Will my Project Approval (PA) or Annual Progress Review (APR) be impacted if Panel members are taking part in Industrial Action?

Standard procedures require both Project Approval (PA) and Annual Progress Review (APR) to involve an impartial panel of two Newcastle members of staff to review and comment on documents submitted by yourself and your supervisory team, before making a recommendation to the Dean of Postgraduate Studies.  

However, in order not to hold up progress, where a panel member is taking part in industrial action and indicates that they will not therefore contribute to the PA or APR review, the Academic Unit can look to appoint an alternative panel member.  

In exceptional cases, the PA or APR could go ahead with a one-person panel where the recommendation is: 

• ‘Proceed’ (Project Approval)  
• ‘Progress’ or ‘Progress with Concerns’ (Annual Progress Review) 

For any other recommendation a second panel member would need to be appointed by your academic unit.  

Last reviewed: 21 May 2025