1. Annual Assessment of Progress 2017/18 Briefing for Research Students Research Student Registry Mar/Apr 2018

2. Summary What is the Annual Assessment of Progress Exercise?
Who takes part and how to prepare
Forms and other documentation required
The process - dates and deadlines
Outcomes
Important points
Questions

3. What is Annual Assessment of Progress?
Annual process by which schools formally assess the progress of each research student, providing a method for:
evaluating student progress towards the target award within the required timescales
evaluating student progress on the training programme/Programme of Related Studies
In addition:
It allows students to work with their supervisory team on:
A plan of work for the forthcoming year, including training
Application for permission to enter into the final year for students approaching their expected completion date.

4. AAP should be … Positive and supportive – for both student and staff
A monitoring exercise
Chance for re-evaluation and summary of student’s progress to date against timeframe for completion
Outlining/Planning the next phase of your project
Reflective – from student and supervisory team’s perspective of student’s experience
Summarising achievements and plans
Opportunity for whole team to meet with the student
Opportunity for the student to meet with the RDT
Interventional – to set remedial action and deadlines to get students back on track
Diagnosing potential problems affecting progress, identifying additional training needs, resource issues etc
Feedback on your experience

5. Do all students take part?
All students undertake AAP before the July Progression Board except:
Students who submit their thesis before the 2nd July Progression Board (Students who haven’t submitted by this date will be expected to undertake the assessment unless they eventually submit before the Board).
Students who are under examination, including resubmission (NO formal AAP meetings but all students will be required to submit a summary list of formal supervisory meetings they have had during the academic year)
Students who start their research degree on 1st April/1st July 2018 will have a short meeting with their RDT over the summer instead. (Students will be required to submit a summary list of formal supervisory meetings they have had during the academic year)
Students who have formally interrupted their studies at the time of the July Progression board will be given an “Interruption” recommendation. The Board will make the decision on a case-by-case basis as to whether the student needs to complete the whole AAP exercise on their return to study or complete REPORT E: “Return to Study” on their return.

6. How do students prepare for AAP?
Update:
Progress File and certificates/other documents to evidence Induction, training, presentations etc
Collect:
Supervision records of meetings held since Jun 2017 (last year’s exercise)
Write:
REPORT A: End of Year Self-Assessment Report or
REPORT E: Return to Study following Interruption
See A-Z Document Library:

7. Documentation and Deadlines
Responsible
Documentation
Action
Deadline
Student
Update Progress File
Collate Supervisory records: all formal records of meetings held since June 2017
Complete AAP Report:
REPORT A: Self-Assessment Report or
REPORT E: Return to Study following Interruption of Study
STUDENT completes REPORT A (End-of-Year Self-Assessment Report),
STUDENT attaches their supervisory meeting records to the back of the document
STUDENT s the entire document to each member of their supervisory team.
2nd May 2018
Supervisory Team
REPORT B: Supervisory Team Report
STUDENT meets whole Supervisory team
SUPERVISORY TEAM reviews the AAP document and contributes to completion of REPORT B
DIRECTOR OF STUDIES forwards the document by to the RDT
25th May 2018
RDT
REPORT C: RDT Report or
REPORT D: RDT Report for students starting 1st April/1st July 2018
STUDENT meets with the RDT
RDT reviews the file, completes REPORT C and forwards it by to (copied to Head of School by exception only)
 (RDT meetings to be held by
15th June 2018)
22th June 2018
PROGRESSION BOARD TAKES PLACE 2ND JULY 2018

8. After the Progression Board
Responsible
Documentation
Action
Deadline
Student
If remedial work is required, this is carried out over July and August
STUDENT sends the remedial work to the supervisory team by the deadline so that it can be assessed and sent to the RDB by the deadline
28th August 2018
Supervisory Team
DIRECTOR OF STUDIES updates REPORT B (Reassessment section)
DIRECTOR OF STUDIES forwards the entire document by to the Research Student Registry and the RDT (copied to Head of School by exception only)
Research Degrees Tutor
RDT updates REPORT D (Reassessment section)
RDT confirms the recommendation and forwards the document to (copied to the Head of School by exception only)
3rd September 2018
REASSESSMENT BOARD TAKES PLACE 12th September 2018

9. What are the outcomes of AAP?
Research Degrees Board will agree one of the following recommendations:
Progress to next academic session;
Progress to next academic session to MPhil only;
Referred (indicating what remedial action must be taken and the deadline);
Interruption (only used for students who have formally interrupted their studies);
Fail.

10. Important points
You are responsible for meeting with your supervisory team and RDT. Make sure you arrange meetings in advance. If you don’t attend, you will be referred.
The Board will assess whether you are making satisfactory progress – have you met your key milestone deadlines, eg RPA, Transfer, expected completion date etc. If you are late in achieving any deadline you will be referred and will have one further deadline to complete the remedial work over the summer.
If extenuating circumstances are affecting your ability to make progress, make your supervisory team or RDT aware of these. You should be keeping your team up-to-date with your ability to study effectively. NB formal interruptions of study cannot be granted retrospectively.
Attendance at Compulsory Induction will be monitored by the Progression Board.
Annual presentation: not compulsory, but is strongly recommended for all students.

11. Important points continued
Report A: Many students fail to provide sufficient detail in their plans for the upcoming year. These don’t have to be pinpoint specific, but some verifiable measures should be mentioned (ie finish literature review chapter or get draft methodology chapter approved etc).
Referrals: standard deadline for submission of referral work. You will be informed in writing immediately after the Board of the work required and the deadline.
Entering the final year before next year’s AAP? Request permission via REPORT A. Must be supported by supervisory team and include a workplan.
NB this is NOT an Extension. Extensions are a separate process for exceptional circumstances only.

12. Summary of Changes & Enhancements for 2017/18
If you took part in last year’s exercise, please note the following changes and enhancements:
Progress File: not submitted with AAP forms. Maintenance of the file will be monitored by supervisory teams during the academic year. The file will be handed into the RSR at thesis submission.
Submission of documentation to the supervisory team: AAP form (REPORT A or REPORT E) plus supervisory records since last year’s exercise.
STARFISH: supervisors and RDTs can now see your timeline key dates on Starfish.

13. Any Questions?