The Institute strongly encourages collaboration with outside organization, including universities where appropriate, although it does not insist upon it where genuine and effective collaboration cannot be arranged. In such cases reasons must be given by the sponsoring establishment. Underlying the institute’s policy on collaboration, which in no way implies criticism of a sponsoring establishment or it’s facilities, is its desire to encourage a breath of view in its research degree candidates and to this end, where suitable arrangements can be made, it is expected that one of the candidate’s supervisors will be from the collaborating establishment; if the personnel in the establishment are not qualified to act as supervisors, but have some appropriate technical expertise, it is expected that one of the candidate’s supervisors will be from the collaborating establishment; if the personnel in that establishment are not qualified to act as supervisors, but have some appropriate technical expertise, it is often considered useful to appoint as advisers to the programme. Even if no tradition of collaboration exists in either the subject or the institution. Efforts should be made to seek possibilities of suitable collaboration between establishments.

 

The objectives of collaboration for a research programme are to encourage outward looking socially relevant research and to extend the student’s own experience and contacts as well as the range of expertise available to the student. Based on the concept of intellectual reciprocity, the student and both sponsoring and collaborating establishments should gain by the arrangements. In certain newly developing areas of research, contact with outside bodies can be especially important because it can help to reduce the isolation of research candidates in colleges and establishments where there are few other workers directly concerned with the field of work. The development of the research programme itself can also be considerably aided by collaboration arrangements. Whether the sponsoring establishment is an academic institution or otherwise, opportunities should be sought through collaboration arrangement to provide these benefits for the advantage of the student. A letter from the collaborating establishment confirming the agreed arrangements should be submitted with the application. In instance where a university is involved, the Institute will accept collaboration with the university, provided the letter submitted confirming the agreed arrangement is signed by one of the following as appropriate:

(a)        the Head of Department concerned

(b)        the Registrar

(c)        the Secretary or

(d)        the Vice-Chancellor of the University.

 

Candidates employed by universities are eligible to apply for registration for a research degree provided that they are sponsored by an establishment other than university and that the supervision is based substantially outside the university.

 

The sponsoring establishment is normally expected to be the organization where the major part of the candidate’s work is to be undertaken. The Institute expects the sponsoring establishment to exercise due care for the safety of and proper control over the personnel working on its premises and on any fieldwork sites associated with the research programme and to have in operation a code of safe practice complying with statutory regulations. Where as part of the approved arrangements the candidate undertakes sections of the research programme in other establishments, the Institute expects the sponsoring establishment to satisfy itself that the other establishments concerned exercise due care for the safety of the proper control over the personnel working on their premises, and that such other establishments have in operation a code of safe practice complying with statutory regulations.

 

Candidates holding Master of Arts of Master of Science degrees, which have been awarded without a requirement to complete successfully, a course of postgraduate study or research, are not eligible to apply under this Regulation. Such candidates must first complete the MBA of this Institute in the same as their proposed Ph.D. area.

 

 
PROGRAMME OF RESEARCH & RELATED STUDIES

The application presented by the research student should provide sufficient information to enable the Institute to assess the suitability of the proposed programme of the work as training in research methods. The Board considering the application must be convinced that the proposed plan of work as defined will lead to work of the standard expected for the award of Ph.D. and should be clear how it is envisaged that the work will develop to provide a discussion of new facts and the exercise of independent critical powers appropriate to the award of a Doctorate.

 

The Institute recognizes that differences of approach may exist within and between the various subject areas and that the amount of detailed information, which can be given at the time of application, will therefore vary.

 

The Institute believes strongly in the value of the inclusion of programmes of taught postgraduate study in postgraduate training leading to the award of M.Phil and Ph.D. degrees. Such programmes cold include attendance in the sponsoring establishment or elsewhere at postgraduate lectures, study groups, workshops and other relevant short courses, for example, on research methodology, as well as participation in seminars, colloquia and conference, throughout the registration period. Candidates, who propose to undertake research in a subject outside the main area covered by their first degree, should be required to attend specific courses or parts of courses at first degree or higher degree to fill gaps on their background.