Higher Degree by Research Committee

General information

• Committee name: Higher Degree by Research Committee
• Reporting to: Academic Board
• Contact: directorgs@gradschool.uq.edu.au
• Version (effective date): version 19 (1 December 2022)
• Sub-committees: nil
• Quorum: 50% of voting membership plus one
• Notes: abbreviated as HDRC

Terms of Reference

The role of the Higher Degree by Research Committee (HDRC) is to:

• advise the Academic Board and/or the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) (DVCRI), or other University bodies or officers as appropriate, on Higher Degree by Research (HDR) programs (PhD and MPhil) and professional research doctorates (including but not limited to those programs eligible to be supported via the Research Training Program);
• formulate recommendations on policy for the strategic development of higher degrees by research in the context of the University’s strategic plan;
• promote a standard of excellence in higher degrees by research;
• make recommendations to the Academic Board and/or DVCRI, or other University bodies or officers as appropriate, on policies and procedures governing HDR programs and professional research doctorates; and
• advise the Academic Board and DVCRI, or other University bodies or officers as appropriate, on matters relating to admission, monitoring and support of HDR candidates.

Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021

Higher Degrees by Research Committee contributes to the University of Queensland meeting the requirements of the following Domains and Standards within the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021 (HESF 2021):

• Domain 1 Student Participation and Attainment
  • Standard 1.1 – Admission
  • Standard 1.3 – Orientation and Progression
  • Standard 1.4 – Learning Outcomes and Assessment
  • Standard 1.5 – Qualification and Certification
• Domain 3 Teaching
  • Standard 3.2 – Staffing
• Domain 4 Research and Research Training
  • Standard 4.1 – Research
  • Standard 4.2 – Research Training
• Domain 5 Institutional Quality Assurance
  • Standard 5.1 – Course Approval and Accreditation 
  • Standard 5.2 – Academic and Research Integrity
  • Standard 5.3 – Monitoring, Review and Improvement
• Domain 6 Governance and Accountability
  • Standard 6.1 – Corporate Governance
• Domain 7 Representation, Information and Information Management
  • Standard 7.2 – Information for Prospective and Current Students

Composition

Ex-Officio           

• Dean,  UQ Graduate School (Chair)
• President, Academic Board (or nominee)
• Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) (or nominee)
• Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) (or nominee)
• Deputy Dean, UQ Graduate School
• University Librarian (or nominee)

Appointed  

• One representative from each Faculty, appointed annually by the Executive Dean
• One representative from each Institute that reports to a member of the UQ Senior Executive and directly enrols HDR candidates, appointed annually by the Director of the Institute
• One representative of HDR candidates, appointed by the UQ Association of Postgraduate Students
• Two elected members of the Academic Board, appointed by the Academic Board Standing Committee

Administrative Arrangements

• If the Chair is absent from any meeting of the Committee, the Deputy Chair will be the Chair for that meeting. If both the Chair and the Deputy Chair are absent from any meeting of the Committee, the Chair will appoint another member to Chair that meeting. 
• If the Chair is unexpectedly absent from any meeting of the Committee, members of the Committee present at that meeting will appoint a member as Chair for that meeting.
• The Secretary is the Director, Graduate School.

* As of 4 July 2023