Dear All,

Calling all Supervisors, Examiners and Students of audio-visual
practice-led PhDs (AVPhD).  On the 1st April 2008, the AHRC AVPhD
funded support network is hosting a forum for all current and
potential supervisors and examiners of AVPhDs.  This AVPhD April Fools
is a day of networking and reflection where we will explore critical
structural, practical and theoretical AVPhD questions:

·         What are the rules and regulations?
·         What ought the student to produce at an upgrade?
·         When should they transfer from MPhil to PhD?
·         How should the practice and written thesis relate?
·         Should the practice be seen first?
·         Should there be two vivas:  one for the practice, one for the theory?
·         How professional should the practice be?
·         Who is qualified to examine?
-         What are the practical, financial and institutional barriers?

The purpose of this forum is to be a networking and training event
where experiences can be aired and alliances forged.  Led by
experienced supervisors and examiners drawn from the AVPhD steering
group and network, the morning focuses on Examination and the
afternoon Supervision.  The day ends with a plenary where motions can
be raised for steps that need to be taken to secure a critical and
vibrant mass of successful audio-visual practice led PhDs.

The day will take place in the fully accessible Clore Management
Centre, Birkbeck College London, 10am-6pm Tuesday 1st April 2008, and
will continue into the evening with food and conversation.  At the
beginning of the day a comprehensive delegate list will be given with
contact details, institutional affiliation and supervisory/examination
experience (if permitted).  There will be a very good lunch and a very
good dinner with extended coffee breaks in between. The day's
discussions will be transcribed and each delegate will receive a copy
shortly after the event, by email.  The registration fee is £50 and is
open to all potential and experienced supervisors and examiners of
audio-visual practice led PhDs.

If you are an AVPhD student please forward this to your
supervisors/examiners.  If you are a potential/current supervisor or
examiner and would like to attend please write to Zemirah Moffat
[log in to unmask] by close of day Friday 14th March.

Secondly, As you may be aware a dedicated AVPhD  issue of Journal of
Media Practice will be coming out in October 2008.  Together with the
longer articles we are seeking 1,000 word reflections from students,
supervisors and examiners on your experiences of doing and enabling
audio-visual practice-led doctorates.  These can be as anecdotal or
personal as you like (respecting confidentiality of course), and raise
questions about rules and regulations in different institutions, the
conduct of supervision, the processes of Mphil-PhD upgrade, the
relationship of the practice to the written thesis (and vice versa),
the conduct of the viva etc. etc.   If you would like to contribute or
have any other questions please contact Gail Pearce by the end of
March 2008: [log in to unmask]

Best Wishes,

Zemirah Moffat
AVPhD Administrator
please visit http://avphd.wordpress.com/ for current information,
whilst www.avphd.ac.uk is being upgraded.

On behalf of the AVPhD Steering Committee:

            Joram ten Brink, University of Westminster

            Ian Christie, Birkbeck College

            Tony Dowmunt, Goldsmiths College

            Alisa Lebow, Brunel University

            Cahal McLaughlin, University of Ulster

            Robin Nelson, Manchester Metropolitan University

            Gail Pearce, Royal Holloway University

            Al Rees, Royal College of Art

            Rosie Thomas, University of Westminster




-- 
Iain Robert Smith
Institute of Film and Television
School of American and Canadian Studies
University of Nottingham
University Park
NG7 2RD