{"id":7882,"date":"2020-03-24T10:28:40","date_gmt":"2020-03-23T21:28:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesislink.aut.ac.nz\/?p=7882"},"modified":"2020-03-24T10:28:44","modified_gmt":"2020-03-23T21:28:44","slug":"covid-19-info-for-research-students-update-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesislink.aut.ac.nz\/?p=7882","title":{"rendered":"COVID-19 Info for Research Students: Update #2"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Our team at the Graduate Research\nSchool are aware that this is a very challenging time for our research\nstudents, their whanau and wider support networks. This update follows our\nprevious communication on March 19<\/a>, where we outlined information about options for\nresearch students affected by COVID-19. The situation continues to change, and\nthis message contains further important updates for AUT research students. We\nhope this can help answer some of the concerns and questions you may have. We\nwill provide further updates soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Zealand\u2019s COVID-19 alert level has been raised to\n3, with a further rise to level 4 planned for Wednesday.<\/a> This means that we are now preparing to move into\nself-isolation as a nation. Under alert level 4, non-essential businesses must\nclose, and educational facilities will cease face-to-face operations. Alert\nlevel 4 will remain in place for four weeks, after which time it will be reviewed\nand could be extended. This means that AUT\ncampuses and facilities will be closed<\/strong> for as long as alert level 4 remains\nin place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone in New Zealand is instructed to stay at home<\/strong>.\nSupermarkets and pharmacies will remain open, but we are instructed to stay 2\nmetres apart from other people while using these essential services. We urge\nyou to prioritise the health of yourself and others by following the instructions\nof the New Zealand government. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can find the latest information on COVID-19 from New Zealand\u2019s Ministry of Health website<\/a>. AUT will maintain up-to-date information on our COVID-19 update page<\/a>, and doctoral candidates can also access the AUTi COVID-19<\/a> intranet page. We here at the Graduate Research School will continue to update you with information specific to research students. Our latest updates are given below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Health is priority #1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research students are encouraged to\nprioritise their own health and safety and the health and safety of their\nwhanau, supervisors, fellow candidates and research participants. While many of\nyou will be able continue to work on your research from home while in\nself-isolation, there may be some of you where aspects of your studies will\nneed to be put on hold. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A pause on all face-to-face data gathering involving human participants<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have ethical obligations as researchers to not place ourselves or our research participants and colleagues at risk. Because this is a difficult time for everybody the AUT Human Ethics Committee have made the decision to require all researchers (including postgraduate research candidates) to halt all data gathering which involves being near to people.<\/strong> This means any research techniques planned such as interviews, focus-groups, observations, and surveys which involve being in close proximity with people must be halted and deferred until further notice. Gathering and analysing data remotely or using secondary data (such as from databases) which is already approved under a formal AUTEC approval may continue. However, it is important that you consider the appropriateness of such data collection given the anxiety many people are feeling at present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Managing your candidature<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inevitably many research students\u2019 progress will be affected by COVID-19, and some may be severely disrupted. There will be no penalties imposed for lack of progression<\/strong>. All candidates are encouraged to re-visit their plans and timelines in partnership with their supervisors and to revise these plans and timelines as needed. These may need to be further revised as the situation continues to evolve. The GRS will process any extensions needed <\/strong>and you may wish to discuss this option with your supervisors now. The GRS understands the need to be supportive and flexible, and will be so with regard to all applications for extensions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctoral milestones: PGR9 presentations and oral exams<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctoral students approaching the\nPGR9 should be aware that the PGR9 oral\npresentation can either be deferred or held online <\/strong>(e.g. via Zoom). These\npresentations and PGR9 reviews are organised by faculties, so contact your\nfaculty postgraduate office for information on your presentation. Deferrals\nwill be approved when needed, with no penalties in regard to your candidature\ntimelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For those doctoral candidates\napproaching the oral examination, we are now moving toward online examinations via Zoom<\/strong>. Examinations for doctoral research\nwhich includes a practice-based component will be considered on case-by-case\nbasis \u2013 but supervisors and candidates are asked to consider how the\nexamination might be conducted remotely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visas and international travel<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All universities in NZ have been\nadvised by Immigration New Zealand that\nthey will be flexible with regard to student visa expirations<\/strong>. However,\nthey are requesting that applications for extensions to student visas be made\nas early as possible due to the volume of processing they are anticipating. The\nGRS can provide a letter verifying\ncurrent enrolment <\/strong>and progress in your PGR degree as needed. Please send\nrequests to grs@aut.ac.nz<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any postgraduate research students \u201cstuck\u201d overseas and unable to return to New Zealand should please notify their primary supervisor and the GRS. Immigration New Zealand will consider a special re-admission back into New Zealand for non-NZ citizens and residents for \u201chumanitarian reasons\u201d. For our research students, this may include separation from family who are in NZ, having your home in NZ and being stuck somewhere internationally without support, or other reasons. The GRS can provide a letter of support<\/strong> for your application for a special re-admission back into New Zealand. Please send requests to grs@aut.ac.nz<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Staying informed<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is important that you stay updated<\/strong> with regard to this\nrapidly changing situation. AUT has a COVID-19 update page<\/a> on its\nwebsite. Please visit this regularly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The GRS will be providing more learning\nresources and other information specifically for research students via the ThesisLink\npage<\/a> and via the AUT Student Digital Workspace<\/a>. You may like to bookmark these pages and visit them regularly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enquiries, questions and concerns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have any specific concerns,\nquestions or issues you would like help with, please email the GRS grs@aut.ac.nz<\/a> and we will do all we can to help you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being kind in troubled times<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is understandable that this situation\nhas resulted in much uncertainty and many people are feeling vulnerable and\nanxious. Please be assured that the GRS and the wider AUT community will be\nflexible, supportive and do all we can to assist you in revising your plans for\nyour PGR project. Please be patient and\nkind.<\/strong> Criticism of others in this situation is not helpful. We are all\nworking hard and doing our best to respond and help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Noho ora mai ra,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Graduate Research School Team<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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