STATUTE FOR THE DOCTORAL SCHOOL

B

L.N. 293 of 2017

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

STATUTE FOR THE DOCTORAL SCHOOL

IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred upon him by articles 74(5) and 75(6)

of the Education Act, the Chancellor of the University of Malta has promulgated the

following statute made by the Council of the University of Malta in virtue of the

powers conferred upon it by articles 72(h), 75(2) and 77(c) of the said Act

Citation

This statute may be cited as the Statute for the Doctoral School.

Applicability

This statute shall be applicable from 1 October 2017 onwards.

Interpretation

In this Statute, unless the context otherwise requires

“the Board” shall mean the Board of the Doctoral School;

“the School” shall mean the Doctoral School;

“FICS” shall mean the Faculties, Institutes, Centres and Schools.

Establishment

The Doctoral School is hereby established as an institution within the

University of Malta.

Scope and Functions

The scope of the School shall be to provide a central coordinating and

support framework for researchers at doctoral level and their supervisors, and to seek

excellence in all aspects of doctoral education and training at the University of Malta.

The School shall have the following functions

(a) to organise those aspects of doctoral studies that fall within its scope of

responsibilities;

(b) to oversee the quality of doctoral programmes;

(c) to submit proposals to Senate concerning regulations and guidelines for

the organisational aspects of doctoral studies;

(d) to provide technical and administrative support to FICSs that are fully or

partially responsible of management of research-based doctoral programmes;

(e) to plan cross-disciplinary training courses in order to enhance the

professional career development of doctoral researchers;

(f) to encourage and oversee the provision of lecturing and tutoring

opportunities for doctoral researchers;

(g) to foster greater integration of doctoral researchers and graduates with

stakeholders in the community;

(h) to enhance the visibility of doctoral research and promote widespread

dissemination of doctoral research;

(i) to submit to Senate proposals concerning approval of regulations

governing extraordinary doctoral programmes and awards, including cotutelle

agreements; and

(j) to participate in fora related to doctoral education internationally.

Governance

The School shall be governed by a Board that shall consist of the following

(i)

Chairman: Rector;

(ii)

Vice-Chairman: Director of the School;

(iii)

Pro-Rector responsible for academic affairs;

(iv)

Pro-Rector responsible for research and knowledge transfer;

(v)

Registrar, who shall also act as Secretary to the Board;

(vi)

a person of repute whose work experience is relevant to the scope

and functions of the School to be recommended by the Board and

approved by Senate;

(vii)

up to two representatives of students registered on doctoral degree

programmes.

All members of the Board, other than those appointed ex officio, the person

of repute, and the two representatives of the students, shall be appointed for a period

of one year, renewable for up to four years. A retiring member will be eligible for re-

appointment for one additional term.

The function of the Board shall be

(a) to govern the affairs of the School, subject to the provisions of this statute

and of such regulations, policies or directions as may from time to time be approved

by the Council and the Senate;

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(b) to formulate the strategic plan of the School, and design and implement

quality assurance systems for doctoral studies;

(c) to ensure that doctoral researchers adhere to the principles and code of

conduct related to professionalism and research integrity embraced by the University;

(d) to ensure that supervisors and administrative staff responsible for doctoral

research are familiar with the policies, regulations and procedures of the University

and the School; and

(e) to monitor and assess the effectiveness of the academic and administrative

aspects of doctoral studies.

Doctoral Academic Committee and Professional Development Committee

(1) The School shall fulfil its functions through committees appointed by

Senate on the advice of the Board.

(2)(a) The Doctoral Academic Committee shall consist of the following

(i)

Chairman: Pro-Rector responsible for academic affairs;

(ii)

Vice-Chairman: Director of the School;

(iii)

Pro-Rector responsible for research and knowledge transfer;

(iv)

three members from the academic staff appointed by Senate;

(v)

Registrar, who shall also act as secretary;

(vi)

The Dean of the Faculty or the Director of the Institute or Centre or

School on an ad hoc basis.

(2)(b) The functions of the Doctoral Academic Committee shall include

(i)

to evaluate and present for Senate’s approval doctoral programmes

recommended by FICS boards, including applications, requests to

transfer from MPhil to PhD, including the composition of boards

assigned to assess submitted work, and thesis examination;

(ii) to evaluate and present for Senate’s approval requests to formally

restrict open access of specific doctoral theses;

(iii) to participate in the process of evaluating the quality of doctoral

programmes; and

(iv) to manage other academic matters related to the delivery of doctoral

studies that are not assigned to other offices.

(3)(a) The Professional Development Committee shall consist of the following

(i)

Chairman: Pro-Rector responsible for research and knowledge

transfer;

(ii) Vice-Chairman: Director of the School;

(iii) Pro-Rector responsible for academic affairs;

(iv Registrar, who shall also act as secretary;

(v) Director responsible for research support services;

(vi) Director responsible for corporate research and knowledge transfer;

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(vii) a specialist in continuous professional development appointed by

Senate;

(viii) up to two representatives of students registered on doctoral degree

programmes.

(3)(b) The functions of the Professional Development Committee shall be

(i)

to organise training for the development of cross-disciplinary

research skills for doctoral research and other skills that enhance

the professional career development of doctoral graduates;

(ii) to organise training for the supervision of doctoral research;

(iii) to evaluate the quality of teaching in cross- disciplinary training

activities;

(iv) to encourage and facilitate participation of those involved in doctoral

research in RDI with appropriate public and private organisations;

(v) to take into account the University’s policies on doctoral grants and

scholarships and suggest strategies for improving efficiency; and

(vi) to manage other professional development matters related to the

delivery of doctoral studies that are not assigned to other offices.

All members of the two Committees, other than those appointed ex officio,

and the representatives of the students, shall be appointed for a period of one year,

renewable for up to four years. A retiring member will be eligible for re-appointment

for one additional term.

Network of Doctoral Committee chairs and administrative staff

The Network shall foster coordination between the FICS that are the first

point of contact to Ph.D. students. It shall act as an advisory body to FICS doctoral

committee chairs and administrative staff. A meeting of this network shall be convened

and organised by the School at least once a year.

Appointment of Director and Staff

The School shall have a Director and Staff as follows

(a) the Director of the School shall be appointed according to the procedure

for the appointment of Directors of Institutes and Centres as approved by the Council

of the University, for a duration of one year, with the possibility of renewal annually

subject to established performance criteria, the needs of the School and the needs of

the University, for a total period not exceeding two four-year terms; and

(b) the staff of the School shall be appointed by the University according to

usual practice to assist the Director in the management of the standing committees of

the School.

B

Duties of the Director

The duties of the Director shall include

(a) promoting the development and implementation of the School’s mission,

goals, strategic plan and functions, executing and enforcing compliance of actions

approved by the Board, and managing the infrastructure needed by the School;

(b) administering the School in consultation with the members of the Board;

monitoring and approving requests for leave of absence of members of the School;

the Director is expected to maintain records of all leave taken by members and to pass

on these records to the Director of Human Resources Management and Development

upon request;

(c) promoting students’ academic and personal welfare, providing support

to students with difficulties they may encounter during their doctoral studies related

to the activities of the School;

(d) encouraging and facilitating co-operation with other universities and

other institutions;

(e) chairing meetings of the Board in the absence and with the permission

of the Chairman;

(f) ensuring and facilitating the further development and training of

academic and non-academic staff;

(g)

participating at any meeting of the University congruent with the post;

(h)

representing the School during official functions of the University;

(i) compiling and submitting to the Secretary of the University by the end

of September of each academic year, an annual report outlining the activities of the

School for the outgoing year, which should include, amongst others, information that

may be requested by the Secretary;

(j) compiling and submitting to the Director of Finance of the University

by not later than end of May of each academic year budgetary estimates for the

following year including, whenever necessary, a manpower plan for the School;

(k)

monitoring the performance of the non-academic staff attached to the

School;

(l) authorising the School’s procurement of equipment; ensuring that the

resources assigned to the School are utilized fully and efficiently; and

(m) performing other duties which may be assigned by the University from

time to time.

B

The Director moreover

(a) is to report directly to the Chairman of the Board governing the School

and shall collaborate with all senior administrative officers of the University;

(b) shall normally be a Resident Academic engaged with the University on

a full-time basis for the duration of his tenure as Director;

(c) should not be engaged in any other activity outside the University which

may be in conflict with, or distract him/her from, his/her duties at the University;

(d) is expected to be present on campus or any designated University of

Malta site at least during normal office hours from Monday to Friday throughout the

year subject to the exigencies of an academic in accordance with the University’s

practices and needs and subject to normal leave entitlement and public holidays as

provided for at law; should his absence be necessary and justified he must ensure that

he is immediately contactable through the secretarial staff of the School;

(e) shall not give access to any information to any third party that is not

associated with the University of Malta, about any work or data that relates to tasks

conducted at the University of Malta without the prior approval of the University of

Malta; all work carried out within the School must be treated according to Maltese

data protection legislation; and

(f) is to abide with the statutes, regulations and policies of the University of

Malta, which are in force now or will become effective in the duration of his tenure.

The Treasurer

The Director of Finance of the University shall be the Treasurer of the School.

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