registration?

Continuing Conditions for Academic Staff

  1. maintain research active status over a 3 year period
  2. supervise HDR students in a manner consistent with the Macquarie University Code of   Supervisory Practice
  3. participate in annual HDR supervisor professional development updates, e.g.  the Special Supervisor Series.  
  4. evaluate supervisory practice annually as part of the performance management review.

Registration will normally be for a period of three years. The Dean HDR will review the register as required by the continuing conditions above, and seek advice from the Dean of Division regarding continuation or deregistration. Staff may appeal to the DVC(R) in relation to deregistration.

Deregistration Conditions

  1. research active status not maintained over a 3 year period, or
  2. recommended for deregistration by the Divisional Dean following an unsatisfactory performance review or academic misconduct finding, or
  3. not have participated in the MQ CRS/equivalent program including HDR supervisor updates, or
  4. have failed to adhere to the MQ Code of Supervisory Practice.

Definition of Research Active

The University's Research Activity indicators are:

(a) Maintaining a minimum average rate of one authored or co-authored publication (defined as publications under the DEST categories A1, B1, C1 and selected quality E1, H, I and J1) per year over the past 6 years or one authored research monograph (A1) and three other DEST publications from the above categories over the past 6 years.

Exceptions to this requirement are:

  • Staff recently engaging in research,
  • Early career researchers, and
  • Staff who have a break in their research career (e.g. maternity leave).

For these staff the research activity indicator is a minimum average rate of one authored or co-authored publication (defined as publications under the DEST categories A1, B1, C1 and selected quality E1, H, I and J1) per year (in the case of staff recently engaging in research this indicator applies from 2005).

and:

(b) Demonstrated capacity to translate research outcomes into teaching and learning in the University by way of current Higher Degree Research student supervision, or other measures approved by the Dean of Division including but not restricted to:

  • Current supervision of Higher Degree Research student(s);
  • Higher Degree Research student supervision that has lead to a completion in the past two years;
  • other participation over the past two years in research training, including coursework and Honours programs with research training or preparation components;
  • current satisfactory progression towards completion of a Research Higher Degree;
  • delivering professional education and training; or
  • delivering community service and enterprise.

About the Register

Background

Macquarie University's key strategic documents on research - Macquarie@50 and the Research Strategic Plan 2006-2009 - emphasises the vital role of research active staff in the supervision and support of Higher Degree Research (HDR) candidates. MQ@50 requires a suite of robust research policies to support Goal 1 - to improve research performance. The University aims to increase research active staff to 80% of all academic staff, to increase HDR completions by 10%, and to increase new HDR enrolments by 100. The Vice-Chancellor has indicated that research performance includes the improvement of supervision, leading to shorter completion times and the recognition of successful supervisors1.
The Research Strategic Plan 2006-2009 is committed to "maintaining a continuous improvement framework" with a focus on "the scale and quality in our postgraduate research training". MQ's research activity indicators and the Performance Management System provide a context for a system of supervisor registration. The University's goal to increase the number of HDR candidates will be supported by the identification of those academic staff eligible to undertake research supervision, and those who require supervision mentoring and staff development support.

AUQA and Quality Assurance and Enhancement for Research Supervision

The Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA) has identified key components of national best practice for research supervision and HDR completions, including the development and maintenance of supervisor registers, and the provision of systematic university-wide supervisor training (a required University reporting field for DEST). The majority of universities have received AUAQ recommendations for the improvement of their HDR practice in the first audit round. These AUQA recommendations have included the development and maintenance of supervisor registers, the provision of systematic university-wide supervisor training, administrative support structures for HDR candidates at central and faculty level, and the continuous review of HDR policy and its application. AUQA commendations for HDR have included the provision of compulsory supervisor training (USQ), and the mentoring of new supervisors (UTAS).

Macquarie HDR Supervisor Register

During 2005-7 over 490 academic staff have participated in the Centre for Professional Development's (currently Learning and Teaching Centre) Colloquium for Research Supervision in preparation for a supervisor register. The Macquarie model for a Supervisor Register has been formulated through extensive consultation with HDRC members, Divisional Directors HDR and senior research supervisors in 2006-07. It incorporates best practice components of Supervisor registers from other Universities, and aligns with our own strategic plans and Code of Supervisory Practice.

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