Quality Handbook
AQH-L10-1 Periodic Review of Postgraduate Research
Programmes – Appendix 1
Version 2.0 February 2013
VERSION HISTORY
Version
1.0
2.0
Occasion of
Change
Original placed in
Academic Quality
Handbook
Review
Change author
Modifications made
S Sutcliffe
Date of
modification
January 2011
B Ollerenshaw
February 2013
Include DBA and changes to
responsibilities
Outline Timetable for Periodic Review of Research Provision
DAY 1 (AFTERNOON ONLY)
Present:
 core internal and external reviewers;
 additional reviewers as applicable;
 recent graduate from a Sunderland research degree;
 Chair and Secretary
1.00-1.30: lunch; introductions and overview of the process
1.30-3.00: sharing initial impressions and issues arising from documentation:
- generic issues
- faculty issues
3.00-3.15: coffee
3.15-5.15: finalise issues to be discussed with each faculty in the meetings with (a) staff and (b)
students. The panel may wish to divide into groups to discuss faculty issues.
DAY 2 – MORNING
Review of each faculty independently
Present at each faculty review:
 Chair: the core external reviewer
 the additional external where applicable
 one internal panel member (from a faculty other than the one under review),
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 secretarial support
The recent graduate from a Sunderland research degree who is a member of the review panel
will attend the review of one faculty other than the one in which he/she studied
9.00-9.30:
9.30-10.45:
11.00-12.15:
12.15-1.00:
1.00-2.00:
panel meeting
meeting with students
meeting with staff
tour of faculty research student resources if appropriate
lunch; panel meeting to discuss conclusions
DAY 2 – AFTERNOON
Present: core internal and external reviewers; additional reviewers; recent graduate from a
Sunderland research degree; Chair and Secretary
2.00-4.00:
faculty review panels assemble to share views and identify any generic issues of
concern for the University or good practice which can be shared across faculties.
Additional external reviewers depart
4.15-5.30:
review Prof Doc and DBA programme specification and other documentation
Agree agendas for meetings with GRS and with Prof Doc and DBA staff and
students
DAY 3
Present:
 core internal and external reviewers;
 recent graduate from a Sunderland research degree;
 Chair and Secretary
9.00-9.15: panel meeting
9.15-10.30: meeting with Chair of Research Sub-Committee, GRS staff and Academic
Development Officer responsible for postgraduate research students’ and
supervisors’ skills development
10.30-11.30: panel meeting to agree conclusions
11.30-12.45: meeting with Prof Doc and DBA students
1.00-2.15: meeting with Chair of Prof Doc and DBA Programme Board of Studies and a
sample of Prof Doc and DBA supervisors (with lunch)
2.15-3.00: panel meeting to agree conclusions
3.00-4.00:
panel meeting to agree final conclusions, recommendations and commendations
for the report
Note:
In the meeting(s) with students the panel should explore their experience / awareness of:
a) pre-entry information the application process;
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b) induction;
c) research skills development (including generic and subject-specific provision);
d) understanding of their programme of study and its requirements, including the skills
developed;
e) the quality of supervision and the options available to a student if the relationship with
the supervisor breaks down;
f) the quality of teaching in relation to taught modules / taught doctorates;
g) for Prof Doc and DBA students, and any others for whom it is relevant, the quality of
support or mentoring within the workplace;
h) learning support materials and resources (including library, IT, use of SunSpace,
handbooks, subject-specific resources such as labs);
i) the assessment process – whether students understand what is required, are aware of
the assessment criteria;
j) support for students with particular problems – disabilities, English language problems,
personal difficulties etc;
k) opportunities to give feedback individually or as a group including the role of student
representatives;
l) wider academic and social activities including postgraduate conferences and other
opportunities to engage in the wider research activity of the subject area / ‘beacon’/
faculty.
Meetings with faculty staff should cover:
a) the alignment of postgraduate research activity with faculty / beacon research strategy;
b) practical arrangements for managing and monitoring student admission, progress and
assessment;
c) training and support for supervisors and examiners;
d) the supervisor’s role – concerns, good practice and support for enhancement;
e) access to funding and other resources for research students;
f) liaison with the Research Student Manager(s) and with GRS;
g) areas for development in relation to current research in the university and externally;
h) the research environment and the integration of research students within it;
i) anything else which the review panel or the supervisors wish to raise and which falls
within the scope of the review.
Note on tours of resources: if it is agreed that additional time is needed for the review panel to
consider learning resources, additional time will be added to the start of the review.
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