keele university code of practice on postgraduate research degrees

• setting and keeping to timetables and deadlines, including planning and
submitting work as and when required and generally maintaining satisfactory
progress with the programme <strong>of</strong> research
• making supervisors aware <strong>of</strong> any specific needs or circumstances likely to
affect their work
• attending any development opportunities (research-related and other) that
have been identified when agreeing their development needs with their
supervisors
• being familiar with institutional regulations and policies that affect them,
including the regulations for their qualification, health and safety, intellectual
property, and ethical research guidelines .
Supervisors and supervisory teams
6 The role <strong>of</strong> the supervisory team will include:
• giving guidance about the nature <strong>of</strong> research and the standard expected,
about the planning <strong>of</strong> the research programme, about literature and sources,
attendance at taught classes, about requisite techniques (including arranging
for instruction where necessary), and about the problem <strong>of</strong> plagiarism
• ensuring they are aware <strong>of</strong> any external <strong>code</strong>s <strong>of</strong> <strong>practice</strong> or guidance in
relation to research ethics and governance applicable to their fields <strong>of</strong>
research supervision, complying with such <strong>code</strong>s as appropriate, and
ensuring students are aware <strong>of</strong> and comply with such <strong>code</strong>s as appropriate
• maintaining contact through regular tutorial and seminar meetings, in
accordance with Research Institute policy and in the light <strong>of</strong> discussion <strong>of</strong>
arrangements with the student and agreements set out in the Personal
Development and Learning Plan
• being accessible to the student at other appropriate times when he or she
may need advice
• giving detailed advice on the necessary completion dates <strong>of</strong> successive
stages <strong>of</strong> the work so that the whole may be submitted within the scheduled
time
• giving advice to the student on whether areas <strong>of</strong> their work could be
commercially sensitive and so require a confidentiality disclosure agreement
(CDA) or embargo on publishing
• requiring written work as appropriate, and returning such work with
constructive criticism in writing and in reasonable time
• arranging as appropriate for the student to talk about their work to staff at
graduate seminars
• ensuring that the student is made aware <strong>of</strong> inadequacy <strong>of</strong> progress or <strong>of</strong>
standards <strong>of</strong> work below that expected – all such comments and feedback
must be made in writing to the student.
7 Monitoring student work and training and academic progress will normally be
exercised through such activities as regular meetings with students, recording key
points agreed, written feedback on progress in general and on drafts <strong>of</strong> thesis
chapters, and regular progress reports monitored by the Postgraduate Committee,
including drawing to the attention <strong>of</strong> the Research Institute in a timely fashion any
issues affecting satisfactory progress <strong>of</strong> the student.
8 A clear understanding between supervisor and student needs to be established at an
early stage about the supervisor's responsibility in relation to the student's written
submission, and this may change as the project develops and is subject to continued
negotiation. The understanding must cover the nature <strong>of</strong> guidance or comment the
COP on PGR Degrees, November 2011 86