Dissertation Defense Committee (DDC) and External Examiner
The Dissertation Defense Committee (DDC) shall consist of the members of the Research Supervisory Committee (RSC), one External Examiner, and one Independent Chair. The members of the RSC and the External Examiner shall serve as the examiners of the dissertation and shall be voting members of the DDC. The Independent Chair shall chair the Dissertation Defense but shall neither serve as an examiner of the dissertation nor be a voting member of the DDC.
The External Examiner must be a Full Professor, or a person of equivalent academic rank, at a reputable international university or research institution and must be an internationally recognized expert in the field of the dissertation. To ensure independence and avoid any actual or perceived conflict of interest, the External Examiner:
- must not have been affiliated with Khalifa University in any capacity during the five years immediately preceding the Dissertation Defense, including, but not limited to, serving as an examiner, visiting faculty member, adjunct faculty member, consultant, or in any other academic or professional capacity; and
- must not have co-authored publications, participated in funded research projects, or engaged in any other significant research collaboration with the Main Advisor or Co-Advisor(s) during the five years immediately preceding the Dissertation Defense.
The External Examiner shall be nominated by the Main Advisor in consultation with the Co-Advisor(s), where applicable, the relevant Department Chair (or designee), and the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies of the College, and shall be appointed as a voting member of the DDC by the Associate Provost for Academic Operations.
The Independent Chair shall be a full-time Khalifa University faculty member holding the academic rank of Associate Professor or above. The Independent Chair must be independent of the student's dissertation research and must not have any actual or perceived conflict of interest with the student or the supervisory team that could compromise the impartial conduct of the Dissertation Defense. The Independent Chair shall be appointed by the Associate Provost for Academic Operations upon the nomination of the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies of the College, in consultation with the relevant Department Chair (or designee). The Independent Chair shall preside over the Dissertation Defense, ensure that the examination is conducted fairly, impartially, and in accordance with the University's academic regulations, and oversee the proceedings of the Dissertation Defense.
Prior to the Dissertation Defense, each member of the DDC, including the External Examiner, shall independently evaluate the dissertation and submit a written assessment to the Graduate Studies Office. The written assessment shall evaluate the originality, technical quality, scholarly merit, significance, and overall suitability of the dissertation and shall include any comments and recommendations considered appropriate by the examiner. All written assessments shall be submitted at least one week before the scheduled Dissertation Defense. The written assessments shall form part of the official examination record.
The independent written assessments shall provide the basis for the DDC members evaluation of the dissertation and shall inform the questions and discussion during the Dissertation Defense. The final recommendation of the DDC shall be based on both the written dissertation and the candidate's performance during the Dissertation Defense.
External Examiners shall normally evaluate the dissertation remotely and participate in the Dissertation Defense virtually. In exceptional circumstances, an External Examiner may be invited to attend the Dissertation Defense on campus. Such invitations shall normally be limited to distinguished scholars whose participation is expected to make a significant contribution to the examination process. The nomination shall include a detailed justification and a proposed program for the campus visit and shall require the endorsement of the Main Advisor, the relevant Department Chair (or designee), the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies of the College, and the approval of the Associate Provost for Academic Operations.