Guidance for Reviewers
To qualify as a reviewer, you will have successfully completed your own RSRP application and participated in the training provided by UKCGE
Commitment as a reviewer
There are usually 3 review periods during an academic year.
We will ask you to be a reviewer for 2 of the 3 review periods. We will check your availability to be a reviewer in the fortnight before the application window closes.
We will send you no more than 10 applications to review during each review period.
Role of a reviewer
The five basic functions of reviewers for the UKCGE Research Supervision Recognition Programme are to:
- Determine whether the application is complete.
- Assess the adequacy of the evidence.
- Comment on the application.
- Make a final decision.
- Give feedback on the applications.
Timings of the Review
| Activity | |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Receive Review Pack |
| Weeks 2 & 3 | Review applications |
| Weeks 4 & 5 | Agree outcome with co-reviewer and compile feedback |
| Week 6 | Return completed review matrices to UKCGE |
Review panels
Every application is reviewed by a panel consisting of two reviewers. The UKCGE will assign you to a review panel and connect you, via email, with your co-reviewer.
Where possible the ‘lead’ reviewer’s disciplinary background will match or be cognate to the applicant’s; the second reviewer will not necessarily have similar subject expertise.
Once you have finished your individual assessment, including the feedback section of the matrix, you and your co-reviewer will need to exchange assessments, including your proposed feedback to the applicant, which will normally be drafted by the ‘lead’ reviewer in each case.
You may wish to contact your co-reviewer early in the process, to determine the dates by which you will both realistically be able to complete the reviews and when you will be able to schedule a discussion about your respective reviews.
You are likely to have different backgrounds and possibly differing expectations of supervision.
However, the success of the programme depends on reviewers respecting one another’s views and perspectives.
The process is about negotiating a final, shared judgement that is fair to the applicant, therefore you both need to agree on the outcome.