Doctoral School update from Dean of PGR (circulated 08/04/2020)
Annwyl Ymchwilydd Ôl-raddedig
Gobeithio eich bod yn iach ac yn ddiogel ble bynnag ydych chi, a hithau'n benwythnos y Pasg cyn bo hir.
Does dim syndod bod yr amgylchiadau eithriadol o gwmpas y byd ar hyn o bryd yn destun pryder a chwestiynau i nifer o ôl-raddedigion, ac mae'r Ysgol Ddoethurol yn llawn ymwybodol o'r straen gall hyn ei achosi wrth i bawb geisio ymateb i sefyllfa sy'n newid o ddydd i ddydd.
Fel y gwelsoch chi yn yr ohebiaeth ddiweddar gan Weithredwyr y Brifysgol, mae hwn yn gyfnod dwys o adolygu amserlenni gwaith ac ymchwil, ac o lunio mathau newydd o gynlluniau ar gyfer y dyfodol i bob rhan o'r gymuned ym Mangor. Mae nifer o ymchwilwyr ôl-raddedig yn wynebu'r her anodd hon ac felly hoffwn achub ar y cyfle hwn i annog pob un ohonoch chi i drafod eich holl bryderon a syniadau â'ch goruchwylwyr academaidd, neu eich tiwtoriaid personol yng nghyswllt materion ar wahân i rai academaidd. Y rhain yw eich prif bwyntiau cyswllt â'r Brifysgol ac ni ddylai hynny newid. Gwnewch yn siŵr bod y llinellau cyfathrebu yn dal ar agor ar yr adeg hon lle mae'n rhaid gwneud penderfyniadau pwysig.
Mae'r Brifysgol wedi gofyn yn benodol i'ch goruchwyliwr gynnal asesiad risg o ran effaith y gohiriad ymchwil ar eich prosiect. Dylai fod wedi cysylltu â chi i drafod hyn. Os nad yw hyn wedi digwydd, cysylltwch chi â'ch goruchwyliwr (a'r arweinydd ymchwil ôl-raddedig yn eich Ysgol) ar frys a gofyn am gyfarfod i drafod y mater. O ran cyflawni eich rhaglenni ymchwil, mae'n dal yn bosib cyflwyno traethodau hir yn electronig yn ystod y cyfnod hwn, ac mae arholiadau llafar dros fwy nag un safle yn dal i gael eu trefnu.
Os oes gennych chi bryderon penodol ynglŷn â chyllidwr eich prosiect, ewch i wefan y Swyddfa Ymchwil yn /research-support/staff/covid-19/ sy'n cynnwys y wybodaeth ddiweddaraf. Os oes gennych chi ymholiadau mwy cyffredinol o ran sut mae datblygu eich prosiect ymchwil o dan yr amgylchiadau presennol, cysylltwch â'ch tîm goruchwylio i edrych ar y ffyrdd posib o fwrw ymlaen.
Hoffai Gweithredwyr y Brifysgol wneud yn siŵr nad oes unrhyw fyfyriwr PhD/MRes dan anfantais mewn cysylltiad â'u ffioedd o dan yr amgylchiadau presennol. Felly, yn y dyfodol, os bydd cyllidwyr yn penderfynu peidio â rhoi estyniad costau i ffioedd ar gyfer prosiectau ymchwil ôl-raddedig sy'n mynd rhagddynt yn ystod y gohiriad ymchwil yn sgil Covid-19, bydd Prifysgol Bangor yn gwneud yn siŵr na fydd unrhyw fyfyriwr dan anfantais, ac y bydd pob achos yn cael ei ystyried yn unigol.
Ym mhob rhan o gymuned Ymchwil Ôl-raddedig Bangor, mae'r Ysgol Ddoethurol, yr Undeb Myfyrwyr, Arweinwyr Ôl-raddedig Ysgolion, Cyfarwyddwyr Ôl-raddedig y Coleg a Gweithredwyr y Brifysgol yn gweithio'n galed i ymateb i'ch ymholiadau ac i adolygu rheoliadau, dulliau gweithio, codau ymarfer, gweithdrefnau asesu a dogfennau gweinyddol i hwyluso eich cynnydd i'r graddau mwyaf posib yn ystod y cyfnod eithriadol hwn. Mae'r heriau'n ddiamau, ond yr hyn sy'n allweddol o hyd i unrhyw lwyddiant yw cyswllt rheolaidd â'ch pwyllgor goruchwylio.
I gloi, hoffwn ddymuno cyfnod diogel, cyfforddus a hamddenol i chi dros y Pasg.
Dymuniadau gorau Andrew Hiscock Deon Ymchwil Ôl-raddedig Prifysgol Bangor |
Dear Postgrad Researcher
I hope that this email finds you safe and well in whichever location you are as the prospect of the Easter break approaches.
The present, exceptional circumstances in which the globe finds itself have inevitably become a source of anxiety and questioning for many postgraduates and the Doctoral School remains fully aware how stressful it can be as everyone tries to respond to a constantly changing situation.
As you will have seen in recent communications from the University Executive, this is an intense period for reviewing work and research schedules and for formulating new kinds of forward planning for every section of the community at Bangor. Many postgraduate researchers are being confronted with this sometimes daunting challenge and so I would like to take this opportunity to urge you to discuss all your concerns and ideas with your academic supervisors and, for non-academic issues, with your personal tutors. These are and should remain your primary points of contact with the University and do ensure that the lines of communication remain open at this time of important decision-making.
Your supervisor has been asked by the University specifically to risk assess the impact of the research suspension on your project. They should have been in contact with you to discuss this. If this has not happened yet, please contact them (& the PGR lead in your School) urgently and request a meeting to do this. In terms of completion of programmes of research, electronic submission of theses and the organisation of multi-site viva examinations continue to take place during this period.
If you have particular concerns regarding your project funder, please visit the Research Office’s website at /research-support/staff/covid-19/ which has constantly updated information. If you have more general enquiries on how to develop your research project during the present Covid-19 related circumstances, then do contact your supervisory team in order to examine the possible ways forward.
The University Executive wishes to ensure that no PhD/MRes student is disadvantaged in terms of their fees during the present circumstances. Thus, if, in the future, funders decide not to give cost-extensions to fees for PGR projects unfolding during the Covid-19 period of research suspension, Bangor University will ensure that no student will be disadvantaged and that each student case will be considered on an individual basis.
In all sections of the Bangor Postgraduate Researcher community, the Doctoral School, the Student Union, School Postgraduate Leads, College Postgraduate Directors and the University Executive are working hard to respond to your enquiries and to review regulations, modes of working, codes of practice, assessment procedures and administrative documentation to facilitate as much as possible your progress during this exceptional period. The challenge in such matters is undeniable, but regular contact with your supervisory committee remains key to any success.
It only remains for me to wish you a safe, comfortable and relaxing break at Easter.
Best wishes Andrew Hiscock Dean of Postgraduate Research Bangor University |