University of New South Wales - Graduate Research School - UNSW VICE-CHANCELLOR’S AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH SUPERVISION

Applications for 2008 open on 1 July and close on 1 October 2008

The UNSW Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence in Postgraduate Research Supervision recognise and encourage sustained excellence in postgraduate research supervision.

Information for 2008 Applicants

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Awards
Eligibility
Applications
Closing Date
Recommendations and Notification
Forms
Supervision Award Toolkit
Contact Details

Awards

The UNSW Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence in Postgraduate Research Supervision recognise and encourage sustained excellence in postgraduate research supervision. Up to two awards will be allocated each year. Each award consists of the presentation of an engraved medallion and the payment of a sum of $7,500 (the monetary component of the award is subject to taxation). The award can, on request by the recipient, be paid by UNSW to the Department or School in which the academic/s are employed, to be used by the Faculty in a project being undertaken or to be undertaken by the recipient. Recipients will be expected to contribute to the development of supervision via School/Faculty committees and workshops run by the Graduate Research School.

Eligibility

All academic staff, either full time or part time, who have supervised at least three research higher degree students to completion as a supervisor are eligible to apply for the award. Academic staff who have received a supervision award are not eligible to re-apply for the same award for six years.

Applications

Applicants should submit the following information:

(a) Cover Sheet
(b) Supervision Record Table
(c) Supervision Statement

(d) Supporting Material
(e) Head of School Report
(f) Supervisor Reference

Applicants should arrange for the following to be submitted directly to the Graduate Research School:

(g)Student Reference

Please note the specified page limits and font sizes. Submissions will be checked and applications returned if they do not comply.

(a) Cover Sheet

Cover Sheet: summarising UNSW appointment details and relevant appointments, committee memberships, invitations, publications and resources relevant to higher degree research supervision.

(b) Supervision Record Table

Supervision Record Table: summarising all current, completed, withdrawn and transferred higher degree students, completion rates, candidature details, research outcomes (publications, conferences, exhibitions, prizes etc) and employment post graduation.

( max. 2 pages, min. font size 10) Applicants may present a case for outstanding higher degree research supervision based on either:

(i) An outstanding track record in higher degree research supervision which may include the number of candidates supervised and student completion rates; nature of the research program and academic profile that attracts high calibre local and international students; supervision practices that lead to publications, prizes and awards, presentations at prestigious conferences, and theses judged to be of outstanding quality; supervision practices that lead to timely and successful completions; induction of students into the national and international research communities; career mentoring; or

(ii) Outstanding supervision of a small number of research students plus leadership in supervision reflected in appointments to key roles in the School/Faculty/University with reference to the specific achievements and impact of the applicant in these roles which may include significant contributions to policy development and best practice in the School/Faculty/University or wider community and mentoring of new staff.

Please note - honours supervision should not be included.

Applicants should structure their submissions to best highlight their contributions and case for outstanding supervision and leadership. The statement should include reference to the outcomes and information provided in the Cover Sheet, Supervision Record Table and Supporting Material in order to justify claims.

Further advice on structuring the application can be found in the Supervision Award Toolkit available on the Graduate Research School web site.

(d) Supporting Material

(max. 6 pages, min. font size 10) Advice regarding evidence and examples of supporting material can be found in the Supervision Award Toolkit. See below for details.

(e) Head of School Report

(max. 1 page) commenting on the applicant’s performance as a supervisor and/or their leadership in supervision including any discipline specific issues related to supervision. The report should also include reference to HDR benchmarking, ie the average output, completion time in the School.

(f) Supervisors Reference

(max. 1 page) one reference from an experienced supervisor able to comment on the applicant’s supervision and/or leadership and scholarship in higher degree research training.

(g) Student Reference

(max. 1 page) one reference from a current or graduated higher degree research student able to comment on the applicant's supervision and/or leadership and scholarship in higher degree research training. The reference, in the form of an email or a letter to be submitted directly to the Graduate Research School. The reference should be emailed to enquiries.grs@unsw.edu.au, or mailed to the Graduate Research School, UNSW Sydney 2052

Closing Date

2008 applications open on 1 July and close on 1 October 2008.

Recommendations and Notification

A committee comprising the Dean of Graduate Research (Chair) and three Associate Deans (Research / Research Training) will recommend a maximum of four applications to the University Teaching Excellence Committee. Applicants will be notified of the Committee’s decisions in late December and awards will be presented at an appropriate graduation ceremony.

Forms

Supervision Award Toolkit

The Supervision Award Toolkit has been produced to aid applicants with their submissions and provides a guide to the issues that may be addressed in the application, as well as examples of material that may be useful to include in the application.

Contact Details

For further information please email enquiries.grs.unsw.edu.au