Higher degree by research (HDR) students
Diligence, flexibility, respect, rigour and compassion are integral to the higher degree journey. When managing COVID-19, these attributes are empowering for higher degree students and supervisors. Flinders University is working with national bodies to ensure that responsive and responsible management of higher degrees occurs during this time.
Every student at Flinders University is unique. Our students live around the world, deploy diverse methodologies, and occupy distinct disciplines. Therefore, offering a single strategy for the continuation and completion of a higher degree is not possible. Flinders University is well placed for the maintenance of a candidature through the Inspire application and the digital doctoral project. From the online induction through to digitised examination, each milestone can be managed through Inspire and performed in an online environment.
Current information
The University provides staff and students with the latest information about its management of the COVID-19 outbreak, with attention to national policy and recommendations. Please regularly review the Coronavirus (COVID-19) information website. This information is available in addition to the emails from the University leadership, incorporating the correspondence from the Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students) and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research).
Milestones
All milestones remain available to complete online in Inspire. Further, the Office of Graduate Research is running digital doctorate milestone days. On a monthly basis, presentations via Collaborate are available for students and supervisors. Any Flinders University HDR student is able to book in a timeslot for their HDR Milestone Presentation via the REST FLO site. Prior to booking, please confirm the date and time with your supervisory panel and ensure that an assessor is able to attend in person or online (please check College milestone guidelines for further information). OGR is available to help guide you through this process.
During difficult times for a candidature, whatever mode or type of concern may emerge, it is important to log those challenges as early as possible, so that solutions, alternatives and resolutions can be offered by supervisors and higher degree coordinators.
Services and support
Flinders is committed to maintaining, as far as possible, normal research activities. We realise that some activities may not be able to be undertaken due to the restrictions imposed by the response to COVID-19. If you have concerns regarding research ethics and compliance and/or access to labs, please seek advice from your supervisor.
They have been provided with information from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) about these matters. For the labs that remain open, social distancing protocols are in place.
Supervisors and colleges ensure that higher degree students have access to the materials, interfaces and equipment required to complete their research. The mobility of this equipment must be managed. The serial numbers of computers and other hardware owned by the University and being used by students, particularly outside of the campuses, must be recorded and logged by the higher degree supervisor.
Each college maintains distinct processes for the management of student equipment, particularly if it is removed from the campuses of Flinders University. Please confirm the precise protocols for equipment mobility with the Higher Degree Coordinator in your college.
For those students without digital connectivity in their home, computers and the internet are available in HDR Central 24/7 or at Level 0 of the Central Library.
Locate computer and internet availability.
The Flinders Connect space has been organised to respect social distancing and act as a service point during the University’s working from home period.
Higher degree students, like all university students, are not required to fill in forms regarding working from home.
We recommend that students follow the guidelines from Safe Work Australia to improve sedentary behaviour.
Training for supervisors and students remains available and bookable via Inspire and offered via Collaborate, Microsoft Teams or WebEx. These sessions are logged in Inspire as completed activities and can be presented in milestones.
Flinders University recognises the importance of international students remaining enrolled in their degree, noting the requirements of ESOS compliance. The Office of Graduate Research and Flinders International remain in contact to ensure that visa compliance is in place. We note the recommendations from the Australian Council of Graduate Research and we await further information from the Australian Government.
International Student Services are available.
Contact them on iss@flinders.edu.au
Health, counselling and disability services remain available at Flinders University. View the diversity of their services and contact information.
Social media platforms offer opportunities for creating and maintaining personal and professional relationships. The Office of Graduate Research constructs a weekly vlog on our YouTube channel.
Also, an international community of doctoral educators, including Flinders University, is curating the hashtag ‘virtual not viral’ (#virtualnotviral).
Other activities such as Facebook Live conversations and online reading groups are also available. The priority is to ensure that students and supervisors remain connected, even through social distancing measures.
To see an example of how this worked for the OGR and students around the world, take a look at the Office of Graduate Research online Q&A session for HDR students entitled 'Coffee with Tara'. These were held in the week 23-27 March 2020. This Facebook Live session is still available for you to view at Tara’s Facebook page. These sessions enabled the HDR community to address the social isolation of students and enable support structures.
Contact the Office of Graduate Research
Flinders University is committed to supporting you to achieve success through your studies. Although the University has moved a majority of its functions online for the time being, we are still here to offer you academic, wellbeing and financial support. As the safety of our students and staff is our number one priority, some of the ways in which we deliver these services to you has temporarily changed. These changes have been made to ensure we continue to meet health and government guidelines around gatherings and social distancing. Please refer to the Flinders Support Network for a range of support services.
General enquiries
Office of Graduate Research appointments
The OGR remains open and eager to assist any students in this difficult time. All OGR team members are available to see students, while recognising social distancing protocols.
Appointments and meetings can be held online (Microsoft Teams or Skype), over the phone, or in person. Individual appointments with OGR staff members can be booked online through the OGR Appointments Scheduler in the REST FLO site.
To book an appointment with the Dean of Graduate Research please contact the Office of Graduate Research at: gradresearch@flinders.edu.au
Sturt Rd, Bedford Park
South Australia 5042
Follow Flinders
CRICOS Provider: 00114A
