HDR Academic Structure

The ANU HDR Academic Structure includes the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Graduate Research) (PVC-GR), Associate Dean HDR (ADHDR) for the College, and Associate Director HDR (Delegated Authority (DA)) and HDR Convener for each Research School.

Each School has administration support for the students, supervisors and the DA.

The College has administration and governance support for staff from the HDR Governance Officer, and support for students from the Student Services Team. 

HDR Academic Roles

Supervisor Responsibilities

Supervisors are responsible for guiding and encouraging a candidate to develop a thesis to a standard consistent with the Australian Qualifications Framework and in accordance with the Research Awards Rule. Supervisors are the primary sources of support and expert guidance for HDR candidates.

Supervisors will be expected to understand and comply with all relevant University delegations, ordinances, policies, procedures, and codes of conduct to research, research supervision and candidature management.

There are a number of different Supervisor Role types:

• Chair of Panel – responsible for oversight of all aspects of the candidate’s program and ensuring that the conduct of the candidate and conduct of supervision is aligned with the Universities Research Awards Rule and HDR Policy Framework.
• Primary Supervisor – role is to provide academic oversight of the major research aspects of the candidate’s program. To monitor the quality of work, identify relevant skills training requirements, ethics approval requirements and assist the candidate to achieve these. To support the candidate to complete their research in a timely manner.
• Associate Supervisor – to provide additional advice and expertise for a candidate with regards to their research.

ANU academics who seek to supervise HDR candidates in any of the roles above must have completed the ANU HDR Supervisor Training and Registration annually. For more information, please see the HDR Supervision Development Framework website.

HDR Academic Leadership

As identified in the Academic Organisation Chart above there are a number of HDR academic leadership roles within the College who hold delegation to perform a number of activities across the HDR portfolio within the College or Research School.

These roles include:

• Associate Dean HDR – this is a college position. For further information regarding the role and responsibilities please visit the Associate Dean HDR guideline
• Associate Director HDR – this is a research school position. For further information regarding the role and responsibilities please visit the HDR Convener guideline.

NB: In the College of Science and Medicine the title “Associate Director HDR” is the same as “ANU HDR Convener” role, as well as “Delegated Authority” or “Delegated Authority (Research)”.

• HDR Convener – this is a research school position and supports the Associate Director HDR role. This position is not usually the Delegated Authority, however, does hold the same delegations, so can approve documentation in the event of the Associate Director HDR absence or Conflict of Interest.

NB: For research schools that do not have a HDR Convenor role the Delegated Authority in the event of Associate Director absence or Conflict of Interest would usually be the School Director.

The ANU College of Science and Medicine has developed a HDR Academic Roles Handbook to provide guidance to HDR Conveners, Delegated Authorities (Research) and Associate Directors (HDR). The manual is based on current University rules and policies as well as those within the College. The manual provides information about the management of, and support for, HDR students both from an academic and administrative perspective, as well as more specific information on the role of the HDR convener, Delegated Authority and Associate Director (HDR).

Support for academics and candidates!

One of the most important aspects of a successful HDR candidature is a productive supervision relationship. Establishing open and productive communication early in the candidature and regularly reviewing mutual expectations can help avoid a breakdown of the supervisory relationship.

The You and Your Supervisor website provides details for candidates to seek support should things go wrong. 

HDR Policies and Procedures

University HDR relevant policies and procedures including the Research Awards Rule can be located here.