| Description | Minutes of the committee which replaced the Research Postgraduate Committee (see UB/COM/104) and Taught Postgraduate Committee (UB/COM/105) as a combined committee. There were joint meetings of the Research Postgraduate Committee and Taught Postgraduate Committee in the 2001-2002 academic session in preparation for a full merger of the two committees
The merged committee had the same functions as the separate committees it replaced. Its terms of reference were to assist the Academic Board in carrying out its responsibilities for the assurance and enhancement of academic quality and standards and for policy development and implementation, specifically in relation to the University's postgraduate programmes. In particular, it was responsible for advising the Academic Board on the University's postgraduate provision; to initiate proposals for consideration by the Board and to consider any matters referred to the Committee by the Board; to scrutinise proposals for the introduction of new programmes of study prior to approval by the Academic Board; to approve new modules and amendments to existing modules; to receive periodic reports on student applications and admissions and to advise the Academic Board on issues arising; to approve withdrawal of programmes and modules; to advise the Academic Board on activities of initiative undertaken under the aegis of the University's Graduate School; and to periodically receive reports from the Postgraduate Progress Board and to consider the issues arising from the reports
Membership consisted of the chair, appointed by the Academic Board; nine further members appointed by the Academic Board; three Heads of Academic Programmes (one per Deanery, nominated by the Heads of Academic Programmes in the Deanery); co-opted members; and two student members, nominated by the Guild of Students.
Minutes typically contain information about Postgraduate Committee Progress Board arrangements, discuss regulations for taught postgraduate programmes and the submission of assessed work; discuss supervision arrangements and progress reviews for research postgraduates; and consider arrangements for chairing Vivas. The Committee also received information about Graduate School activities and discussed research postgraduate regulations, and the minutes regularly include figures for the number of current postgraduates, divided by School or Department, and for the number of students who had withdrawn from courses.
Minutes of the meeting held on 5 November 2001 include a copy of the British Academy Review of Graduate Studies in the Humanities and Social Sciences September 2001. Minutes of the meeting held on 7 February 2002 include a copy of a Student Guide to the Examination of Research Degree Theses. Minutes of the meeting held on 29 April 2002 include a draft copy of a 'Good Practice Guide: Supervision and Monitoring Progress of Research Students', and later drafts of this document are included with minutes of meetings held in late 2002 and early 2003
Minutes of the meeting held on 4 November 2002 include a draft of Assessment Protocols for Taught Postgraduate Modules and Programmes and Guidance for Schools on Plagiarism
Minutes of the meeting held on 6 May 2003 include copies of Codes of Practice for Supervision and Monitoring Progress of Research Students, and Assessment of Research Degree Theses, and there are additional papers relating to the Codes of Practice in the context of discussion about improving standards in postgraduate research degree programmes with minute of the meeting held on 11 June 2003
Minutes of the meeting held on 5 May 2004 include a copy of the report of the Working Group on Postgraduate Research Degrees with taught elements. Minutes of the meeting held on 28 October 2004 include a copy of the Quality Assurance Agency Code of practice for the assurance of academic quality and standards in higher education Section 1: Postgraduate research programmes, September 2004
Minutes of the meeting held on 3 February 2005 contain discussion about Assessment Strategies and Marking Practices, following the report of a Working Group, as well as papers relating to the migitation process, and to Performance Indicators and Reasonable Diligence. There are further papers relating to the Examination Board Review, Mitigation Review, Postgraduate Student Representation, and Electronic theses at the University of Birmingham included with supporting papers for the meeting to be held on 4 May 2005 but no further minutes of the committee have been transferred to the University Archives |