Committees, groups & networks
Research Higher Degrees Committee (RHDC)
The Research Higher Degrees Committee is responsible for advising the Academic Board through the Research and Graduate Studies Committee on all matters of policy relating to research higher degrees (graduate courses in which the research component is at least 66%), including the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Masters by Research, and to Professional Doctorates. If you have any queries concerning the forms, policies and guidelines to be used, please contact the RHDC Secretary, Jennifer Gilbert.
Terms of Reference
This document includes the complete Terms of Reference for the Research Higher Degrees Committee, including a current list of members.
Course Proposals
Here you will find links to Course Proposal forms and general guidelines for the introduction of a new research course/program or substantial change to an existing course/program.
RHDC Faculty Shepherds
If you need advice on the academic aspects of the proposal, please contact your RHDC Faculty Shepherd. Here you will find a list of RHDC Faculty Shepherds and the information on the role of Faculty Shepherd.
RHDC Meeting Dates for 2013
6 February
13 March
17 April
15 May
26 June
14 August
2 October
13 November
RHDC Minutes
Here you will find the Minutes of past Research Higher Degrees Committee meetings dating back to 2007.Research Training Advisory Committee (RTAC)
The Research Training Advisory Committee coordinates the delivery of research training across the University and serves as a forum through which the Melbourne School of Graduate Research engages with faculties and graduate schools on strategy to strengthen research outcomes.
Terms of Reference and Membership
Terms of reference are available for download here.
2013 Meeting Schedule
6 March
24 April
5 June
21 August
16 October
27 November
Enquiries
For more information please contact Veronica Loew.
Research Higher Degrees Orientation Committee (RHDOC)
The Research Higher Degree Orientation Committee was initiated by the University of Melbourne in 2007. It is designed to assist departments in the development and review of Orientation and Transition activities for new candidates, from faculty welcomes to library tours and IT inductions. The central purpose of the RHDOC is to facilitate the seamless introduction of candidates into a vibrant and dynamic graduate community.
Specific responsibilities of RHDOC include:
- To facilitate collaboration between the various stakeholders
- To share knowledge (especially for new Graduate Schools who have not undertaken RHD orientation before)
- To ensure that all candidates experience a seamless induction and orientation into their Research Higher Degree.
RHDOC Terms of Reference
Terms of Reference are available for download here.
Enquiries
For more information on the RHDOC?s structure and purpose, please contact Peta Freestone, Senior Programs Officer, Melbourne School of Graduate Research.
Graduate Research Managers Group
Purpose
The Graduate Research Managers Group was established as the RHD Managers Group in September 2008. The main aims of the Group, in the first instance, are:
- To devise effective ways for the transactional services provided to research higher degree students to be shifted, in accord with previous University of Melbourne agreements, between the faculties/graduate schools and the Melbourne School of Graduate Research.
- To form the key ongoing forum at which the transactional services provided to research higher degree students will be reviewed, and where required, refined and/or referred to the relevant committee/s and other forums for consideration.
- To be, with the relevant Associate Deans (Graduate Research), the primary conduit between the faculties/graduate schools and the Melbourne School of Graduate Research in relation to the delivery of transactional services to all University of Melbourne research higher degree students.
Terms of Reference & Membership
The group is chaired by the MSGR General Manager, and has RHD representation from all faculties and graduate schools as nominated by Faculty General Managers, as well as representation from the Student Systems Project and the Graduate Research Scholarships Office. Additional staff are co-opted as required.
Full terms of reference and details of the groups membership can be downloaded here.
GRMG Meetings for 2013
(First Friday of the month, unless otherwise stated from 10.30am - 12.30pm)
1 February
1 March
5 April
3 May
7 June
5 July
2 August
6 September
4 October
1 November
6 December
For more information please contact the group's Executive Officer Michelle Green.
Graduate Research Administrator Network
The Graduate Research Administrator Network (previously known as the Research Higher Degree Specialist Network) was formed in 2010 to coincide with the devolution of candidature management from MSGR to Faculties and Graduate Schools. The network provides a forum for staff working with graduate researchers across the University to meet regularly to share ideas and information on Research Higher Degree matters.
Network Meetings for 2013
(Meetings are held on Wednesdays or Thursdays from 11.30am - 1.00pm)
Wednesday 23 January
Thursday 28 February
Wednesday 27 March
Wednesday 24 April
Wednesday 22 May
Thursday 20 June
Wednesday 24 July
Thursday 29 August
Wednesday 25 September
Thursday 31 October
Wednesday 27 November
For more information please contact Michelle Green.
Proposals
Research Higher Degree Course Proposal
Faculties recommending a new course or program, or a substantial change to an existing course or program to the Research Higher Degrees Committee (RHDC), should complete the Course Approval forms from the Academic Board Course Approval and Management Procedures website. These forms are to be forwarded to the Research Higher Degrees Committee (RHDC) Secretary, Melbourne School of Graduate Research.
If you need advice on the academic aspects of the proposal, please contact your RHDC Faculty Shepherd.
RHDC Faculty Shepherds
Faculty |
Shepherd |
Contact Details |
Architecture, Building and Planning |
Professor Mark Elgar | Zoology, Ex: 44338, Email |
Arts |
Professor Sundhya Pahuja | Law, Ex: 46164, Email |
Business and Economics and Melbourne Business School |
Professor Roger Cousens |
Land and Environment, Ex: 49749, Email |
Education |
Professor Alistair Stewart |
Pharmacology, Ex: 45675, Email |
Engineering |
Professor Alison Lewis |
Languages and Linguistics, |
Land and Environment |
Assoc Professor Stephen Swearer |
Zoology, Ex: 46253, Email |
Law |
Dr Katrina Mcferran |
Music, Ex: 47382, Email |
Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences |
Assoc Professor David Beckett |
Education, Ex: 48516, Email |
Science |
Professor John Barnett |
Land and Environment, Ex: 40819, Email |
Veterinary Science |
Assoc Professor Mary Wlodek |
Physiology, Ex: 48801, Email |
Victorian College of the Arts and Music |
Professor Lesleyanne Hawthorne |
Population Health, Ex: 49132, Email |
Chair RHDC
Professor Joy Damousi, Ex: 47360, Email
Role of Shepherds
Definition
A 'shepherd' is a member of the Research Higher Degrees Committee with designated responsibility to work with one or more faculties to provide advice and guidance both to the faculties concerned and to the Committee on matters such as faculty course change proposals and changes to legislation of an academic nature. A shepherd's advice may be sought by a faculty during development of the proposal if there are any unusual aspects in the proposal.
Course proposals
On receipt of a proposal the Committee Secretary will forward a copy to the responsible RHD shepherd. It is the responsibility of the shepherd to examine the proposal in detail in respect to the requirements set out in the Guidelines for Submission of Course Changes and to more general academic issues such as entry requirements, student workload/contact hours/duration of course/points value, levels of any coursework requirements, assessment/examination details. The shepherd should discuss any concerns with the appropriate faculty/departmental officers and attempt to negotiate acceptable changes.
It is also the role of the shepherd to ensure that the legislation reflects the structure of the approved course.
The original proposal together with the shepherd's report and any amendments are then returned to the Research Higher Degrees Committee Secretary.
downloadExample Approval Form (40 KB)