Research Students (RHD)
Research Training (RHD) Overview

The Assistant Dean (Research Training) is an administrative position within the Faculty of Science and Information Technology, which aims to raise concerns of Research Higher Degree (RHD) students to the Senior Management Team of the Faculty as well as informing, educating and raising the consciousness of RHD students with respect to Faculty and University policies.

Walking such a tight rope is not an easy chore! However, RHD students may contact me at any time.

The Faculty also has a Research Training Committee chaired by the Assistant Dean. It also has terms of reference. The Committee is composed of academic members from the Schools and it has an RHD representative.

The Faculty's RHD students are spread over two campuses namely: Ourimbah and Callaghan however, a portion of its RHD students are located in off-campus placement positions. The Faculty also has a large cohort of part-time students, who need to earn a living to support their learning and research experiences. For these reasons, the Faculty developed the RFSIT Blackboard site. This site is a one-stop shop for advice, discussion, information, policy documents and web-links to make your life as an RHD student easier. Please log on to Blackboard regularly to keep yourself up to date with news and changes.

The Faculty has developed a number of policies that directly affect RHD students. These policy documents can be downloaded in RTF format (Guidelines for Student Supervision; Minimum Resource Allocation; Review of Progress; and Protocols to Process RHD Student Grievances). The Faculty also send out a Faculty news bulletin, on a monthly basis.

Each school within the Faculty has an RHD co-ordinator and an induction program. RHD students should be aware all the office bearers of their School. These are normally revealed within the induction program conducted by each School.

All RHD students should ensure that their student mail address has been forwarded to the School's Executive Officer. It is the most important line of communication between the University and the RHD students, and so should be constantly monitored and managed.

The degree rules for Doctoral and Master (Research) candidates are well established. The Faculty also manages a number of high degrees based on coursework. The rules for Coursework Postgraduate Degrees are also available.

There is a Code of Practice for RHD candidates as well as a Student Guide and Guidelines on Research Practice. The Code of Practice includes responsibilities at the institutional level, at the Faculty/Academic organisation unit level and at the Supervisors and Students level. There are strict regulations with respect to thesis Presentation and Submission and on the Examination Procedures. There are also regulations with respect to Intellectual Property, Copyright, Publications, Ethics Clearance and Grievances.

Occupational Health and Safety issues are important for all students and so RHD students and supervisors should be familiar with the rules and regulations associated with the maintenance of a safe work environment. The University also provides Health and Counselling services as well as a range of sporting activities for students and staff.

One of the most important student organisations is the Newcastle University Postgraduate Student Association (NUPSA). NUPSA can also assist RHD students with a range of queries. It provides useful workshops and social activities. It also provides another forum for RHD students to voice their opinions on any matter that may be of concern. Our Faculty works closely with NUPSA. In particular, we are delighted with the Supervisor of the Year and Postgraduate Teacher of the Year awards that NUPSA initiated and that it announces annually. These awards are highly prized by our academic staff and moreover, highly regarded by the Senior Management Team of the University.

The Faculty of Science and Information Technology has taken a pro-active stance in order to facilitate RHD students being able to present their research efforts before international researchers. A limited number of RHD Travelling Scholarships are available each year. These RHD Travelling Scholarships, we hope, will assist RHD students in launching their careers and so they are only available to final year RHD students.

Finally, the Faculty staff view the RHD students as being a most important link between this University and the world. You are, after all, a sizeable part of the future reputation of this University. For this University to be highly thought of, nationally and internationally, is beneficial to us all.

A/Prof Jenny Cameron
Assistant Dean - Research Training