S.L. 327.665 Art. 4Appointment and Duties of the Principal Supervisor and of the Second Supervisor

(1) Doctoral Candidates shall be provided with one

Principal Supervisor and one Second Supervisor for the research stages of the doctoral programme.

(2) The Principal Supervisor shall be an MCAST Senior

Academic or visiting part-time senior academic. This supervisor must be significantly knowledgeable on both the theme of chosen research and on the research methodology pertinent to the particular DRes.

(3) Principal Supervisors may take on no more than a maximum of four (4) candidates at any one time, and shall dedicate (per student) an average of one and a half (1.5) contact hours per week for thirty-six (36) weeks of each academic year, excluding the academic year relating to the student’s acquisition of the Post-Graduate Certificate in Research Methods that normally takes place in the foundation year of the programme.

(4) The duties of the Principal Supervisor shall include, but not necessarily limited to, the following actions:

(a) Holding regular meetings and discussions with the Candidate and the Second Supervisor, within the remit of the available contact hours that the Supervisor has at his or her disposal.

Provide general academic guidance to the Candidate as deemed necessary.

(b) Regularly read the academic materials created by the Candidate and provide formal feedback and direction on how to possibly enhance these written materials.

(c) Maintain records of interactions with Candidate and of the ongoing performance of the Candidate.

(d) Provide an annual review and associated report on the general progress of the Candidate.

(e) Provide a final evaluation report on the Candidate’s dissertation prior to the viva, for the benefit of the Examiner Panel.

(5) The DDB shall be tasked with replacing a Principal Supervisor who has opted to leave his/her position within MCAST, with an appropriate alternative within six (6) weeks of initial notice. If a candidate alternatively requests for a change in Principal Supervisor, this will be decided upon by the DDB and if due justification of the reason is provided, conceded to within three

(3) months of initial notice. Candidates are advised to refrain from a request to change Principal Supervisor unless completely necessary, in view of the possible set back that this will have on the timing of the doctoral journey.

(6) The DDB shall select a Second Supervisor who is also an MCAST senior academic or visiting part-time senior academic or in senior administrative management. This second supervisor must be significantly knowledgeable in either the theme of the chosen research, or in the chosen research methodology, or possibly both.

(7) Second Supervisors may take on no more than a maximum of six (6) candidates at any one time, and shall dedicate (per student) an average of half and hour (0.5) contact hours per week for thirty six (36) weeks of each academic year, excluding the academic year relating to the student’s acquisition of the Post-Graduate Certificate in Research Methods that normally takes place in the foundation year of the programme.

(8) The duties of the Second Supervisor shall include, but not necessarily limited to, the following actions:

(a) Assist the Principal Supervisor in guiding the Doctoral Candidate.

(b) Determine, in consultation with the Principal Supervisor, how the Second Supervisor can be involved in the regular scheduled meetings between the Principal Supervisor and the Candidate.

(c) Provide concise feedback and opinions on the academic materials presented by the Candidate at the various programme stages, particularly the dissertation writing stage.

(9) The DDB shall be tasked with replacing a Second Supervisor who has opted to leave his/her position within MCAST, with an appropriate alternative within eight (8) weeks of initial notice. The Doctoral Candidate cannot request for a change in Second Supervisor.