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Quality Handbook supplement 8C - Doctoral Community Forum: Terms of reference

Find the terms of reference for the Nottingham Trent University Doctoral Community Forum - outlining purpose, membership, roles, and responsibilities to support engagement, discussion, and quality enhancement for postgraduate research (PGR) candidates.

Latest version as of September 2026.

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1. Context

1.1 The Doctoral Community Forum is a mechanism by which the doctoral community come together to discuss opportunities and challenges within doctoral education at NTU. The forum provides a regular platform for community engagement, discussion, and consideration, where appropriate, of strategies for resolution.

1.2 The forum is key to ensuring ongoing quality of the doctoral training offer and research environment for PGR candidates.

1.3 There will normally be termly fora, on each campus where PGR candidates are registered (Brackenhurst, City and Clifton); however, additional meetings may be called to deal with specific projects. The dates for meetings will be circulated at the start of the academic year.

2. Remit

2.1 The fora will provide an opportunity for open and effective discussion as well as information-sharing on issues such as strategic developments, new partnerships, changes in guidance/regulations and new awards.

2.2 Each forum will also promote the outcomes and achievements of previous fora back to the doctoral community.

2.3 Indicative discussion points may include:

  • new ideas and initiatives arising from the NTU doctoral community, the University leadership, funding bodies, policy makers, business, industry third sector partners and the higher education sector;
  • resources for research and use of facilities; related to, for example: the Library and Learning Resources, Student Support Services and Estates;
  • doctoral community engagement and growing inclusive research communities;
  • School-level issues arising that have impact across the doctoral community.

2.4 The members may consider convening smaller working parties within the doctoral community to address specific issues that would most effectively be pursued this way.

2.5 PGR fora are not expected to deal with individual complaints from doctoral candidates. Complaints are dealt with normally through the informal procedure outlined in the guidance for complaints and Section 17F: Research Degrees Complaints and Appeals Procedure.

3. Membership

3.1 The fora belong to the doctoral community and, as such, there is an ongoing open invitation to any member of the doctoral community to attend.

3.2 Core membership will comprise:

  • Director of NTU Doctoral and Research Operations (Chair)
  • Doctoral Candidate representatives – from each School based at the relevant campus
  • Director of Doctoral Programmes – from each School based at the relevant campus
  • NTU Doctoral Administration Manager
  • NTU Doctoral Programmes Manager
  • Doctoral Training Manager
  • Nottingham Trent Students’ Union (NTSU) Vice-President Postgraduate.
  • Libraries and Learning Resources Representative
  • Researcher Development Representative
  • Student Support Services Representative

3.3 In addition to the core membership, other staff members may be invited to attend who are relevant to the agenda.

4. Roles and responsibilities

4.1 It is the responsibility of all core members to identify and bring items for discussion and to engage constructively in a problem-solving dialogue. Members will, therefore, be invited to submit items for discussion prior to each meeting.

4.2 PGR representatives are expected to consult with their peers and disseminate actions or other outcomes from the meetings back to the doctoral community.

4.3 NTU Doctoral is responsible for ensuring actions and queries are taken up with the appropriate committees or departments within the University.

4.4 NTU Doctoral will ensure that there is appropriate administrative support for the meeting.

Change History

Approval Date:

16.09.20

Nature of Revisions:

Completely revised to reflect the academic governance changes approved at Academic Board (April 2020).

Implementation Date:

01.10.20

Approval Date:

23.10.20

Nature of Revisions:

Membership updated to include a member of Organisational Development (Research and Development).

Implementation Date:

10.11.20

Approval Date:

14.09.23

Nature of Revisions:

Membership updated to include the Director of Doctoral Programmes, NTU Doctoral Programmes Manager and Doctoral Training Manager.

Approval Date:

01.09.26

Nature of Revisions:

None.

Implementation Date:

01.09.26