Origin
Senate delegates responsibility for defining, managing and monitoring programme quality assurance processes to its Education and Student Experience Committee. The Postgraduate Research Quality Monitoring and Enhancement Subcommittee makes recommendations for defining, managing and monitoring programme quality assurance processes for postgraduate research degrees to the Doctoral College Committee for consideration. The Doctoral College Committee makes recommendations to the Academic Quality and Standards Subcommittee which oversees on behalf of the Education and Student Experience Committee the quality monitoring and enhancement framework and its implementation, and the University Regulations.
Purpose
- The Postgraduate Research Quality Monitoring and Enhancement Subcommittee is responsible for making recommendations for defining, managing and monitoring programme quality assurance processes for postgraduate research degrees.
- The Chair is responsible for ensuring that any equality impacts against each project/policy/process/procedure have been considered as part of the decision-making process.
Responsibilities and activity
- To receive and scrutinise reports on postgraduate research programmes in respect of:
- Development of new programmes;
- Programme approval and review;
- Annual reporting;
- Periodic review, including Faculty responses, and
- Discontinuation of programmes
- and to bring forward recommendations for consideration and endorsement by the Doctoral College Committee and then consideration and approval by the Academic Quality and Standards Committee.
- To consider and to recommend to the Doctoral College Committee for submission to the Academic Quality and Standards Subcommittee for approval, policies and procedures including guidance and templates for assuring the quality and standards of postgraduate research programmes.
- To receive annual assurance reports on doctoral research provision across the University and to make recommendations for consideration by the Doctoral College Committee for enhancing quality and standards.
- To advise on the framework to support the setting up and development of Doctoral Training Partnerships, Centres for Doctoral Training, and other funded doctoral training initiatives.
Reporting arrangements
- The Postgraduate Research Quality Monitoring and Enhancement Subcommittee reports to the Doctoral College Committee. It also reports to the Academic Quality and Standards Subcommittee.
- The Faculty Graduate School Subcommittees report to the Doctoral College Committee and Postgraduate Research Quality Monitoring and Enhancement Subcommittee.
- Between ordinary meetings of the Postgraduate Research Quality Monitoring and Enhancement Subcommittee, the Chair shall have power to act on behalf of the Subcommittee on any matter requiring an immediate or early decision. Any decisions taken by the Chair under these delegated powers shall be reported to the next meeting of the Subcommittee. Matters requiring an immediate or early decision include such items as:
- variation to regulatory matters affecting student progression and assessment;
- matters where delaying a decision would disadvantage the University or put it at risk;
- in an emergency, or unforeseen circumstances, provided that such action is taken only in exceptional circumstances and, where practicable, in consultation with selected Subcommittee members with expertise relevant to the issue.
Constitution
The Terms of Reference and Constitution are reviewed annually to ensure that the composition of the Subcommittee reflects those Faculties and Professional Services that have responsibilities for postgraduate research programmes.
- Chair (nominated by the Chair of Doctoral College Committee)
- Director of the Doctoral College
- The Faculty Directors of the Graduate Schools or nominee
- Directors of Doctoral Focal and Landscape awards representative
- Associate Director (Doctoral College) or nominee
- Doctoral College Team Leader representative
- Quality, Standards and Accreditation Adviser
- SUSU Vice-President Education
In attendance: ther relevant officers from Professional Services and colleagues from Faculties and other University campuses may be in attendance as appropriate to the business, e.g.:
- Postgraduate Research Co-ordinator, University of Southampton Malaysia (UoSM)
- Directors of Doctoral Focal and Landscape awards additional representatives
- Elected SUSU PGR Faculty Officer (or Nominee)
Quorum and frequency
Quorum
The Postgraduate Quality Monitoring & Enhancement Subcommittee will be quorate with one third of membership plus one in attendance.
Frequency of meetings
The Postgraduate Quality Monitoring & Enhancement Subcommittee will meet at least five times per year.
Resources
Secretariat support will be provided by the Quality, Standards and Accreditation Team.
Terms of Reference review
Date of last review:....... November 2025
Date of next review:...... November 2026
Governance reporting line
The Postgraduate Research Quality Monitoring & Enhancement Subcommittee reports to the Doctoral College Committee regarding the postgraduate research student experience, and reports to the Academic Quality & Standards Subcommittee regarding the quality monitoring and enhancement framework.
Document owner
Doctoral College Committee .