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    Preparing to be an Examiner or Convener
    Provider   Organisational and Staff Development Unit

    The PhD viva is a core part of the examination of PhD students and yet there is very little written about, and training given, in how to effectively examine PhD students. For many examiners the only training will have been their own viva and learning from peers on the job.

Duration 1 half day

Course Type Live Stream

Booking Status Waiting List

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Target Audience: All Academic Staff

This workshop aims to support academics in becoming more effective examiners by exploring issues such as:

  • The University of Strathclyde processes and expectations for viva examination.
  • What is regarded as best practice in terms of conducting a PhD viva.
  • How to effectively structure the viva to ensure that the process is rigorous and fair.
  • How to deal with difficult situations within the viva including challenging candidates, difficult examiners, and difficult outcomes.

The workshop will be facilitated so that participants have an opportunity to discuss their own approaches and experiences of the viva process, share best practice, and discuss the issues that they find more difficult within the viva process. The workshop will be led by an experienced facilitator who has previously worked as an academic and has examined a number of PhDs.

What previous participants have said about this course:

  • "It was excellent in all respects. The presenter was excellent and very knowledgeable. It was also very useful to hear about colleagues' experiences."
  • "Lots of practical advice on how to handle difficult situations."
  • "Very useful and helpful for understanding the expectations of examining a viva and your duties and responsibilities as an examiner.  Great for learning about aspects of the viva that you might not have considered."

By the end of this workshop you should understand:

  • The University of Strathclyde processes and expectations for viva examination.
  • What is regarded as best practice in terms of conducting a PhD viva.
  • How to effectively structure the viva to ensure that the process is rigorous and fair.
  • How to deal with difficult situations within the viva including challenging candidates, difficult examiners, and difficult outcomes.


Delivered By: Robin Henderson

Prerequisites

None

Cancellation Policy

When applying for a course, you should note that there will be a £50* to your department if you cancel within 5** working days or you do not attend, and a £25 charge for cancellations/ non-attendance between 6 and 10 working days. There will be no charge for cancellation made 10 or more working days before the event. Notifications should be made to OSDU@strath.ac.uk

A department is welcome to send someone else in your place if they wish without incurring a charge, providing that person has the necessary pre-requisites for the course. In the case of courses split over more than one day, you must attend ALL parts of the course. If you fail to attend any part you will be charged as outlined above.

*This is the standard charge for cancellation or non-attendance of course of 1 days duration or less. For some courses there may be a higher cancellation charge and if this is the case you will be advised of this at the time of booking.

**Any bookings made within 10 days of the event will incur the charges as specified.