Responsibilities, roles and relationships
- University research structure
- Framework of responsibilities
- Policies, regulations and codes of good practice
- HDR students
- Supervisors
- Research degree coordinators
See also Responsible practice in research
University research structure
Understanding the management structure of research degrees within the University of South Australia will enable you to deal with any issues relating to the administration of your candidature as soon as they arise. The management of research degrees within the University involves two major levels of decision-making, University-wide and Division-based.
Management and committees
- more information and links
University-wide structure
Framework of responsibilities
The framework of responsibilities in HDR management is illustrated in the figure below. Click on the hyperlink to go to more information.
The Code of good practice for research degrees management and supervision lays out the University's expectations of HDR supervisors, students, research degree coordinators and others involved in research education. Refer to Responsible practice in research for more information.
You must familiarise yourself with these roles and responsibilities as they set out what you are entitled to expect in research education at UniSA.
You should also read and comply with Academic regulations and policies for higher degrees by research as they outline administrative responsibilities. Talk to your research degree coordinator if you have any questions.
When you are first enrolled in a higher degree by research you will receive candidature information,
a summary of what you need to know during your candidature.
Australian (RTF file,
513kb; Word file,
89kb) and international (RTF file,
300kb; Word file,
98k)
Policies, regulations and codes of good practice
See also Responsible practice in research and Ethics and compliance
- Research policies, in alphabetical order
- Research policies, in numerical order
- Corporate policies, in alphabetical order including 'University activities', 'Students with disabilities' and 'Policy and procedure for the resolution of student grievances'
- Academic regulations, including those for Higher Degrees by Research
- Codes of Good Practice
- Policies and procedures - all University policies, codes, guidelines and procedures
HDR students
HDR students are expected to abide by their responsibilities as outlined through the Code of good practice, academic regulations governing their degree and all other relevant University policies and procedures. In conjunction with their individual research program, students will work with their supervisor/s to report on and meet the milestones and requirements of the degree.
See also Planning and review of progress
Supervisors
The most significant resource provided by the University to support student research is supervision. It is a supervisor's job to:
- direct the student's work so that it is executed in a competent, scholarly manner
- guide the student in the right direction
- assist the student to meet set milestones and complete the study within set timeframes.
Most HDR students are assigned two supervisors - a principal supervisor and an associate supervisor - but other arrangements may be made in professional doctorate programs and where supervision is cross-disciplinary. Supervisors are expected to abide by the Code of Good Practice, to meet the requirements for remaining on the Research Register (for principal supervisors) and to work with their students to meet the planning and review milestones and requirements
Ways students work with their supervisors
| Statement of Agreement and Welcome Meeting |
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| See the section progress planning and review for information about this first important milestone. |
| Regular meetings |
Supervision is a negotiated process and you and your supervisor/s will
need to establish:
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| Skill development |
| Your supervisor/s may direct you to courses that can assist you to develop necessary research skills. Research education support is provided by the University, although you may need to enrol in outside courses. See the Research Education Support Activities (RESA) website |
| Ethics and compliance |
| If your research requires approval from either the Human Research Ethics Committee or the Animal Ethics Committee, your principal supervisor must sign off the protocols on the front page of your submission before it is sent to the relevant ethics committee. See Responsible practice in research for more information. |
| Review of Progress |
| All HDR students are required to undertake planning and review meetings with their supervisor/s at least twice per year and it is the student's responsibility to initiate the review process. A formal report of these meetings is required at least once per year where the principal supervisor, associate supervisor and research degree coordinator write a report and recommendations regarding the student's progress, in consultation with the student. See progress planning and review |
| Change of supervisors |
There is no guarantee that the people originally appointed to supervise your research will see it through to the end. They may be ill, take leave, assume other responsibilities or resign. It is a responsibility of the University wherever possible to ensure adequate and appropriate supervision throughout the period of candidature. It is the responsibility of supervisors to inform the research degree coordinator if they are unable to continue supervision temporarily or permanently. It is then the responsibility of the research degree coordinator to institute the necessary processes and secure an alternative supervisor. If you are aware of impending changes in your supervision arrangements, check with your supervisor and research degree coordinator to ensure that alternative arrangements are put in place. You may choose to approach another member of staff within your area about alternative supervision. Negotiations of this kind should be reported to the research degree coordinator and the appropriate change of supervision forms must be completed. |
Managing the supervisor - student relationship
While every supervisory relationship is unique, the following general guidelines apply. You will have been assigned your particular supervisors because of their expertise in the field of your research, and because of their experience in conducting research. You have a right to expect to learn from and be supported by that expertise and experience.
On the other hand, as a higher degree student you are expected to assume control over and responsibility for your own research enterprise. Within a reasonably short period of time you should know more about your specific topic than do your supervisors. Your supervisors should not dominate or control the direction of your research.
It is not easy to strike an appropriate balance between supervision as teaching and supervision as listening. You and your supervisors will have to work hard at establishing the kind of relationship with which you are both comfortable.
Top tips
Here are a few suggestions for establishing and maintaining a positive working relationship with your supervisor:
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Make regular supervising appointments in advance. Both you and your supervisors are busy people. |
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Prepare for supervisory sessions. It is your responsibility to set the agenda for supervisory sessions. It will make those sessions infinitely more useful if you give your supervisor some written material and advance notice of your agenda. Giving advance notice includes providing your supervisor with any readings which may form the background to the session. This may be simply giving references to published writing or providing copies of your own or others' writing. It also includes giving notice, either orally or in writing, of any specific questions or issues you wish to raise. Supervision is generally more productive and effective if you and your supervisor are adequately prepared. |
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Keep a record of supervisory sessions. To the extent that you see your engagement with your supervisor as part of your research you will keep field notes to inform your study. What form this takes is up to you. Even more important is to keep a record of agreements reached in supervisory sessions. Ideally, before you conclude a session, you and your supervisor should spend about 10 minutes recording in writing any consensus decisions that have a direct bearing on your research. These may include the time and date of the next supervisory session (never leave a supervisory session without setting a time for the next one), any tasks you have agreed to complete before the next supervisory session, and any tasks your supervisor will undertake before the next supervisory session. Records should be typed and emailed to your supervisor following the meeting. |
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Keep in regular contact. Try not to get too far out of touch with your supervisor, especially in the early stages of your candidature. You should meet in person or by teleconference, email or other means regularly, and submit regular progress reports and drafts of your work. Try to submit draft material that is at an advanced and relatively 'polished' stage of development so your supervisor can focus on the content rather than correcting grammatical and typographic errors. Also, avoid resubmitting the same draft material several times. |
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Discuss your working relationship. Let your supervisor know, quite openly, how the supervisory relationship is working for you. If you feel your supervisor is being too 'laid back' and non-directive, say so. If you feel your supervisor is being too dominating and directive, say so. If you want more or less support than you are getting, ask for it. Don't make your supervisor second-guess your needs. If you feel you can't do this, seek the assistance of your research degree coordinator |
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Keep both your supervisors informed of your progress. They are there to support you in your research, and will be unable to fulfil this role unless they are regularly informed of your progress. Should your principal supervisor be unable to continue supervising temporarily or permanently, it is expected that your associate supervisor assume that responsibility until an alternative is designated. |
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Be diligent, meet agreed deadlines and respect the multiple demands on your supervisor's time. You should assume responsibility for editing your work, or employ the aid of an editor. Your supervisor is not responsible for editing your work. |
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Use Postgraduate Office Research Training Assistant (PORTIA). PORTIA is designed to assist supervisors and students to plan their research and maintain records of interactions and ongoing achievement of the newly implemented Research Degree Graduate Qualities. This system is available to all research degree students and their supervisors. More information about PORTIA |
Web resources
-
Negotiating candidate and supervisor
expectations introduces principles for negotiating the supervisory relationship and
is worth reading at the beginning of candidature.
Research degree coordinators
Each HDR student and supervisor has a local research degree coordinator who represents their academic area as a member of the Division or Institute's Research Management Committee. The coordinator is responsible to the Head of School/Director of Institute for the oversight of all matters related to the supervision of HDR students, including:
- helping to build a research rich education environment
- contributing to quality assurance and
- administration of research degrees in the area.
HDR supervisors and students will work with their coordinator on the Reviews of Progress and on any other issues that may arise in research education which require addressing or resolution.