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Research - Special Topics.
In this Section:Calculation
of EFTD Used/Total and Submission Dates
for a Candidature.
EFTSU
Calculation for Research Units.
Recommended
Effective Start/End Date Alias Instances.
How
EFTSU is Calculated for a Research Unit.
An
Example of the EFTSU Calculations.
The
Implications for EFTSU Calculation
of Enrolment in Both Research and Coursework Units.
Valid
Candidature Attendance Percentage Ranges.
Calculation of EFTD Used/Total and Submission Dates for a Candidature.
The
Research subsystem uses the concept of Effective Full-Time Days (EFTD) as
a means of assisting a candidate in monitoring their progress, establishing
minimum and maximum dates for thesis submission and in calculating the EFTSU a candidate's research
studies contribute to their total EFTSU for any given load calendar.
This
is because a range of unique aspects apply to research studies. Research is
not necessarily limited to the standard teaching periods used for coursework
studies. The commencement date of a candidate's research may not be the same
as the defined course commencement date. The amount of time any research candidate
allocates to his/her research may vary over the period of their research.
The
system calculates both the current number of (effective full-time) days already
used and the total number of (effective full-time) days available for a research
candidature (EFTD Used/Total field displayed on RESF3211). Both are displayed as values to two decimal places.
These calculated values are used in the system calculation of Min / Max Submission
Dates.
Note that for a candidate enrolled in a research unit and studying at a 'standard'
full-time rate (100%), this candidate would consume one effective full-time
day each calendar day. The same student studying at a 'standard' part-time
rate (50%) would consume 0.5 of an effective full-time day each calendar day.
Example:
|
|
Student Attendance Percentage |
Commencement Date |
Total EFTD Available |
EFTD Used by 24/3/98 (inclusive) |
|
STUDENT 1 |
100% |
3/3/98 |
730 |
22 days |
|
STUDENT 2 |
50% |
3/3/98 |
730 |
11 |
The
EFTD Used value is recalculated
daily and whenever the Attendance % is changed for a candidate. (The range
of Attendance % values matching each defined Attendance Type is explained
in detail below). The calculation of the EFTD Used value starts when
a candidate's Student Course Attempt is confirmed. It is derived using data
from the candidate's attendance percentage variations records. A candidate
may have intermission periods in their attendance history. The inclusion or
exclusion of these intermission periods is determined by the value of the
Count in Progression indicator (a Course Version attribute, defined by
a course structure specialist using the form CRSF1210).
- In calculating the EFTD Used value, each Attendance Percentage record
(up to and including the current date) is processed. The number of days
in the record is multiplied by the Attendance Percentage for that record.
- The calculated values for all records are then totalled.
- Where periods of intermission are excluded, the EFTD of Intermission
is calculated (by multiplying the number of intermission days by the Attendance
% applicable before intermission) and subtracted from the total, returning
the total EFTD Used figure.
The
calculation of EFTD Total uses the Standard
Full Time Completion Time value, an attribute of the Course Version (see
form CRSF1210). The EFTD Total value is calculated once, when a research
candidature record is created (in form RESF3211). The formula used to calculate
the total days available for the candidature is
(Standard FT Completion Time value/10) * 365.
Actual
Total EFTD is calculated using the formula:
Actual Total EFTD = EFTD Total - Prior Candidature EFTD.
The calculated value can be overridden by manual entry of an EFTD value.
Where
submission dates are system-calculated
values (as opposed to override dates entered for a specific candidate), they
are recalculated daily. (Refer to RESF3211 for explanation of overriding these values)
The
Max Submission Date is calculated using the EFTD Used, Actual
Total EFTD and the Attendance Percentage values, recorded for the
candidature. The calculation is:
The remaining full time candidature days are calculated by subtracting EFTD
Used from the Standard Full Time Completion Time (see CRSF1210).
The remaining days are added to the current date at the rate specified by
the current, and any future dated, attendance % records until all remaining
days have been accounted for and the Max Submission Date has been reached.
Example.
The
Min Submission Date calculates
from the current date, using the same method as for the Max Submission Date,
except that instead of adding remaining days at the recorded attendance percentage
rates, remaining days are added at the Min Submission Perc rate ((an attribute
of the Course Version, established using form CRSF1210)
An
Example of these Calculations:
|
Student One |
|
|
A research candidate enrols in a course with a Std FT Cmpltn Time value of 20. The EFTD Total for this candidature |
(20/10)*365 = 730 |
|
The
candidate has a Prior Candidature credit of 30 days and the following
Attendance Percentage entries: 31/5/97
- 1/7/97 at 50% Attendance 2/7/97
- 30/6/98 at 80% 1/7/98
- 2/12/98 at 100% 3/12/98
- 31/12/98 at 80% The
current date is 6/12/98 The EFTD Used for this candidature at 6/12/98 |
Prior
candidature = 30
80%
of 364 days = 291.2 100%
of 155 days = 155 80%
of 4 days (to 6/12/98) = 3.2
=
495.4 |
|
The
current date is 6/12/98 and the candidate has future dated attendance
percentage records of: 3/12/98
- 31/12/98 at 80% 1/1/99
- (record not end dated) at 100% |
730
- 495.4 = 234.6 EFT days remaining 31/12/98 + 214.6 days (at 100%) = 3/8/99 |
|
The
course has a MinSubmission % value of 75% The Min Submission Date is |
547.5
- 495.4 = 52.10 52.10
/ 0.75 = 69.47 6/12/98 + 69.47 = 13/02/99 |
|
Student Two: |
|
|
A research candidate enrols in a course with a Std FT Cmpltn Time value of 10. The EFTD Total for this candidature |
(10/10)*365 = 365 |
|
The
current date is 7/12/97 and the candidate has the following Attendance
Percentage entries: 1/4/97
- 1/7/97 at 100% Attendance 2/7/97
- (record not end dated) at 75% The EFTD Used for this candidature at 7/12/97 is |
75%
of 159 days (to 7/12/97) = 119.25 =
211.25 |
|
The
current date is 7/12/97 and the candidate has future dated attendance
percentage records of: 2/7/97
- (record not end dated) at 75% The Max Submission Date is |
365
- 211.25 (to 7/12/97) = 153.75 EFT days remaining 153.75
/ 0.75 = 205 calendar days remaining 7/12/97 + 205 days = 30/06/98 |
|
The
course has a MinSubmission % value of 75%. The Min Submission Date is |
75%
of 365 = 273.75 days 273.75
- 211.25 = 62.5 62.5
/ 0.75 = 83.33 7/12/97 + 83.33 = 28/02/98 |
EFTSU Calculation for Research Units.
The
calculation of EFTSU for a research Student Unit Attempt assumes :
- a student can be enrolled in one research unit
which contributes to a load calendar instance (but may be enrolled in
coursework units which contribute to the same load calendar instance).
- research load can only be calculated in a teaching
period with a single census date.
- the maximum research EFTSU per load calendar is
a calculated proportion of the EFTSU per academic year. Maximum EFTSU
per academic year is always 1.0. The EFTSU per Load Calendar is calculated
by multiplying that Maximum EFTSU by the Load Research % assigned to the
load calendar.
Example:
|
Teaching Period |
Load Calendar |
Load Research % |
EFTSU per Load Calendar |
|
RES-1 |
LOAD-CAL-1 |
50% |
=
50% of 1.0 |
|
RES-2 |
LOAD-CAL-2 |
50% |
=50%
of 1.0 |
|
SUM |
LOAD-CAL-3 |
NULL |
N/A |
For
more information on establishing appropriate research calendars & date
aliases see Specialist Overview.
The
calculated research EFTSU is used where:
- the SUA unit version is a 'research unit' (i.e.
the Research attribute is set - see CRSF2210)
and the teaching calendar instance is one in which the two research date
aliases (Effective Start Date and Effective End Date) exist (see RESF31G0). This can be checked by viewing the applicable
teaching calendar and its Date Alias Instances using form CALF0220.
and
- the teaching period contributes load to a load
calendar instance where the load calendar instance has a Load
Research % value between 0.01 and 100. (Load Research % values are
entered against a Load Calendar instance in form CALF0330.)
LOAD-CAL-1 and LOAD-CAL-2 in the example above
would use the calculated research EFTSU.
The
calculated research EFTSU is not used where:
- a student is enrolled in a 'research unit' but
under a 'non-research' teaching calendar (i.e. one without the research
Effective Start/End date aliases). In this case EFTSU is calculated in
the standard way.
- a student is enrolled in a 'research unit' in a
research teaching period which contributes to a load calendar where the
Load Research % is 'NULL'. In this case EFTSU would be calculated
in the standard way. In the example configuration above, a research unit
offered in the SUM teaching period contributes to LOAD-CAL-3. Because
this has a 'NULL' Load Research %, EFTSU is not calculated using
the research EFTSU calculation described here. (Refer to EFTSU calculation
for Statistics for an understanding of the standard EFTSU calculation).
- an override EFTSU value is recorded against a Student
Unit Attempt (in form ENRF3000),
the override value will always be used in this case.
NOTE: The calculated research EFTSU is adjusted when a candidate is enrolled
in both a research unit and coursework unit/s. This is explained in detail
below.
Recommended Effective Start/End Date Alias Instances.
Because
the majority of commencing students usually start their research studies at
the same time as the academic year starts (late February or early March in
Australian universities), it is expected that these students generate the
maximum EFTSU for their attendance type.
It
is also important to be able to claim the load generated by a research student
who begins research studies before the start of the first research teaching
period in any given academic period. In this case the student can be enrolled
in a research unit for a teaching period which contributes to a load calendar
with a 'NULL' Load Research %, so the standard EFTSU calculation applies.
In the example configuration, the student would be enrolled in the SUM teaching
period, if their research studies commence before 1/3/2000 and this would
generate an EFTSU value, calculated in the standard way, for that teaching
period.
The
following example provides a structure within which these varied commencements
will have the accurate EFTSU load calculated.
|
Teaching Period Calendar |
Start Date |
End Date |
Date Alias Instance: Effective Start Date (RES-STRT) |
Date Alias Instance: Effective End Date (RES-END) |
EFTD in Teach Period |
|
RES - 1 |
01/01/1999 |
30/6/1999 |
1/3/1999 (= to the CRS-START date alias for the ADM-PER-1 calendar, with no offset) |
18/7/1999 (= to the CRS-START date alias for the ADM-PER-2 calendar with Offset value of minus 1 day). |
140 |
|
RES - 2 |
01/07/1999 |
31/12/1999 |
19/7/1999 (= to the CRS-START date alias for ADM-PER-2 calendar with no offset) |
5/12/1999 (= to the RES-STRT date alias for RES-2 calendar with an offset value of +139 days) |
140 |
|
SUM |
30/11/1999 |
29/2/2000 |
6/12/1999 |
29/2/2000 |
Not Applicable |
How EFTSU is Calculated for a Research Unit.
Values: The calculation uses the following values:
- the EFTD for the Teaching Period - the total number of Effective
Full-Time Days between the Effective Start/End date aliases in the research
teaching calendar (EFTD in Teach Period.).
- the candidate's Attendance % at the Census Date (Census Att% ).
- the EFTSU per Load Calendar value.
Adjustment
Values: The calculation may use any or all of the following
adjustment values, depending on the candidate's commencement date, attendance
history and periods of intermission.
- where the candidate has attendance periods prior to the Census date,
at higher percentages than their Census Att%, an adjustment is calculated
(HighAdj).
The calculation =SUM((Higher Att% - Census Att%) * No. of Days at that higher percentage). - where the candidate has attendance periods, prior to Census date,
at a lower percentage than their Census Att%, an adjustment is calculated
(LowAdj).
The calculation = SUM((Census Att% - Lower Att%) * No. of Days at that lower percentage). - where the candidate commences their research after the Effective
Start date alias instance for the research teaching period. The candidate
has not used the full number of EFTD in Teach Period, as calculated for
the applicable calendar so an adjustment is made (CommenceAdj).
The calculation = (Effective Start Date - Research Comm Date) * Candidate's Att% at Research Comm Date. - where the candidate has any period of intermission (which is to be
excluded) an adjustment is included in the EFTSU calculation (IntermissAdj).
The calculation = SUM(each Att% during time of Intermission * No. of Intermission Days at that Att%).
The
final calculation of EFTSU uses the following
steps:
- Multiply EFTD in Teach Period by Census
Att%
- Add HighAdj value (if any)
- Subtract LowAdj, CommenceAdj, IntermissAdj
(if any)
- Divide resulting No. of Days by EFTD in Teach Period
- Multiply result by EFTSU per Load Calendar.
An Example of the EFTSU Calculations.
In
all scenarios given, the following values apply:
- Census Att% value is assumed to be 40% for all candidates.
- EFTD per Teaching Period is assumed to be 140 effective full-time
days.
- The Research Load % value is assumed to be 50%, so the EFTSU per
Load Calendar is 0.50.
|
Explanation /Calculation: |
EFTD in Teach Period * Census Att% |
Adjustment |
No. of Days (after Adjustments) |
No. of Days / EFTD in Teach Period |
Result * EFTSU per Load Calendar |
|
Candidate One: Standard EFTSU calculation with no adjustments |
56 |
|
56 |
= 56 / 140 |
=
0.40 * 0.5 = 0.2 EFTSU |
|
Candidate Two: has an attendance history entry where for a period of 3 weeks in this teaching period (before the census date), the attendance percentage was higher (50%) |
56 |
=
(50% - 40%) * 21 =
10% * 21 2.1 HighAdj |
=
56 + 2.1 = 58.1 |
= 58.1 / 140 |
=
0.415 * 0.5 = 0.207 EFTSU |
|
Candidate Three: has an attendance history entry where for a period of 3 weeks in this teaching period (before census date) this candidate's attendance percentage was lower (25%). |
56 |
=
(40% - 25%) * 21 =
15% * 21 = 3.15 LowAdj |
=
56 - 3.15 = 52.85 |
= 52.85 / 140 |
=
0.3775 * 0.5 = 0.188 EFTSU |
|
Candidate Four: has an attendance history that shows for a period of 1 week in this teaching period (before census date) the candidate's attendance percentage was lower (20%) and for a period of 2 weeks was again lower at 30%. |
56 |
=
((40% - 20%) * 7)+ ((40%-30%)*14 =
20% * 7 + 10% * 14 = 2.8 LowAdj |
=
56 - 2.8 = 53.2 |
= 53.2 / 140 |
=
0.38 * 0.5 = 0.19 EFTSU |
|
Candidate Five: has a Commencement Date of 15/03/1999, the Effective Start Date is 1/03/1999. |
56 |
=
(1/03/1999 - 15/03/1999) * 40% =15
days * 40% = 6 days CommenceAdj |
=
56 - 6 =50 |
= 50 / 140 |
=
0.357 * 0.5 = 0.178 EFTSU |
|
Candidate Six: has an Intermission Period of 14 days in the teaching period (before census date.), with no change to attendance percentage at any stage. |
56 |
=
40% * 14 = 5.6 IntermissAdj. |
=
56 - 5.6 = 50.4 |
= 50.4 / 140 |
=
0.36 * 0.5 = 0.18 EFTSU |
The Implications for EFTSU Calculation of Enrolment in Both Research and Coursework Units.
If
a student is enrolled in both a research unit and one or more coursework units,
there are important implications for the calculation of EFTSU for the research
unit. The EFTSU values determine the disbursement of income to organisational
units within the institution - the organisational unit 'owning' the coursework
unit receives the coursework EFTSU proportion of the income generated by this
research student and the organisational unit/s of the supervisor/s are allocated
the research EFTSU proportion of the income.
The
EFTSU applicable to a unit can be adjusted for an individual student if the
Override Credit Points Indicator is set for that unit (see Maintain Basic
Unit Details - CRSF2210). Reducing the EFTSU for a coursework unit through overriding
it, causes a corresponding increase in the EFTSU attributed to the student's
research unit. The override EFTSU value is entered against the Student Unit
Attempt in ENRF3000. This causes a corresponding adjustment of the same
ratio, to income disbursement.
The
Attendance % value entered in the Candidature Details form (RESF3211) should
be seen as the candidate's attendance % for their total studies - research
and coursework units. A student enrolled in a part-time course with the standard
Attendance % of 50, would have an expected EFTSU of 0.250. This student is
enrolled in one research unit (within a research teaching period contributing
to a load calendar which has an
appropriate Load Research % value, so
using the research EFTSU calculation) and 2 coursework units under a standard
teaching period (which have EFTSU of 0.125 each). The calculated EFTSU value
for the research unit has to be 0 as the coursework units have used all the
available EFTSU. He/she has, in effect, no time available for the research
unit. In fact the student has enrolled in units which require a 75% attendance,
so the value entered in RESF3211 should be altered. (This may prompt a warning, as this new Attendance % value is above the Upper Enrol
Load Range for a part-time course).
The
following steps apply to the EFTSU calculations when a candidate is enrolled
in research and coursework units:
- An EFTSU value for the candidate's Attendance % is determined. This
becomes the EFTSU Ceiling value against which the combined
research and coursework EFTSU values will be checked. The method for calculating
this Attendance % EFTSU value is explained in the next section.
- The EFTSU for the Research Unit (StartingResEFTSU)
is calculated, using the method described in the section above.
- The Coursework Unit EFTSU (CourseEFTSU) is retrieved.
- CourseEFTSU is subtracted
from StartingResEFTSU and the resulting
value becomes the ResEFTSU value.
Examples of the Combined EFTSU Calculations:
|
Candidate One: |
Attendance % = 100 (i.e. a Full-Time enrolment) |
|
EFTSU Ceiling: |
=
0.5 * 1 = 0.5 |
|
StartingResEFTSU |
= 0.5 |
|
Student is enrolled in one coursework unit which has a CourseEFTSU value |
|
|
StartingResEFTSU - CourseEFTSU |
= 0.375 |
|
The final value means the research unit generates EFTSU of 0.375 |
|
|
Candidate Two: |
Attendance % = 75 (i.e. the minimum for classification as full-time ) |
|
EFTSU Ceiling: |
=
0.5 * 0.75 = 0.375 |
|
StartingResEFTSU |
= 0.375 |
|
Student
is enrolled in 3 coursework units, each with a CourseEFTSU
of : Total CourseEFTSU |
= 0.375 |
|
StartingResEFTSU - CourseEFTSU |
= 0 |
|
The final value means that the research unit generates 0 EFTSU. |
|
Options
Available where a Research
Unit with an EFTSU of 0 is unacceptable:
- Override the Coursework Unit EFTSU for this student. The EFTSU value
for the coursework unit can be lowered using this method. This means the
organisational unit/s supervising the candidate's research will receive
a higher proportion of the income generated by this student.
- Override the Research Unit EFTSU for this student. Again this allows
disbursement of income to the organisational unit supervising the research.
However the income split may not be in the proportions required by the institution
and this could result in an EFTSU which exceeds the standard value for full-time
or part-time studies, in a given period.
In
either of these scenarios, the override value is a fixed value, so is used
instead of the calculated value.
- Enrol the student in all units under a teaching calendar that has
a subordinate Load Calendar where the Load Research % value is 'NULL'.
In this case the research unit and coursework unit EFTSU will be calculated
in the standard way.
Valid Candidature Attendance Percentage Ranges.
Each
value entered as the Attendance Percentage for a candidate (in RESF3211) is
checked against the Load Ranges which apply to the enrolled course offering.
These Load Ranges are attributes of Attendance Types (CRSF1170). In the Attendance Type Load block of this form, these
load ranges are defined as EFTSU values, with a Lower and Upper Load value
for each load calendar.
When
an Attendance Percentage for a candidate is entered (in form RESF3211), an
EFTSU value for that Attendance % is calculated and a check made against the
Load Ranges which apply. When this calculated EFTSU value falls outside the
range as defined for the course Attendance Type, a warning displays in RESF3211.
The
same process and warning occur if the student's Course Offering Options are
changed through form ENRF4110.
The
following values exist in the database:
|
For the applicable Load Calendar (The Load Research % value is defined in CALF0330): |
|
|
|
Load
Research % |
50% |
|
|
Attendance Type (CRSF1170) |
FT (full-time) |
PT (part-time) |
|
Attendance Type Load Ranges (for applicable load calendar) |
|
|
|
Lower Enrol Load Range |
0.375 |
0.001 |
|
Upper Enrol Load Range |
=>20.00 |
0.374 |
A
candidate is enrolled in a course offering with an Attendance Type of FT
and in a single Research Unit in the current teaching period. An entry of
40% is made in the
Attendance Percentage field on the Candidature Details form RESF3211.
The
EFTSU value of this attendance percentage is calculated using this
formula:
Load
Research % / 100 * Candidate's Attendance % / 100.
For
the example values:
0.5
* 0.4 = 0.2 EFTSU.
This
is below the lower limit of the defined range for a Full Time course, so will
prompt a warning.
Last
modified on 11 March 2002