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Faculty of Humanities

Committee

PGR activity within the Faculty is governed by the Faculty Postgraduate Research Committee. This Committee is responsible for the strategic and policy matters relating to PGR education. The group is chaired by the Associate Dean for Postgraduate Research,  with membership from each of the School Postgraduate Research Directors. The Committee meets every six to eight weeks during term-time.

Current members of the Faculty PGR Committees are:

  • Dr Admos Chimhowu, Associate Dean for PGR (Chair)
  • Dr Stuart Shields, Deputy Associate Dean for PGR
  • Dr Joseph Mcgonagle, PGR Director SALC
  • Prof Tanja Muller, PGR Director SEED
  • Prof Lloyd Harris, PGR Director AMBS
  • Dr Michele Berardi, PGR Director SoSS
  • AnneMarie Walsh, PGR Services Manager
  • PGR representatives

Additional members of the committee may be appointed/invited at the discretion of the Chair

  • Director of Methods@Manchester
  • Director of ArtsMethod@manchester

Terms of reference

The Postgraduate Research Committee advises the Faculty on matters concerning postgraduate research degree programmes. In undertaking its remit, the Committee will:

  • Review, monitor and evaluate progress of Faculty PGR strategy
  • Consider how changes in the external and internal environment affect postgraduate research in the Faculty and support the Faculty in responding strategically
  • Support the objectives set out by University and Faculty Research Strategy and other related strategies (e.g. Internationalisation, Business Engagement)
  • Consider any recommendation for changes and provide informed responses by wider consultation in relation to the University/Faculty’s regulations, policies and procedures that affect postgraduate research
  • Act as the legislative body responsible for Faculty regulations and procedures pertaining to postgraduate research programmes and degrees
  • Consider those applications for special permission with respect to the regulations governing research degrees that cannot be resolved at School PGR Committee
  • Exceptionally act as Examination Board for research degrees, where an outright fail is recommended, or where there is a disagreement between examiners which cannot be resolved, or in any other controversial circumstances
  • Ensure that the Schools follow best practice in the recruitment, admission, supervision, training,  progression and examination of postgraduate research students
  • Monitor and respond to changes in postgraduate research policy instigated by the research councils and other relevant bodies and support strategic activity associated with Doctoral Training Partnership (DTPs)
  • Consider all policy matters relating to the provision of effective programmes of postgraduate research training
  • Stimulate and coordinate interdepartmental and interdisciplinary postgraduate research and programmes
  • Determine policy and procedure regarding the awarding of Faculty postgraduate research studentships and bursaries and establish, when necessary, rankings for University, Faculty or external awards
  • Consider ways in which the Faculty may support the Schools in their postgraduate research provision and make proposals accordingly to the Faculty Policy and Resources Committee
  • Have responsibility for PGR Quality Assurance matters (e.g. via Annual Monitoring, PGR 5-year Review and the approval of new ‘non-standard’ PGR programmes)
  • Take on other responsibilities in relation to postgraduate research policy as will arise

Reporting Line of the Committee

  • PGRC will report directly to the Humanities Research Strategy Committee (HRSC) and Faculty Leadership Team (FLT) and ultimately be responsible to the Dean of the Faculty
  • Communication and coordination between Faculty and University PGR strategy is secured through the Associate Dean’s membership of the Manchester Doctoral College Strategy Group (MDCSG)

Expectations of Members

  • Members will attend all PGRC meetings, with these meetings taking priority over other commitments.  In the event that a member is unavailable to attend, they should send an appropriate representative.  For PGR Directors, this should be an academic staff member from the School PGRC where possible and staff should receive an appropriate briefing
  • The role of the School PGR Director is to undertake actions agreed by the Committee and provide feedback or raise any matters in response to dialogue with School PGR Committees led from their School
  • The Associate Dean for PGR will be invited to attend one School Postgraduate Research Committee meeting each year

Frequency of Meetings

  • The Committee will meet at least five times during each academic session
  • Additional meetings will be called at the discretion of the Chair or at times where additional consultation (e.g. strategic planning) is required. The Associate Dean for PGR may also incorporate PGRC meetings with Faculty planning meetings where appropriate.
  • The Committee will remain active until notice is given that an alternative forum will replace it

Meeting dates 2024/25

  • Wednesday, 2 October 2024, 2pm
  • Wednesday, 6 November 2024, 3pm (strategy meeting)
  • Wednesday, 4 December 2024, 2pm
  • Wednesday, 15 January 2025, 2pm 
  • Wednesday, 12 February 2025, 3pm (strategy meeting)
  • Wednesday, 12 March 2025, 2pm
  • Wednesday, 23 April 2025, 2pm
  • Wednesday, 14 May 2025, 3pm (strategy meeting)
  • Wednesday, 18 June 2025, 2pm

MDCSG and PROG

At the University level, PGR activity is managed by the Manchester Doctoral College Strategy Group (MDCSG) with membership consisting of three faculty Associate Deans for PGR and the Associate Vice-President for Research.

Additionally, the University Postgraduate Research Operations Group (PROG) brings together members from professional service staff in three faculties to discuss and agree on a broad range of PGR operations, share good practice, and facilitate networking and communication across and between institutional and Faculty postgraduate research support structures.