Hi all,
We seem to be getting a lot more challenges to use video conferencing (or Skype video or similar) in doctoral student interviews and supervision meetings these days. In fact I use Skype for an increasing number of staff and student meetings these days, often internationally but also inter city within the UK.
I have not yet attempted a PhD viva by videolink, though I am aware of a number of potential issues. Problems that I have heard of include: verifying whether the student at the other end of the line is the actual student; verifying whether the student is being prompted or helped by someone off camera; whether all examiners have to be in a single location, with the student elsewhere; how best to chair such an event; technical issues of timelag, downtime etc.
In order to inform a university policy on this matter, I was wondering if anybody here has experience of remote vivas, and can offer advice or point to university policy that is well established.
Viewing an attendant exhibition remotely might be a further difficulty, but perhaps best not to go there at this stage...
David
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David Durling FDRS PhD http://durling.tel
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