4. Procedure for theses examination
Download
Report
Transcript 4. Procedure for theses examination
UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI
BOARD OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES
THE PROCESS OF EXAMINATION OF MASTERS
AND PHD THESES
Presented by Prof. S.K. Mwea
At the Sensizitation Workshop on Postgraduate Matters
– 10th December 2013, at the Central Catering Unit (CCU)
University of Nairobi
ISO 9001:2008
1
Certified
http://www.uonbi.ac.ke
Board Members
Prof C. Okidi
Prof GP Pokhariyal
Prof EW Mutitu
University of Nairobi
ISO 9001:2008
2
Certified
http://www.uonbi.ac.ke
In consultation with the supervisors the candidates
assesses whether the thesis can be ready for
examination within three months .
University of Nairobi
ISO 9001:2008
3
Certified
http://www.uonbi.ac.ke
The University of Nairobi
The candidate then writes to the Director-BPS,
giving notice of intention to submit his/her thesis,
at least three months before the intended date of
submission.
A copy of the abstract of the thesis is attached to
the notice.
University of Nairobi
ISO 9001:2008
4
Certified
http://www.uonbi.ac.ke
The University of Nairobi
The Director BPS, writes to the candidate
acknowledging receipt of the notice to submit
thesis.
University of Nairobi
ISO 9001:2008
5
Certified
http://www.uonbi.ac.ke
The letter is copied to the Chairman of
Department/Director of Institute, who is requested
to appoint a Board of Examiners for the thesis
consisting of:
Dean of Faculty/School/Director of Institute as
Chairman
An External Examiner
Two Internal Examiners
Two Board Members
University of Nairobi
ISO 9001:2008
6
Certified
http://www.uonbi.ac.ke
In case of PhD
Dean of Faculty/School/Director of Institute as
Chairman
An External Examiner
Two Internal Examiners
Two Board Members
BPS representative
University of Nairobi
ISO 9001:2008
7
Certified
http://www.uonbi.ac.ke
The University of Nairobi
The Director, BPs receives and approves the
proposed Board of Examiners for the thesis from
the Chairman of Department/Director of Institute
before the candidate submits the thesis.
Within three months of the candidate’s notice,
he/she submits four (4) copies of the thesis to the
BPS in unbound form.
University of Nairobi
ISO 9001:2008
8
Certified
http://www.uonbi.ac.ke
The University of Nairobi
On receipt of the thesis from the candidate, BPS
sends the theses to the External Examiner and the
two Internal Examiners who are required to submit,
within two months, their written assessment of the
thesis to the Director, BPS.
As soon as all the Examiners’ reports are received,
the Director, BPS writes to the Dean/Director of the
Faculty, School or Institute concerned to arrange
for a meeting of the Board of Examiners at which
the Examiners’ reports and other academic matters
arising from the thesis shall be considered.
University of Nairobi
ISO 9001:2008
9
Certified
http://www.uonbi.ac.ke
The reports should conclude whether
A) The thesis is adequate and degree is to be awarded
B) The thesis needs minor corrections
C) The thesis contributes to knowledge but needs
major corrections
D) The thesis is grossly inadequate and reflects no
understanding by the candidate and the degree
should not be awarded
University of Nairobi
ISO 9001:2008
10
Certified
http://www.uonbi.ac.ke
The University of Nairobi
After the Dean/Director of the Faculty/School or
Institute has given the date for the meeting, the
Director BPS sends out a notice of the meeting to
members of the Board of Examiners and also
informs the candidate of the date, time and venue
of the oral examination.
After the Board of Examiners’ meeting, a
consolidated report and appropriate
recommendations shall be prepared by the College
Secretariat within two weeks for submission to
Senate through the BPS.
University of Nairobi
ISO 9001:2008
11
Certified
http://www.uonbi.ac.ke
The outcome of the oral - specific recommendations
A) The thesis is adequate and degree is to be
awarded
B) The thesis needs minor corrections
C) The thesis contributes to knowledge but needs
major corrections
D) The thesis is grossly inadequate and reflects no
understanding by the candidate and the degree
should not be awarded
University of Nairobi
ISO 9001:2008
12
Certified
http://www.uonbi.ac.ke
The results
The Candidate is notified in writing by the Director,
BPS, on the outcome of the examination process
University of Nairobi
ISO 9001:2008
13
Certified
http://www.uonbi.ac.ke
The results
Category A results
The Candidate submits six copies of the final
version of the thesis, three hard bound and three
spiral bound, and one soft copy on compact disk
(CD) for the award of the degree.
The candidate shall be issued with a clearance
certificate after submission of the six copies of all
thesis.
University of Nairobi
ISO 9001:2008
14
Certified
http://www.uonbi.ac.ke
The results
Category B results
The candidate will be required to carry out the
corrections within three months from the date of
writing to him/her upon which a certificate of
corrections shall be issued to the Director-BPS by
the supervisor of such corrections appointed
during the oral examination.
University of Nairobi
ISO 9001:2008
15
Certified
http://www.uonbi.ac.ke
The Candidate shall submit six copies of the final
version of the thesis, three hard bound and three
spiral bound, and one soft copy on compact disk
(CD) for the award of the degree.
The candidate shall be issued with a clearance
certificate after submission of the six copies of all
thesis.
University of Nairobi
ISO 9001:2008
16
Certified
http://www.uonbi.ac.ke
Category C results
The candidate will be required to carry out the
revisions within one year from the date of writing
to him/her.
A board of examiners shall then be constituted to
examine the candidate
And the process starts .
University of Nairobi
ISO 9001:2008
17
Certified
http://www.uonbi.ac.ke
Category D results
The candidate basically fails and can not be
awarded the degree on the topic
University of Nairobi
ISO 9001:2008
18
Certified
http://www.uonbi.ac.ke
The University of Nairobi
Where the recommendation of the Board of
Examiners is unanimous for the award of the
degree and where such unanimity is consistent in
all respects with the reports of the examiners and
the results of the oral examination, the Director,
BPS shall forward such recommendation to the
Vice-Chancellor for approval on behalf of the
Senate.
University of Nairobi
ISO 9001:2008
19
Certified
http://www.uonbi.ac.ke
The results
For those in category A and B the Vice-Chancellor
shall, on behalf of Senate, approve the
recommendation of BPS for the award of the
degree upon which the candidate shall be issued
with a letter of award of the degree stating that
he/she shall be conferred with the degree in the
next graduation ceremony.
University of Nairobi
ISO 9001:2008
20
Certified
http://www.uonbi.ac.ke
Challenges
Examiners delay in submission of the reports
BPS usually gives a reminders after two months
Thereafter two reminders are issued
If the reports are still not coming there usually need
to change the EE
University of Nairobi
ISO 9001:2008
21
Certified
http://www.uonbi.ac.ke
The Board
First supervisor should usually be the first internal
examiner
Only In exceptional circumstances when the first
supervisor is not available should the one of the other
supervisors or another academic member of staff
should be appointed
The board members can not be changed without the
approval of BPS
In the case of PhD the VC approves the changes
University of Nairobi
ISO 9001:2008
22
Certified
http://www.uonbi.ac.ke
The timing of oral
defense
Usually BPS requires two weeks to arrange for an
oral defense.
Towards the graduation this period is greatly reduced
The dean/director should coordinate with the
examiners for a smooth process
University of Nairobi
ISO 9001:2008
23
Certified
http://www.uonbi.ac.ke
The consolidated report
The consolidated report sometimes takes
unnecessary long time to be forwarded
The dean/director should coordinate the finalization
of the process
University of Nairobi
ISO 9001:2008
24
Certified
http://www.uonbi.ac.ke
The University of Nairobi
THANK YOU
University of Nairobi
ISO 9001:2008
25
Certified
http://www.uonbi.ac.ke