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L.S. 327.574 Istatut tal-Iskola tad-Dottorat

STATUTE FOR THE DOCTORAL SCHOOL [ S.L.327.574 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. 1. This statute may be cited as the Statute for the Doctoral School. Citation. 2. This statute shall be applicable from 1st October 2017 onwards. Applicability. 3. In this Statute, unless the context otherwise requires: Interpretation. “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. 4. The Doctoral School is hereby established as an institution within the University of Malta. Establishment. 5. 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. Scope and Functions. 6. The School shall have the following functions: (

  1. a)to organise those aspects of doctoral studies that fall within its scope of responsibilities; (b to oversee the quality of doctoral programmes; (
  2. c)to submit proposals to Senate concerning regulations and guidelines for the organisational aspects of doctoral studies; (
  3. d)to provide technical and administrative support to FICSs that are fully or partially responsible of management of research-based doctoral programmes; (
  4. e)to plan cross-disciplinary training courses in order to enhance the professional career development of doctoral researchers; (
  5. 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; (
  6. h)to enhance the visibility of doctoral research and promote widespread dissemination of doctoral research; (
  7. i)to submit to Senate proposals concerning approval of regulations governing extraordinary doctoral programmes and awards, including cotutelle agreements; and 1 2 [ S.L.327.574 STATUTE FOR THE DOCTORAL SCHOOL (
  8. j)Governance. Substituted by: L.N. 197 of 2023. to participate in fora related to doctoral education internationally. 7. The School shall be governed by a Board that shall consist of the following: (
  9. i)Chair: Rector; (
  10. ii)Vice-Chair: Director of the School; (iii) Pro-Rector responsible for academic affairs; (
  11. iv)Pro-Rector responsible for research and knowledge transfer; (
  12. v)Deputy Director of the School; (
  13. 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. 8. 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. 9. The function of the Board shall be: (
  14. 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; (
  15. b)to formulate the strategic plan of the School, and design and implement quality assurance systems for doctoral studies; (
  16. c)to ensure that doctoral researchers adhere to the principles and code of conduct related to professionalism and research integrity embraced by the University; (
  17. 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 (
  18. e)to monitor and assess the effectiveness of the academic and administrative aspects of doctoral studies. [ S.L.327.574 3 STATUTE FOR THE DOCTORAL SCHOOL 10.

(1)The School shall fulfil its functions through committees Doctoral Academic Committee and appointed by Senate on the advice of the Board.
(2)(
  1. a)The Doctoral Academic Committee shall consist of the following: (
  2. i)Chair: Pro-Rector responsible for academic affairs; (
  3. ii)Vice-Chair: Director of the School; (iii) Pro-Rector responsible for research and knowledge transfer; (
  4. iv)three members from the academic staff appointed by Senate; (
  5. v)Deputy Director of the School; (
  6. 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)(
  1. b)The functions of the Doctoral Academic Committee shall include: (
  2. 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; (
  3. 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 (
  4. iv)to manage other academic matters related to the delivery of doctoral studies that are not assigned to other offices.
(3)(
  1. a)The Professional Development Committee shall consist of the following: (
  2. i)Chair: Pro-Rector responsible for research and knowledge transfer; (
  3. ii)Vice-Chair: Director of the School; (iii) Pro-Rector responsible for academic affairs; (
  4. iv)Deputy Director of the School; (
  5. v)Academic Registrar, who shall also act as secretary; (
  6. vi)Director responsible for research support services; (vii) Director responsible for corporate research and knowledge transfer; (viii) two academic members appointed by Senate; (
  7. ix)a specialist in continuous professional development appointed by Senate; (
  8. x)up to two representatives of students registered on doctoral degree programmes.
(3)(
  1. b)The functions of the Professional Development Professional Development Committee. Amended by: L.N. 351 of 2022; L.N. 197 of 2023. 4 [ S.L.327.574 STATUTE FOR THE DOCTORAL SCHOOL Committee shall be: (
  2. i)to organise training for the development of crossdisciplinary research skills for doctoral research and other skills that enhance the professional career development of doctoral graduates; (
  3. ii)to organise training for the supervision of doctoral research; (iii) to evaluate the quality of teaching in crossdisciplinary training activities; (
  4. iv)to encourage and facilitate participation of those involved in doctoral research in RDI with appropriate public and private organisations; (
  5. v)Substituted by: L.N. 197 of 2023. Network of Doctoral Committee chairs and administrative staff. Appointment of Director and Staff. Substituted by: L.N. 197 of 2023. to take into account the University’s policies on doctoral grants and scholarships and suggest strategies for improving efficiency; and (
  6. vi)to manage other professional development matters related to the delivery of doctoral studies that are not assigned to other offices. 11. 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. 12. 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. 13. The School shall have a Director and Staff as follows: (
  7. 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; (
  8. 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 (
  9. 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. Duties of the Director. 14. The duties of the Director shall include: (
  10. 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; (
  11. b)administering the School in consultation with the STATUTE FOR THE DOCTORAL SCHOOL [ S.L.327.574 5 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; (
  12. 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; (
  13. d)encouraging and facilitating co-operation with other universities and other institutions; (
  14. e)chairing meetings of the Board in the absence and with the permission of the Chairman; (
  15. f)ensuring and facilitating the further development and training of academic and non-academic staff; (
  16. g)participating at any meeting of the University congruent with the post; (
  17. h)representing the School during official functions of the University; (
  18. 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; (
  19. 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; (
  20. k)monitoring the performance of the non-academic staff attached to the School; (
  21. l)authorising the School’s procurement of equipment; ensuring that the resources assigned to the School are utilized fully and efficiently; and (
  22. m)performing other duties which may be assigned by the University from time to time. 15. The Director moreover: (
  23. 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; (
  24. b)shall normally be a Resident Academic engaged with the University on a full-time basis for the duration of his tenure as Director; (
  25. 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; (
  26. d)is expected to be present on campus or any designated University of Malta site at least during normal office hours Amended by: L.N. 197 of 2023. 6 [ S.L.327.574 STATUTE FOR THE DOCTORAL SCHOOL 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; (
  27. 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 (
  28. 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. Duties of the Deputy Director Added by: L.N. 197 of 2023. 16. 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 Treasurer. Renumbered by: L.N. 197 of 2023. 17. The Director of Finance of the University shall be the Treasurer of the School.

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AI explanation based on the official legal text. Indicative, not a substitute for legal advice.