Sometimes compelling reasons can be held thesis student exam without a supervisor because of illness or emergency leave. However, in some universities, especially if the supervisor was forced to leave the university final defense shall be conducted without the supervisor attendance. We know for psychological reason and even for logistic too, supervisor presence is very important to the student defense. Any opinion with this regard.
The following presence is essential:
1. Chairperson of Department
2. Dean of the Faculty
3. Supervisor
4. External Examiner
Without supervisor in emergency, exam/viva voce can be held. In such case Chairperson or Dean may take responsibility of supervisor. But without external examiner, it can't be held.
Yes, supervisor presence is very essential. Although the reasons you mentioned, can not be ignored. In those cases, there should be a clear-cut guideline made by the university.
That is true but for various reasons, when the supervisor (Guide) is unavailable then the department head or dean can officiate for defense examination. This will happen only when the student makes a request to the concerned superior and upon their willingness to cooperate such an activity will materialize.
Therefore in Doctoral Committee meetings, the supervising officials will be
will be a team to coordinate on half-yearly reviews.
Dear Professor @Hashem, I think that we should distinguish between 2 major cases:
The following presence is essential:
1. Chairperson of Department
2. Dean of the Faculty
3. Supervisor
4. External Examiner
Without supervisor in emergency, exam/viva voce can be held. In such case Chairperson or Dean may take responsibility of supervisor. But without external examiner, it can't be held.
I think supervisor or co-supervisor must be present because they know what student did.
Normally, presence of Supervisor is desirable for exam/viva voce of master/Ph.D. students. However, in the absence of supervisor owing to certain emergency, sickness, etc. exam/viva voce can be held for which the competent authority of university/ institute, may nominate another faculty member of the same department/discipline to look after the roles of supervisor during the exam. Alternatively, Head of concerned department or Dean or Chairperson may take responsibility of supervisor. If the external examiner is present exam/viva voce of master/Ph.D. students can be held by making alternative arrangements.
I guess it is possible. So many things are possible and indeed happen. But it is not right. Even if he/she is no longer teaching at the university, the person in question should be able to come/demand that right.
Yes, his/her presence is important for the student especially if they had a good working relationship.
The support I got (for conference papers as well) always came from people and sources outside the circles from where it was supposed to come. It came because people approached me, they cared about me and my works and interests.
The important thing to realize in a student-mentor relationship is that it is the mentor (or teacher or guide, etc) who should be supporting the student, not the other way around. I very strongly disagree with the statement that students should be looking for supervisors and help! It works the other way around - that is the rationale and the moral of the system. If they can't help and support students (the ones who deserve it), they shouldn't have chosen this profession.
If the person in question is able to come after all, then it would be better for all. He/she should be able to fight for that right with all authorities involved. Support is necessary and setting an example for students (that he/she was present despite all circumstances) would be very refreshing. If he/she gives up easily (on the right to be present), imagine the effect on the student.
In the normal course, the supervisor must be present during dissertation viva exam not only to function as an examiner of the work but also to provide a moral strength to the student since the work has been conducted under his guidance and supervision. At times, the supervisor may have to elaborate some issues in case the student is not able to explain properly for facilitating a fair evaluation.
In exceptional cases, the supervisor may sometimes not be able to be present during the viva exam for some unforeseen reasons and adequate procedural flexibility must be provided to accommodate such unavoidable circumstances. It must be kept in mind that the student should not be victimized for none of his fault.
I supportan invitation for a supervisor to provide psychological support for the student because the student and be worried and confused and can not focus on the questions, so the presence of the supervisor contribute to clarify some points in the thesis and defend the student.
I guess what matters is the thesis at the end of the day and what it has to offer us!
Dear Dr Hashem,
Although the presence of supervisors provides a huge support to the students if he/she is not able to attend the viva for the reasons you mentioned I think it is not a reason do postpone the date. Knowing that examiners would be fair should be enough to provide a student relatively high comfort. A supervisor cannot talk anyway and the examiners are examining the student's work. Therefore, it is not a must condition. However, there should be a chair who would control whether the questions are fair, related to the topic, and the overall discussion process. Please note that there are students who prefer the viva without their supervisors.
Dear Dr Samir
I agree with you. In some cases it depends on the committee circumstances that a supervisor must attend. You probably know what I mean by circumstances.
Indeed, presence of supervisor during the exam/viva voce offer moral supports to the student and may feel comfortable while defending his dissertation/thesis. However, if the subject is well chosen, and meets the fundamental requirement of originality, the student can very well explain his work and thus should be confident. Hence, if exam dates are fixed and the supervisor couldn’t be available on the date due to unforeseen emergency or any compelling circumstances, there is no point in cancelling or postponing the exam. Provisions are there in ordinance of various universities/ institutes to conduct exam in such case by making alternative arrangements.
Yes it is possible for a master student to have an exam without the presence of his/her supervisor. After all, the supervisor is a human being who is susceptible to all sorts of circumstances such as sudden illness, imprisonment, compulsory leave, and death. That is why it is wise to always have emergency plans & regulations in case of an unpleasant event. Of course, the stand-by substitute ought to be capable of assuming the required role with adequate preparation & proper performance.
The question is very much surprising for me .How is that a master student without any invitation to the thesis of supervisor .Is it not responsibility of the institutes to scrutiny the status of supervisor & if institutes has not examined i personally feel that they have neglected in their responsibility .
I also believe that the master student if is capable& knowledgeable to level of P.H.D even though either he has not completed or or field to obtain the status ,he can conveniently by virtue of his knowledge can approach the institutes directly & convince the authority regarding his knowledge .This would have been the right approach .
If it is otherwise than master degree student has neither a moral code or ethics .This is only my personal views.
Dear All,
This is a legal question and is influenced how rules of a faculty are respected.
Supervisor's presence is a must. In case of true emergency where the supervisor is not alive or he/she is not physically or mentally fit to be present in the defense in a meaningful way then alternative arrangements can be made as suggested by other learned fellow contributors.
I think that the presence of the supervisor is essential since he/she is responsible of the student's work and the quality of the thesis (Master or Phd). In extreme case of death or illness, the faculty board could replace him/her by a suitable person close to the subject of the thesis
In my University, in final presentation of thesis 4 members are present.
2 External examiner and 2 Internal examiner. These inrernal examiner may or may not be from your college.
I think ultimately, one who is responsible and answerable in Exams is PG student not Guide/ supervisor. So, presence or absence of Supervisor should not make any difference..
In my country it seems impossible, because of the law on higher education and so-called a good academic custom. Changing the university community by the supervisor has nothing to do with it. She/He would have to be present during the examination.
Alternatively, the university would decide to change the supervisor on the last step of preparing a master's degree.
Dear @Hashem, the psychological factor is very important to student's self assurance. The presence of the supervisor gives more confidence to the student face of the thesis jury. The subject of the thesis belongs to the supervisor who has earlier decided of the thesis framework and needed tools.
Thesis supervisor is the one who knows the Research work as a whole.
An assessment in their absence does not serve any purpose, In the event of "Non availability ' of thesis supervisor due to inevitable reasons, provided someone else officiates thesis supervisor's position after going through the whole research documents.
In the event of "Non availability ' of thesis supervisor due to inevitable reasons, someone else of the same discipline/subject can there on behalf of supervisor's after going through the whole research documents so that the student may not suffer owing to his delayed exam and subsequent result .
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