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Quality Assurance in Research Degree Assessment

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Quality Assurance in Research Degree Assessment

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Many of the comments below relate to the use of an Independent Chair to ensure consistent conduct in Viva voce examinations. This is the document that sets out those QA requirements for universities in the UK.

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BDC colleagues here today -
Elizabeth Mamali who runs our PPD programme
Kevin Higgins who oversees BDC input on PGR partnerships
Alice Ferns who oversees our events and engagement with the PGR community.
Paul Spencer who oversees the quality of the BDC support to PGRs and
Lucy Parnall the interim Head of BDC

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A dedicated sharepoint site with all the current information. Topics include Registration process (online), welcome events, International student arrivals, communications to new students.
Grp-Transition sharepoint

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Find details of BDC induction plan here (working doc)

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Apparently there is a plan for BDC to organise a buddying system for new PGRs. This is very welcoming, but it's not clear if this will be aimed only to new international PGRs, or all of them. It would be good to get some clarity so perhaps we also organise buddying systems at School level (for eg home students).  Thank you, Angeliki (SPS)

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Given that virtual vivas are working well, is there any need to have an Independent Chair attending any more? 

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Given that virtual vivas are working well, is there any need to have an Independent Chair attending any more? 

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We will have some synchronous sessions that of course will be recorded. Shall we aim to have these on the 21st of Sept, seeing that we won't know where students will be at that stage (or whether they will have wi-fi if they are still self-isolating)? When's the recommended dates to hold these?

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Terry McMaster, Graduate School Director, Physics

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Terry McMaster, Graduate School Director, Physics

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Hello, Oscar Cordero Llana here, will be PGR co-director in the Bristol Medical School from the 1st of August

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Hello, Oscar Cordero Llana here, will be PGR co-director in the Bristol Medical School from the 1st of August

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Agree - doing a viva at Southampton on Weds, no Independent Chair.

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Agree - doing a viva at Southampton on Weds, no Independent Chair.

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Hello Flavia De Luca, Civil Aerospace Mechanical Engineering (CAME) School  PGR

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Hello Flavia De Luca, Civil Aerospace Mechanical Engineering (CAME) School  PGR

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Hello, I'm Tuomas Tahko, the PGRO for School of Arts.

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Hello, I'm Tuomas Tahko, the PGRO for School of Arts.

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Hi, I'm Tom Gaunt, PGR co-director for Bristol Medical School (PHS dept)

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Hi, I'm Tom Gaunt, PGR co-director for Bristol Medical School (PHS dept)

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Do we have any steer on how to advise CSC students: the funding isn't released until they're in the UK (at least according to CSC guidance) and many are reluctant to travel

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Research English and Academic Literacy (REAL)

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Research English and Academic Literacy (REAL)

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These are courses we run to support students in developing their communication skills. We run these for students starting their PGR studies (Pre-Real), for those in years 1-2 and those in years 3-4.

http://www.bristol.ac.uk/academic-language/study/current-students/research/real/

I / we would be very happy to discuss how best / better to relate this to your students

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This has allowed many PhD students to have examiners from different countries selecting more closely the expertise (I have seen vivas with colleagues from all around Europe, US etc..). Something that was allowed by new regulations making remote viva easier to organise

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How is UOB going to support new PGRs who might have to self isolate upon arrival e.g. getting accommodation etc?

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Students seem to really enjoy remote viva. Seems less stressful.

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Agree - online vivas should perhaps be default for MSc(R) students.

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Agree - online vivas should perhaps be default for MSc(R) students.

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Remote vivas seem to be going on longer than normal F2F-should there be a SOP with breaks etc.

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I intend to create this space for students next year, with the ability that students have moderator capacity so that they break out into groups if they wish.

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I'm Paul Marshall: SCEEM PGR Director (Computer Science Dept)

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I'm Paul Marshall: SCEEM PGR Director (Computer Science Dept)

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We have a staff newsletter in SPS [School for Policy Studies], and we will create a section for PGR news, achievements etc

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Hello, I'm Taro Takahashi, PGR Director at Bristol Veterinary School. I also work as PGR Director for the Cabot Institute, where we offer cross-Faculty MScR in Global Environmental Challenges.

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Feedback on Independent Chair role from Physics

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Feedback on Independent Chair role from Physics

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Academics and viva candidates are united in feeling that this role is unnecessary when all parties are online and “remote”.

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I run a weekly seminar, 90 minutes long. All my PGRs and some Postdocs and a colleague or two have attended. Lockdown has meant it's been easier to invite speakers from China, the US, etc. We've had work in progress precirculated and then discussed it, listened to practice presentations, watched and discussed film together, or I've run writing or methods exercises. It's functioned both as a regular research event, and as a weekly additional more pastoral drop-in.

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Our student reps regularly raise the issue of inconsistent provision for sick leave and parental leave between studentships.

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Independent Chair - change the title of the role?

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Independent Chair - change the title of the role?

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The IC role in the regs speaks to a reality different to what we are currently experiencing.  Maybe better to recast the role with a different terminology?  “Viva Observer” perhaps?

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There are a couple of examples of Slack channels in my school that have really taken off since lockdown, which seem helpful for PGR students in particular maintaining a sense of community

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Assessment and Covid-19 mitigation (Robert Bickers)

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Assessment and Covid-19 mitigation (Robert Bickers)

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I neglected to mention that I am currently working with AQPO on a draft proposal for adopting a Covid-19 mitigation process/statement for PGR assessment.