Subject-Area Board
The subject-area board is the principal body responsible for the supervision and evaluation of doctoral studies. Students may contact the Board regarding matters related to their studies or progression through the programme. Each board may operate according to faculty-specific procedures, which are usually explained by the board secretary. Experience shows that it is advisable to address any study-related difficulties at an early stage, ideally before the Individual Study Plan (ISP) is submitted for formal assessment.
The responsibilities of the subject-area board include, in particular, approving dissertation topics, commenting on proposals for supervisors, reviewing and approving Individual Study Plans and their amendments, discussing supervisors’ evaluations of doctoral students, recommending to the Dean the termination of studies in cases of failure to meet programme requirements, evaluating the work of supervisors and submitting conclusions to the Dean, proposing chairs and members of final state examination committees, discussing doctoral bursary matters, and assisting students with changes of supervisor or modifications to the direction of their dissertation research.
In accordance with the UHK Supervisor Standards (Vice-Rector’s Directive No. 6/2023), each subject-area board establishes criteria for the evaluation of supervisors. Evaluations are conducted at least once per academic year, and the conclusions are submitted to the Dean of the relevant faculty. The evaluation concerns not only supervisors’ scholarly and creative activities, but also, and primarily, the quality of their supervisory and mentoring skills.
