About DDOGS

The Council of Deans and Directors of Graduate Studies in Australia (DDOGS) is a forum of representatives of universities engaged in graduate research to discuss matters related to the provision, quality and advancement of graduate research.

The purpose of the Council is to promote excellence in training, research and scholarship and to seek to maintain high national standards for all graduate research degree programs.

What does DDOGS do?

The Council acts as a convening body to bring together academic Deans and Directors with university-wide responsibilities for graduate research (hereafter deemed the members) in seminars and working groups to facilitate the exchange of ideas and dissemination of information on graduate education.

How does DDOGS operate?

The business of the Council is conducted by an Executive Group that holds office for twelve months. Members of the Executive are nominated by the full membership. The membership of the Executive should be broadly representative of the kinds and geographical locations of Australian universities.

Membership of the Executive should comprise: (1) convenor (2) 2 penultimate convenors ex officio (3) 5 additional members. A member of the Executive Group is appointed as the convenor for a two year term. Normally, successive convenors will not come from the same grouping of universities.

The convenor acts as first point of contact for the Council during their term of office. He/she works with the member from the host institution to convene two meeting of Council per year and is responsible in the interim for the business of the Council.The convenor is responsible for developing the agenda for the meetings of Council, maintaining a membership database and the DDOGS website, coordinating the activities of working groups; distributing to members any relevant information, and if necessary, responding to media enquiries and coordinating any response or advice on behalf of members on matters deemed significant for dissemination.

DDOGS Membership

Full membership is open to Australian universities that have formal procedures for the administration of graduate research programs.

The Council also welcomes associate membership from colleagues who are engaged in graduate resarch in associated institutions/organisations in Australia, representatives from universities in New Zealand, National Convenors of DDOGS equivalents in other countries and a representative from the Australian Research Training Administrators Group (ARTA).

No membership fee is charged. The Council exists solely for education purposes and no member shall enjoy any financial profits from its operation. All activities of the Council are to be self-funding including the appropriate reimbursement to any member for legitimate expenses incurred in the conduct of an activity.