Postgraduate Supervision and Submission of Research Outputs - OPBD Procedure

To provide operational procedures that post-graduate programmes that require research outputs at the Otago Polytechnic Business Division of Te Pūkenga.

Public Records Act 2005, and all subsequent amendments

Official Information Act 1982, and all subsequent amendments.

Copyright Act 1994, and all subsequent amendments.

NZQA Degrees and related qualifications: Guidelines for programme approval and accreditation to provide programmes

Supervision / Mentoring

1. Postgraduate ākonga will be provided with:
2. A primary supervisor/academic mentor from the College offering the programme of study, at the commencement of their research.
3. Where appropriate, a secondary supervisor/professional mentor.
4. Supervisors/academic mentors shall be appointed by the Head of College after a process of negotiation with the Programme Head/or equivalent, ākonga, and supervisor(s).
5. Supervisors/academic mentors are responsible for overseeing ākonga progress in the research from the time of their appointment until ākonga submits their research output.

Submission

4. Ākonga will notify their supervisor and Programme Head/or equivalent of their intention to submit their research output.
5. Upon receipt of the notification to submit the Programme Head/or equivalent will appoint the examination panel and schedule the process.
6. Research outputs are to be submitted in accordance with associated guidelines and to specifications in the relevant programme of study document.
7. Research outputs shall be submitted accompanied by a declaration signed by ākonga relating to:
8. Authorship
9. Dissemination
10. Reproduction

Final assessment

7. Final assessments are to be conducted in accordance with specifications in the relevant programme of study document, Te Pūkenga policies including TKM, Rangahau and Research, Section 5.3, Assessment and Moderation - OPBD Procedure and Academic Integrity – OPBD Procedure to ensure academic and research integrity.
8. Grading of assessment will follow the specifications as outlined in the OPDB programme of study document, or Te Pūkenga unified programme of study document and in Grade Tables, Merit, Distinction and Honours – OPBD Procedure and TKM, Part 6.16 Grading and 6.17 Assessment Grading and Merit, Distinction and Honours, Section 7.5.
9. The examination panel will assess the research output in accordance with the criteria specified in the programme of study document to ensure the output provides evidence of ākonga ability to carry out independent research and produce an original contribution to practice.
10. The research should be at a level which a diligent and competent ākonga might reasonably be expected to complete within the period of full-time or part-time study as set out in the programme of study document.
11. Resubmission of a thesis is not permitted except on the recommendation of the examination panel.
12. Where a research output has been rejected ākonga is not precluded from being a candidate on a future occasion for the degree in which they have previously failed.

Dissemination

13. It is expected that ākonga upon successful completion and final assessment of their research output (thesis or dissertation) will deposit a digital copy in the Otago Polytechnic Repository (OPRES) and may also deposit a bound hardcopy in the Robertson Library.
14. Ākonga may request redaction [1] of part of their research output, embargo for a period of one to three years, or exemption from the dissemination requirement.

14.1 Requests will be considered by a subcommittee of three members of the Research and Postgraduate Committee nominated by the Committee Chair, who do not have a conflict of interest.

14.2 The subcommittee will consider the content of the research output and any comments on ākonga requests from the primary supervisor/academic mentor and from the Programme Head/or equivalent.

14.3 Requests may be granted only in exceptional circumstances on grounds of commercial sensitivity, sensitive content, publications pending, or other reason/s consistent with the Official Information Act or the Privacy Act.

15. Restriction of both digital and hardcopy public access will be permitted only for exceptional reasons and requires the permission of the Supervisor and Programme Head/or equivalent.
16. Research outputs may be withdrawn from the archive if the Deputy Chief Executive: Academic Delivery/or equivalent considers it necessary due to one of the following conditions:
17. Copyright violation or plagiarism.
18. Legal requirements or legal violations.
19. National security.
20. Falsified research.
21. Unethical research.

 [1] Redaction means that the text has been edited for publication. This could be the censoring or obscuring of part of a text for legal or security purposes or when it contains sensitive material, or a version of the text, such as a new edition or an abridged version.

Postgraduate Supervision and Submission - Guidelines V2.   (Downloadable)

Postgraduate Supervision and Submission - Permission Form. (Downloadable)

Te Pūkenga Policies

• Te Pūkenga Kaupapa-here | Ākonga Appeals Policy
• Te Pūkenga Kaupapa-here | Ākonga Concerns and Complaints Policy

Otago Polytechnic Policies and Procedures

• Academic Integrity - OPBD Procedure
• Assessment and Moderation - OPBD Procedure
• Intellectual Property Policy
• Intellectual Property – Mātauranga Māori Policy
• Ākonga/Learner Discipline - OPBD Procedure
• Monitoring of Degree and Postgraduate Qualifications -OPBD Procedure
• Delivery of Programmes by External Contracts – OPBD Procedure
• Recognition of Prior Learning / Recognition of Prior Knowledge and Skills – OPBD Procedure
• Work Placements and OSH for Learners in the Workplace Policy