STATUTE FOR THE DOCTORAL SCHOOL

STATUTE FOR THE DOCTORAL SCHOOL

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.574

STATUTE FOR THE DOCTORAL SCHOOL

17th October, 2017

LEGAL NOTICE 293 of 2017, as amended by Legal Notices 351 of

2022 and 197 of 2023.

This statute may be cited as the Statute for the Doctoral

School.

This statute shall be applicable from 1st October 2017

onwards.

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.

The Doctoral School is hereby established as an institution

within the University of Malta.

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

STATUTE FOR THE DOCTORAL SCHOOL

(j)

to participate in fora related to doctoral education

internationally.

The School shall be governed by a Board that shall consist

of the following

(i)

Chair: Rector;

(ii)

Vice-Chair: Director of the School;

(iii)

Pro-Rector responsible for academic affairs;

(iv)

Pro-Rector responsible for research and knowledge

transfer;

(v)

Deputy Director of the School;

(vi)

Academic Registrar, who shall also act as Secretary

to the Board;

(vii) 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;

(viii) 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

reappointment 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;

(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.

STATUTE FOR THE DOCTORAL SCHOOL

(1) The School shall fulfil its functions through committees Doctoral Academic

appointed by Senate on the advice of the Board.

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

following

(i)

Chair: Pro-Rector responsible for academic affairs;

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

(iii) Pro-Rector responsible for research and knowledge

transfer;

(iv) three members from the academic staff appointed by

Senate;

(v) Deputy Director of the School;

(vi) Academic Registrar, who shall also act as secretary;

(vii) 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)

Chair: Pro-Rector responsible for research and

knowledge transfer;

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

(iii) Pro-Rector responsible for academic affairs;

(iv) Deputy Director of the School;

(v) Academic Registrar, who shall also act as secretary;

(vi) Director responsible for research support services;

(vii)

Director responsible for corporate research and

knowledge transfer;

(viii) two academic members appointed by Senate;

(ix)

a specialist in continuous professional development

appointed by Senate;

(x) up to two representatives of students registered on

doctoral degree programmes.

(3)

(b) The functions of the Professional Development

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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 three years.

Senate may re-appoint members for a further three years, subject to

yearly approval.

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.

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 consecutive four-year terms;

(b) The Deputy Director of the School shall be appointed

by the Rector for a period of one year in consultation

with the Director; and

(c) 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.

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

STATUTE FOR THE DOCTORAL SCHOOL

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.

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

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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;

(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 Deputy Director, besides all functions that may be

delegated to him by the Director, shall perform the functions of the

Director whenever the Director is absent from Malta or on vacation, or

is for any reason unable to perform those functions. The Deputy

Director may also be required in writing by the Director to perform the

duties of the Director whenever the need arises.

The Director of Finance of the University shall be the

Treasurer of the School.