Examining and Monitoring Postgraduate Research Degrees
The Panel Memebers courses are offered to research staff who examine and monitor Postgraduate Research Degrees.
- For staff who act as a chair/examiner for the MPhil/PhD Viva (AM).
- For staff who act as a chair/panel member for Annual Monitoring Reviews (PM).
They replace the Independent Chair Accreditation Course, Research Degree Examiner Accreditation course, Annual Monitoring Chair course and Panel Member course offered in previous years.
They are appropriate for staff who are new to these roles at the University of Sunderland and others who wish to update their knowledge (if they attended the previous programmes three or more years ago).
These courses are delivered by the Chair of the Postgraduate Research Degrees Sub Committee.
For more information or to make a booking request
Email academic.development@sunderland.ac.uk to make a booking request and identify if you would like to attend the morning session, the afternoon session, or possibly both.
Agenda
In the morning - The Independent Chair Course and Research Degree Examiner Course
Designed to inform staff of the roles and responsibilities of the Independent Chair and Research Degree Examiner, highlight the differences between the examination procedures for research degrees as well as provide the opportunity to explore the challenges that the independent chair and Research Degree Examiner may confront.
| Independent Chair and Research Degree Examiner |
|---|
| 9.30 – 10.45 Context – External environment (QAA codes and Level Descriptors), Internal environment regulations, policies and procedures |
| 11.00-11.15 Refreshments and preparation for the role play (including information on how the examination is conducted) |
| 11.15-12.00 Viva examination with issues – Role play |
| 12.00-12.45 Debrief on the examination with discussions on resolving issues and sharing experiences |
N.B. The role play and debrief may be replaced by discussions by the facilitator.
Learning Outcomes
After completing the course, participants should be able to demonstrate:
- A sound working knowledge of the policies and procedures appropriate for chairing or examining a research degree at the University of Sunderland.
- An understanding of the quality assurance mechanisms put in place by both the university and national institutions such as the QAA.
- A sound understanding of the role and responsibilities of the independent chair and the research degree examiner.
- A critical awareness of issues that may arise when chairing or examining a research degree examination and an awareness of how they might be dealt with.
In the afternoon - Annual Monitoring Chair and Panel member course
Designed to inform staff of the roles and responsibilities of the annual monitoring chair and panel member, and provide the opportunity to explore the challenges that the annual monitoring chair and panel members may confront.
| Annual Monitoring Chair and Panel member’s course |
|---|
| 1.30- 2.45 Annual monitoring context – relevant QAA code of practice, but concentrating on the process as a project management tool. |
| 2.45 – 3.00 Refreshments and preparation for the role play (including information on how the annual monitoring meeting is conducted) |
| 3.00- 3.45 Annual monitoring meeting with issues – Role play |
| 3.45- 4.30 Debrief on the monitoring meeting with discussions on resolving issues and sharing experiences |
N.B. The role play and debrief may be replaced by discussions by the facilitator.
Learning Outcomes
After completing the course, participants should be able to demonstrate:
- A sound working knowledge of the corresponding policies and procedures appropriate for chairing a PGR student annual monitoring review, or being one of the panel members at the University of Sunderland.
- An understanding of the relevant quality assurance mechanisms put in place by both the university and national institutions such as the QAA.
- A sound understanding of the role and responsibilities of the annual monitoring chair and panel members.
- A critical awareness of issues that may arise when chairing or examining a PGR review meeting and an awareness of how they might be dealt with.