Saudi Ministry of Higher Education - Monash University沙特的高等教育部-莫纳什大学

5September2007

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MiddleEastHDRPaper

ProposedHigherDegreeResearchApplicationandAdmissionModel

forScholarshipStudentsFundedbytheMinistryofHigherEducation,

KingdomofSaudiArabia

5September2007

Preparedby:

ProfessorMaxKing,ProViceChancellor,Research&ResearchandTraining

MrEugeneSebastian,Director,InternationalResearch,OfficeoftheDeputyViceChancellor(International)

DrNizarFarjou,SeniorAdvisor,MiddleEastandAGCCCountriesAffairs,OfficeoftheDeputyViceChancellor(International)

Contributors:

AssociateProfessorHamidAbachi,FacultyofEngineering

ProfessorShahramAkbarzadeh,Director,CentreforMuslimMinoritiesandIslamPolicyStudies

IanBell,BusinessDevelopmentManager,MonashUniversityEnglishLanguageCentre

ProfessorRodneyDevenish,DeputyChairman,ResearchGraduateSchoolCommittee

ProfessorColinChapman,VictorianCollegeofPharmacy

PamelaHerman,Manager,MonashResearchGraduateSchool

NevilleHiscox,ManagerStudentFinance,StudentAdministrationandSystems

ElianaHruby,Director,RecruitmentServices,MarketingandStudentRecruitment

CarolineKnowles,Manager,PostgraduateRecruitment,MarketingandStudentRecruitment

IrenePng,ManagerFees,StudentAdministrationandSystems

BrettSlatter,DirectorRecruitment,MarketingandStudentRecruitment

LindsaySpedding,ManagerOffshoreRecruitment,MarketingandStudentRecruitment

Facultycontribution:

Arts:

JoeDePasquale,Manager,RecruitmentandAdmissions,HigherDegreeResearch,FacultyofArts

ArtsandDesign:

SusanMcLeish,SeniorAdministrativeOfficer,Postgraduate,FacultyofArtsandDesign(onleave)

EconomicsandBusiness:

SimonLiddle,ManagerResearchOffice,FacultyofEconomicsandBusiness

DianSkully,AdministrativeAssistant,ResearchOffice,FacultyofEconomicsandBusiness

Education:

MayurKatariya,Coordinator,ResearchDegreesAdministration,FacultyofEducation

Engineering:

LizKemp,ResearchTrainingCo-ordinator,FacultyofEngineering

InformationTechnology:

LeeanneEvans,ResearchAdministrativeOfficer,FacultyofInformationTechnology

ShiranthiPonniah,ResearchAdministrativeOfficer,FacultyofInformationTechnology

Law:

ProfessorJeffGoldsworthy,FacultyofLaw

JintanaKurosawa,HDRCoordinator,FacultyofLaw

Medical,NursingandHealthSciences:

DrJenniferScott,Manager,ResearchDegrees,FacultyofMedicine,NursingandHealthSciences

Pharmacy

CarolynFox,Research,VictorianCollegeofPharmacy

Science:

TomKeegan,Manager,ResearchandResearchTraining,FacultyofScience

Content

1.0

Introduction

4

2.0

BackgroundoftheSaudiScholarshipProgram

TheDistinguishedScholarsProgram

TheKingAbdullahbinAbdulazizScholarshipprogram

5

3.0

Consultationprocess

6

4.0

Section1:Academicandlanguagerequirements

Academicrequirements

OnlineEnglishlanguagediagnostics

DealingwithstudentswhodonotmeetEnglishlanguagerequirements

ResearchpreparationbridgingprogramforHDRstudents

7

5.0

Section2:Managingtheapplicationandadmissionprocess

Issueswiththeapplicationprocess

Timelineforapplicationturnaround

Privacystatement

Lengthoffinancialsponsorshipofscholarship

10

6.0

Section3:NewHigherDegreeResearchinitiativesatMonashUniversity

HDRPerson/TeamatInternationalAdmission

Onlineenquiryandapplicationprocess

OnlinedatabaseofcurrentMonashresearchersandresearchproject

ReviewofcurrentHDRprogramofferings(andpathwaytoresearch)

Communicationofnewschemes

15

AppendixA:SampleofSaudiPhDapplication

1.0 Introduction

1.1 InearlyApril,MonashhostedavisitbyaseniordelegationfromtheMinistryofHigherEducation,KingdomofSaudiArabia.ThedelegationwasimpressedwithMonashandexpressedaninterestinplacingmoreHigherDegreeResearch(HDR)students.

1.2 Saudi’sinterestinplacingstudentsatMonashisnotunusual.IntheMiddleEastregion,themainsourceofscholarshipsisthroughtheMinistriesofHigherEducation,DefenceandHealth.Scholarshipsfundedbygovernmentagenciestendtobegenerous,coveringtuitionfees,languagetraining,healthcover,travelandlivingexpenses.BeyondtheMiddleEastregion,particularlyinAsia,similartypesofgovernmentfundedscholarshipsarecomingonlineasnationalpoliciesandinvestmentfocusonupgradingtheskillsofacademicandpublicsectorofficials.

1.3 ThegrowthofthesetypesofinternationalHDRscholarshipswillhaveimplicationsonMonash’scapacitytorespondinatimelyandeffectivemanner.ThereareanumberofissuesassociatedwithacceptingalargenumberofHDRstudents.IntheSaudicase,theseissuesinclude:

articulatingtheacademicandlanguagerequirements;

clarifyingthemanagementoftheapplicationandadmissionprocess;and

expeditingtheapplicationprocessofhighqualitystudentswithinashorttimeframe.

1.4 Anumberofotherissuesalsoneedtobeconsidered,includingtheavailabilityofsupervisorsandtheexistenceofadequateHDRwelfareandsupportinfrastructures.ThispaperwillhoweverfocusonhowshouldMonashUniversityrespondtothefully-fundedHDRscholarshipopportunitiesemergingfromtheKingdomofSaudiArabia.OurresponsewillinfluencethewaywedealwithotherscholarshipopportunitiesemergingfromMalaysia,Indonesia,VietnamandcountriesinAfrica.Thepaperseeksto:

1.4.1 clarifytheacademicandlanguagerequirementsofSaudiHDRstudents;

1.4.2 maptheSaudiHDRapplicationprocess;

1.4.3 identifywaysofachievingatimelyandefficientapplicationprocess;and

1.4.4 gatherfeedbackonapplicationandselectionfromMonashstakeholdersthatcouldassisttheSaudiMinistryofHigherEducationimprovetheirapplicationprocess.

1.5 ItiscriticalthattheseissuesareclarifiedandresolvedastheongoingflowoffullyfundedHDRstudentsisdependentonMonashcapacitytorespondinanefficientandtimelymanner.Itisimportanttonotethatthisconsultationprocessisnotintendedtofast-tracktheacceptanceofinternationalHDRapplications,buttoexpeditethedecisiononanapplicationwithintheshortestpossibletimeframe.Insomeinstances,HDRapplicationscantakeconsiderabletimebeforeadecisionismadeonthesuitabilityofacandidate.Inoneextremeandexceptionalcase,ittooksevenmonthsbeforeadecisionwasmade.

1.6 Itisanticipatedasanoutcomeofthisconsultativeprocesstherewouldbe:

1.6.1 clarityofacademicandlanguagerequirementsforallSaudiHDRstudents;

1.6.2 clarityofprocessincludingcontactpersonsatcriticalpoints-fromthepointofapplicationreceiptthroughtheacceptanceprocesswithinMonash;and

1.6.3 areasonableturnaroundperiodfortheprocessingofHDRapplications.

2.0 BackgroundoftheSaudiScholarshipprograms

2.1 TheSaudiMinistryofHigherEducation(MoHE)administersalloftheSaudiGovernment’sscholarshipprograms.Saudiprogramsareconsideredthemostgenerousscholarshipprogramavailable.Studentswillgenerallyreceivefullcoverageoffees,healthcoverandexpensesforthemselvesandtheirdependants(includingschoolfees),andinmanycasesspousesandaccompanyingfamilymemberswillalsoreceivefundingtoundertakeformalstudies.AustralianEducationInternational,2007,OverviewofscholarshipprogramsmanagedbytheMinistryofHigherEducationintheKingdomofSaudiArabia

UntilrecentlythereweretwoschemesofferedbytheMinistryforscholarshipholderstostudyinAustralia:TheKingAbdullahbinAbdulazizScholarshipProgram(KASP)andtheDistinguishedScholarsprogram.SincethechangestotheMinistryanditsprograms,theDistinguishedScholarsprogramasaseparatescholarshipschemehasbeenremovedandnowfallsundertheKingAbdullahScholarshipprogram.KASPisnowtheonlyscholarshipprogramofferedbytheMoHE.

2.2 TheKingAbdullahbinAbdulazizScholarshipProgramwasannouncedin2006andincludedcountriesintheAsiaPacificregion,aswellastheUnitedStatesofAmerica.Over40,000applicationswerereceivedforthe2006round,withover9,000ofthosespecificallyapplyingtostudyinAustralia.About900scholarshipshavebeenallocatedtoAustralia.TheKingAbdullahscholarshipprogramisexpectedtorunforfouryearswithover4000studentsbeingawardedscholarshipsinMedicine,Health,Pharmacy,Nursing,InformationTechnology,BusinessandEngineering.ThemajorityofholderswillbeMastersCoursework(withoneyearEnglishLanguageIntensiveCoursesforOverseasStudents-ELICOS)andfocusonBusiness,InformationTechnologyandEngineering.TheMoHEalsohasmedicalandhealthprogramsasitsmainpriorityatbothundergraduateandpostgraduatelevel.ibid

ItisanticipatedthatthenumberofPhD/Mastersstudentswillincreasenextyear.

2.3 AllKASPapplicationswereoriginallymanagedbyIDPEducationPtyLtdDubai,UnitedArabEmiratesandSydney,Australia.Afewmonthsago,theMoHEunderwentsignificantorganisationalrestructuringresultingwithanumberofstaffchanges.ThesechangesimpactedontheadministrationandmanagementoftheKingAbdullahScholarshipProgram,whereanewdirectorwasappointedtomanagetheprogram.ThepreviousmanagementteamconsistingofDrEisaAlEisa,DrAbdullahAlHumedhiandMrHishamAlAmarhaveeitherbeenappointednewpositionsorhaveresumedtheirdutiesattheirhomeuniversitiesandarenolongerinvolvedinKASP.SteveGarrett,ConsulinDubai,20August2007

ThenewdirectoroftheKASPisDrMajidAlHarbi.Inhispreviousrole,DrMajidwasaseniorofficialatKingSaudUniversity.HiscontractasDirectorofKASPisfortwoyears.

2.4 KASPAdministrativechanges:IDPisnolongertheonlyagentbeingsuppliedwithstudentnames.KASPstudentsarenowfreetoapplythroughanyagentoftheirchoosingand,itappears,theyarealsofreetoapplydirectlytouniversitiesinAustralia.ThenamesofstudentsthathavealreadybeensenttoIDPwillcontinuetobeprocessedandfinalisedbyIDP.Anynewscholarshipstudentisfreetousetheservicesofanyagentorapplydirectlytotheuniversity.

2.5 Implicationsofthechange:

2.5.1 Itappearsthatinformationanddocumentationsentbyuniversitiestooldmanagementteamdoesnotappeartohavebeenprovidedtothenewteam,andAEIisconcernedthatunlessweactquickly,agreementsandunderstandingreachedastheresultofthevisittoAustraliaofthepreviousscholarshipadministratorscouldbelost.

2.5.2 Changestotheagentarrangementnowresultsinapplicationsstemmingfromanumberofsourcesincludingdirectuniversityapplicationsbyscholarshipholders.

2.6 Update:DrNizarFarjou,SeniorAdvisor,MiddleEastandAGCCCountriesAffairswithintheODVCIhasmadecontactwiththenewmanagementteamtobriefthemonissuesandMonashprocesses.NizarandBrettSlatterarealsoincontactwiththeAustralianConsulforEducation,ScienceandTrainingandtheGroupofEight.

3.0 Consultationprocess

3.1 Thisdraftdocumenthasundergonefiveextensiveconsultationrounds.ThefirstversioninvolveddiscussionwiththeMonashResearchGraduateSchool,theFeesOffice,theInternationalRecruitmentServicesOffice(formerlyInternationalAdmissionsOffice),MarketingandStudentRecruitmentandtheOfficeoftheDeputyViceChancellor(International).TheinitialdiscussionsidentifiedasetofkeyissuesassociatedwithrespondingtotheSaudiopportunityanddevelopedadraftframeworkforprocessingapplications.

ThesecondversionfurtherrefinedthedraftinconsultationwiththesamegroupbutextendeddiscussionstoincludetheMonashUniversityEnglishLanguageCentre.

Inversionthree,theconsultationswereexpandedtoinvolvediscussionandfeedbackfromallfaculties.ManagersresponsibleforHigherDegreeResearchstudentswereconsultedontheissuesraisedandsomeofthesolutionsproposed.Facultiesfeedbackwereincorporatedinthefourthversion.

Inthefinalversion,amendmentsweremadetoaccommodatenewchangesinSaudiScholarshipManagementstructureanditsapplicationmanagementprocess.

3.2 Theinputprovidedbyeveryparticipanthasbeenextremelypositiveandproductive.ItisrecommendedthatextensiveconsultationsshouldbeundertakenwhenconsideringpotentialHDRgovernmentfundingschemes.

3.3 Thedraftdocumentisdividedintothreesections:

Section1:recommendedguidelinesfortheacademicandlanguagerequirementsofSaudiHDRcandidates;

Section2:aproposedapplicationmodelfortheprocessingofSaudiHDRstudentapplication;and

Section3:currentHDRinitiativesandfutureconsiderations.

4.0 Section1:Academicandlanguagerequirements

4.1 Academicrequirements

4.1.1 ThefollowingguidelinesfortheacademicrequirementsofSaudihigherdegreeresearchstudentsarerecommended:

OfferswillbemadetoSaudiHDRstudentsiftheyfulfilacademicandEnglishlanguagerequirements.

StudentsnotsatisfyingacademicstandardswillbeadvisedbythefacultytoundertakeadditionalpreparationssuchasaPostgraduateDiploma,ormeetotherrequirementsbeforecommencingthePhDprogram.

StudentswhodonotmeettheEnglishlanguagerequirementshavetoundertakeandpassthelanguagecompetencytraining(inthiscaseuptooneyear)tobeacceptedintoaHDRprogram.TheSaudiMinistryhasagreedtosponsoroneyearEnglishlanguagetrainingforalltheirstudents.

4.2 OnlineEnglishlanguagediagnostics

4.2.1 TheSaudidelegationhasinformedMonashthatin2007intakesitwouldbedifficulttoarrangeforstudentstobeAcademicIELTStested.Thisdifficultystemspartlyfrombureaucraticproblemsoforganisingtestingwithinashorttimeline,IELTStestcentrecapacityandfrequencyoftestingandthechallengeforsomestudentstravellingtoexistingtestingcentres.

Note:ItappearsthattherearecurrentlythreeEnglishtestingcentresinKSA:Jeddah,KhobarandRiyadh–allrunbytheBritishCouncil.TheUniversityofSydney’sCentreforEnglishLanguagecurrentlyoffersonlineEnglishtestingforincomingSaudistudentsundertheDistinguishedScholarshipsProgram.

LackofinformationonwhatlevelofEnglishlanguagecompetencythestudentsareatwillremainanongoingproblemforalluniversities.AccordingtoarecentadvicefromtheGroupofEight,itispossibletotestapplicantsEnglishbuttheremaynotbetimetohavethemIELTStested.ItisalsopossibleforapplicantstobeinterviewedinSaudi.OffersconditionalonEnglishareacceptabletotheSaudis.HoweverthemainproblemsarestudentsarrivingwithlittleornoEnglishandstudentsrequiringonlyasmallamountofEnglishbeingunabletomoveintoawardcoursesafterfinishingELICOS.EmailfromDrDavidBeck,GroupofEight,SaudiScholarships,Monday20August2007andGroupofEight,SaudiArabianScholarships,6September2007

Recommendation:ThattheODVCIcontinuestoworkwiththeMoHE,GroupofEightandAustraliaEducationInternational(AEI)infindingasolutiontoAcademicIELTS/TOEFLtestingofallstudentsaspartoftheirapplicationprocess.

MonashUniversityEnglishLanguageCentre(MUELC)currentlyhasa‘manualintensive’EnglishlanguagetestingwhichinvolvescompletingatestatanauthorisedtestingcentreandfaxingtheresultstoMUELCformarking.ThisoptioncouldbeusedintheinterimandadministeredbytheMoHEendorsedagentsmanagingtheapplicationprocess.

Meanwhile,MonashshouldconsidermovestodevelopitsownonlinediagnostictooltohelpstudentsassesstheirEnglishtoassistMUELCdeterminethelikelydurationandlevelofEnglishlanguagestudy.StudentswouldhoweverberequiredtositforanEnglishlanguagetestwhentheyarriveinAustralia.

Thesuccessofdeployinganonlinediagnostictoolisinpartdependantonsufficientstudentnumbersundertakingthislanguageexercise.Thereisconsiderablesupportfromthefaculties,MonashResearchGraduateSchool(MRGS)andcentraladministration(includingtheViceChancellorsGroupInternational)forsomeformofdiagnosticapplicationtohelpstudentsdeterminetheirlevelofEnglishlanguagecompetency.Tomakeitfinanciallyviable,thetoolcanbeusedforgovernmentagenciesexperiencingsimilardifficultiesliketheSaudis.Suchatoolcouldalsobeadministeredbyrecruitersandselectedagentsforundergraduateandpostgraduatecourseworkprograms.

4.3 DealingwithstudentswhodonotmeetEnglishlanguagerequirements:

4.3.1 TherewillbesituationswhereanumberofstudentsdonotmeetthelanguagerequirementafteroneyearEnglishtraining.Failuretofulfilthelanguagerequirementsnecessaryforadmissiontotheirdesignatedresearchprogramwillundoubtedlycreatefrustrationforthestudentandforstaffmanagingthesituation.

4.3.2 Tominimisesituationsoffrustration,itisrecommendedthat:

StudentsaremadeawareatthepointofofferthatitiscompulsorythattheymeettheEnglishlanguagerequirementbeforecommencingtheirHDRprogram.ThisrequirementwillbeincludedintheMRGSofferletter.

ODVCIwilllobbytheSaudiMinistryofHigherEducationtoinstituteAcademicIELTS/TOEFLtestingforallstudentsaspartoftheapplicationprocessin2008.

MovingforwardwithanonlineEnglishtestingfacilityshouldbeapriorityforthepurposeofgaugingstudent’slanguagecompetencylevelbeforearrivalinAustralia.

IfstudentsdonotmeetrequisiteEnglishlanguage,furthercoursescanbeofferedtohelpraisetheirlanguagecompetencylevelthatwouldhelpqualifythemforalternativedegreeoptions.TheFacultyofArtsforexampleisabletoofferthefollowing:(1)MasterofArts(ResearchandCoursework)whichhasalowerIELTSrequirementcomparedtotheMA/PhDwhichrequires7.0;(2)offeralowerdegreesuchasthePostgraduateDiplomaofArts(Research);or(3)acourseworkmasters.

4.4 ResearchPreparationProgramforHDRstudents

4.4.1 TheSaudiMinistryiskeenfortheirstudentstobesupervisedinthedevelopmentoftheirresearchproposalduringtheirEnglishlanguagetrainingyear.WehaveadvisedtheMinistrythatnosupervisionofstudentswillbeundertakenduringtheirlanguagetrainingyearuntilsuccessfulcompletionandadmissionintotheirHDRprogram.

4.4.2 ThereishoweverinterestinsomeformofResearchpreparationprogramforstudentsthathavesuccessfullycompletedtheirEnglishtraining.ThereiscurrentlyaproposaldevelopedbyMonashEnglishLanguageCentre(MUELC)staffattherequestoftheMonashResearchGraduateSchooltohelpimproveconfidence,communicativecompetenceandstudy-readinessofHDRstudentsenteringMonashUniversity.Underthisproposedprogram,studentswillfurtherdeveloptheirknowledgeofEnglish;theirabilitytoread,write,listenandspeak;investigatearesearchtopic;effectivelyuselibraryresourcesforresearch,giveseminarpresentation;increasecomputercompetency;andlearnaboutAustralianculture,society,lawandpoliticstohelpeasetheiradjustmenttoAustraliansetting.SeeIanBell,2006,EnglishlanguagebridgingprogramforHDRstudentsproposal,MonashUniversityEnglishLanguageCentres(MUELC)andCentreforAdvancementofLearningandTeaching(CALT),December,v.1.0

Howsuchaprogramwillworkrequiresfurtherdiscussions.

4.4.3 ItisrecommendedthatMonashconsiderdevelopingaResearchPreparationprogramasanadd-onoptionforstudentsthathavesuccessfullycompletedtheirEnglishtrainingsegment.

5.0 Section2:Managingtheapplicationandadmissionprocess

5.1 Issuesunderthepreviousarrangement:AnissueraisedbytheMinistryandIDPisthelackofclarityonwhereallapplicationsforMonasharetobesent.RecentlyIDPhasbeenforwardingapplicationstothreedifferentcontactswithinMonash.Anumberofapplicationshavenotbeenreceivedorhavebeenlostinthesystem.ThismatterhasnowbeenresolvedbyInternationalRecruitmentServices.

5.2 Toavoidfutureconfusion,anapplicationandadmissionprocessfortheSaudiprogramisproposed.Themodeldoesnotvarygreatlyfromcurrentpractices.Itdoeshoweverattempttoclarifythedifferentstagesanapplicationwillgothrough,identifyingakeycontactpointforeachstage.Therearefivestages(seefigure1):

5.2.1 Stage1:SaudiStudentsAdmissions–InternationalRecruitmentServiceswillacceptallSaudiapplications.ApplicationswillbesentbyIDP(throughmail,emailorfax)totheMonashUniversityInternationalRecruitmentsServicesaddress.

TheDirector,InternationalRecruitmentServiceshasidentifiedanHDRAdmissionsOfficerasthekeycontactpersonforallSaudiapplications.ThenameoftheAdmissionsOfficerwillbemadeknownwithinMonashasthekeycontactpersonforallSaudiapplications.

OnceaSaudiapplicationisreceived,theOfficewillverifythattheapplicationmeetstheadministrativeandfacultyinformationrequirements.TheapplicationformswillbeassessedagainstaMonashMasterChecklisttobedeveloped.Theinformationwillincludeforexample:

Certifiedcopiesofalltranscriptsand/orworkexperienceendorsedbyanappropriateperson,forexample,academicresultsendorsedbyaformeracademicinstitution.IfthedocumentisinalanguageotherthanEnglish,anofficialcertifiedtranslationmustbeprovided.

Curriculumvitae/resumedetailingworkandpersonalhistory

Anoutlineoftheproposedresearch

Evidenceofanygovernmentsupportorscholarships(FinancialGuaranteeLetter)

EvidencethattheEnglishlanguagerequirements(IELTStestscoresetc)havebeenmet.

Aresearchproposalrequirement.Thiswillbedeterminedbythefaculties(ordisciplines)andcommunicatedtoMarketingandRecruitment.Itisimportantthatwefindawayofcommunicatingtheresearchproposalrequirementstothestudents.

Provideinformationofanythesisorresearchprojectscompletedaspartofthestudentsundergraduateand/orpostgraduatestudies.Includethepercentagecomponentoftheresearchtowardsthedegree.

Providecertifiedcopiesofresearchpublications,-journalcover,indexpageandfirstpageofarticle,orcertifiedentirearticle.

Advisethepercentageofauthorship,dateandvolume.

Ifarticlehasbeenacceptedbutnotyetpublished,acertifiedcopyofletteroremailshouldbesubmittedevidencingacceptanceofthearticle.

References.

TheapplicationwillthenbeenteredintoCallistaandforwardedtothefaculties.

5.2.2 Stage2:Faculties–oncethedetailsoftheapplicationhavebeenverifiedandthedataenteredintotheUniversitysystem,applicationswillbedirectedtotherelevantfaculty.Facultiesmaywanttodiscussthetopicdirectlywiththestudentandifrequirementsaremet,approvetopicandsupervisor.Thestandardpracticeofapprovalandsign-offarelefttotheindividualfaculties.

5.2.3 Stage3:MonashResearchGraduateSchool–TheFacultywillsignoffonapplicationandsubmittoMRGSforfinalapproval.MRGSwillissuetheofferletterforPhD/MPhilwhichwillbeforwardedtoInternationalRecruitmentServices.TheofferletterwillincludeastatementadvisingstudentsthatsuccessfulcompletionofEnglishlanguagetrainingiscompulsoryforadmissionintotheHDRprogram.

5.2.4 Stage4:InternationalRecruitmentServices-willbeinformedofthelistofstudentsapprovedandforwardMRGSofferletteralongwithofferpackagetostudents.

5.2.5 Stage5:FeesOffice–AfterthestudentshaveenrolledatMonash,theFaculty/School/DepartmentwilladvisetheFeeOffice.TheFeesofficewillthenputinplacethenecessarysystemsponsorshiparrangementsandissueappropriatecoursefeeandOverseasStudentHealthCover(OSHC)invoicestotheMinistryforHigherEducation.ThepaymentofthetuitionfeeswillthenbemanagedbytheFeesOfficeinconjunctionwithMinistryandpaiddirectlyagainstthesponsor’sdebt.

Figure1:ApplicationprocessforSaudiHigherDegreeResearchstudents

5.3 Issueswiththeapplicationprocess

5.3.1 Applicationform

TheSaudiMinistry’sgenericHDRapplicationformwillbeacceptedintheinterim.MRGShasverifiedthatmostoftheinformationontheforminprinciple,conformswiththeUniversity'sHDRrequirements.TherearehoweverconcernsthattheSaudiapplicationformmaynotbesufficienttofulfiltheadministrativeandFacultyrequirements.(SeeAppendixB–sampleapplicationformandletter)

Tohelprectifythisinadequacy,itisrecommendedthataMonashHDRApplicationChecklistisdevelopedincorporatingtherequirementsofMRGSandFaculties.ODVCIshouldworkcloselywiththeSaudiMinistrytoincorporatethechecklistwithinitsapplicationprocessforfuturerounds.Thechecklistshouldalsobeusedbyrecruitmentagentsintheapplicationscreeningprocess.

Timelineforapplicationturn-around

OneofthemajorproblemshighlightedbyanumberofforeigngovernmentscholarshipbodiesistheslowturnaroundtimeforHDRapplications.Governmentscholarshipagenciesrequireatleastfourweeksforadecisiontobemadeonanapplication.UndertheAusAIDmodel,ittakesapproximately15daystoturn-aroundanHDRapplication.

Toimprovetheturn-aroundtime,itwouldbecriticaltoensurethatapplicationsreceivedconformtotherequirementsspecifiedintheproposedMonashHDRApplicationsChecklist.

Recommendation1:ItisrecommendedthattheODVCIworkscloselywithrecruitmentagentsandtheMinistryinincreasingtheoverallefficiencyandeffectivenessoftheapplicationprocessinfuturerounds.

BalanceinHDRstudentdistribution

Animportantpointraisedduringtheconsultationprocessrelatestotheneedtocontinueabalancedapproachintherecruitmentofstudentsbasedongeographyandgender.TheKingdomofSaudiArabiaofferslargeopportunitiesintheHDRpoolofstudents,however,ahighdemandforlimitedHDRplacestoonefaculty,forexample,mayresultinlimitedavailableplacesforothercountriesandschemes.ItisimportantthatMonashcontinuestomaintainsadiversestudentcohortanddonotfacilitateanarrangementwithonecountryattheexpenseofothers.

Privacystatement

ThestandardSaudiMinistryformdoesnothaveprivacyandcollectionstatements.

Recommendation:ThattheODVCIadvisestheSaudiMinistryandIDPthatscholarshipprogramapplicationformsandstatementsmustbesignedbyprospectivestudentauthorisingtheMinistryandhenceIDP,throughitscontractwiththeMinistry,toactonthestudentsbehalf.

5.3.4 Lengthoffinancialsponsorshipofscholarship

CurrentlytheSaudiMinistryofHigherEdu