The Higher Degree by Research Committee (HDRC) is responsible for the provision of advice to the Academic Board and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) (DVCRI) on policies and practices for 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 (RTP)). The Committee consults other senior officers of the University as required.

2024 meeting dates

MeetingLocationDate and time
HDRC 2024/1Brian Wilson Chancellory (61A), Level 5, Senate Room Friday, 8 March 2024, 9.00am
HDRC 2024/2Brian Wilson Chancellory (61A), Level 5, Senate Room Friday, 10 May 2024, 9.00am
HDRC 2024/3Brian Wilson Chancellory (61A), Level 5, Senate Room Tuesday, 19 July 2024, 9.00am
HDRC 2024/4Brian Wilson Chancellory (61A), Level 5, Senate Room Friday, 11 October 2024, 9.00am

* Current as at 26 February 2024.

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.
CategoryRoleNameUnit/affiliation 
Ex officioDean, Graduate School (Chairperson)Professor Virginia SlaughterUQ Graduate School
Ex officioDeputy Dean, Graduate SchoolAssociate Professor Pierre BenckendorffUQ Graduate School
Ex officioDeputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) or nomineeAssociate Professor Hassan Khosravi 
Ex officioPro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) or nomineeDr Levon Blue 
Ex officioPresident of the Board or nomineeProfessor Craig FranklinPresident of the Academic Board 
Ex officioUniversity Librarian or nomineeDr Amberyn ThomasUQ Library
AppointedFaculty representative appointed by the Executive DeanAssociate Professor Gabby WaltersFaculty of Business, Economics and Law
AppointedFaculty representative appointed by the Executive DeanProfessor Matt DarguschFaculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology
AppointedFaculty representative appointed by the Executive DeanProfessor Gregory MonteithFaculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences
AppointedFaculty representative appointed by the Executive DeanProfessor Nicholas Carah (Acting)Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
AppointedFaculty representative appointed by the Executive DeanProfessor Marina Reeves Faculty of Medicine
AppointedFaculty representative appointed by the Executive DeanProfessor Jonathon CorcoranFaculty of Science
AppointedHDR student-enrolling Institute representative appointed by the Institute DirectorAssociate Professor Idriss BlakeyAustralian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology
AppointedHDR student-enrolling Institute representative appointed by the Institute DirectorProfessor Matt SweetInstitute for Molecular Bioscience
AppointedHDR student-enrolling Institute representative appointed by the Institute DirectorAssociate Professor Daniel CozzolinoQueensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation
AppointedHDR student-enrolling Institute representative appointed by the Institute DirectorProfessor Tom BurneQueensland Brain Institute
AppointedHDR student-enrolling Institute representative appointed by the Institute DirectorDr Dion WeatherlySustainable Minerals Institute
AppointedHDR representative appointed by UQ APSJeryn ChangUQ Association of Postgraduate Students
AppointedElected member of the Academic Board nominated by the Academic Board Standing CommitteeDr Kelly GreenopSchool of Architecture, Design and Planning
AppointedElected member of the Academic Board nominated by the Academic Board Standing CommitteeAssociate Professor Fiona SimpsonSchool of Biomedical Sciences
SecretariatSecretaryMs Belinda BernDirector, UQ Graduate School
SecretariatAssistant SecretaryMs Danielle LefebvreEnquiries Coordinator, UQ Graduate School 

* As of 22 January 2024