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SMCRAC - Honorary Doctorate through Leadership Portfolio Submission

Evaluation methods and grading systems based on traditional assignments and evaluation are increasingly becoming mere simplifiers of academic beurocratic processes. They don’t actually measure what a candidate should understand at the end of each learning process. The use of traditional modes of assignments and written projects are no longer viewed as a suitable form of evaluation. This is increasingly becoming evident in adult higher education. The more popular and meaningful alternative being adopted by many international institutions world-wide is the Portfolio method which provides the opportunity for candidates to exhibit their understanding of the subject matter through the presentation of work-based evidences. These may have actually occurred in a candidate’s work-place or something that the candidate feels he/she can now implement at the work-place.

What is a Portfolio:

A portfolio is a careful and purposeful collection of candidate’s work and/or experiences that exhibits the candidate’s efforts, progress and achievements. A portfolio provides a richer picture of candidate’s performance than can be gained from more traditional forms of assessments. A portfolio should reveal a range of skills and understanding on a wide range of issues. A portfolio is deemed the most suitable form of assessment for the honorary doctoral programme as it:

• Encourages self-directed learning.
• Enlarges the view of what is learned.
• Fosters learning about learning.
• Demonstrates progress toward identified outcomes.
• Provides a way for candidates to value themselves as active learners.
• Offers opportunities for peer-supported growth.

Objectives of a Portfolio:

The objective of a portfolio is to provide the opportunity for candidates to:

• Exhibit their understanding of the subject matter.
• Relate the  theories  and  concepts  that  they  have  learned  to  real-life  work/business situations.
• Provide evidence of their ability to adapt and adopt what they have acquired from their learning process to real-life business situations.
• Measure the effectiveness of their own life-long learning endeavours.
• Provide evidence of how they are able to view current/past work-place related problems in the light of the new knowledge that they have acquired.
• Enable them to collate their work/life experiences into a meaningful and coherent body of work that will exhibit their understanding and knowledge of work-place related issues.

Format of Business Leadership Portfolio:

Section A: Introduction

• Personal – Provides a concise self-description. This must include examples of leadership positions held.
• Organization – Provides a concise introduction to the organization and the industry in which it operates. The description of the industry must be given from both domestic and international perspectives.

Section B: Personal View on Leadership

• Provides an analysis of what is meant by ‘leadership’. This should be discussed from the point of personal experiences, supported by external ideas/concepts.
• Choose one (1) current business leader (local/international) and discuss what you have personally learned from the business leadership style of this individual.

Section C: Examples of Leadership Dilemma/Success

• In this section the candidate needs to provide examples of his/her own examples of leadership dilemma or success. Candidates may either discuss one ‘incident’ only in detail or a few incidents that have occurred throughout their career as a business leader.

Section D: Synergizing New Knowledge Gained with Practical Business Leadership Demands

• Throughout the programme, candidates will undoubtedly gain much knowledge and insights on the concept and practice of business leadership.
• In this section candidates are required to present their own understanding of how their newly acquired knowledge can be synergized with their own practical leadership examples.
• Candidates may also draw from their wide readings, participation in conferences/seminars. It is critical that candidates exhibit a deep sense of practical knowledge. This practical knowledge may also be derived from other business leaders’ experiences. Where possible candidates must indicate and  explain  how  far  their  experience  is  similar  or  different  from  other  business  leaders’ experiences and examples.

Section E: Conclusion

• In this section, candidates are to summaries what they have presented in the rest of the portfolio. More than a repetition of what has already been discussed; the conclusion section should contain an in-depth synthesis of them. No new ideas or opinions should be introduced at this stage.

Summary Requirements Nominations for the Honorary Awards & Accolades for SMCRAC:

SMCRAC, Global through its affiliated Partnering Bodies awards honorary degrees based on nominations and approvals from review committee setup for this purpose. An honorary award or a degree honoris causa, for the sake of the honor, is an academic award for which a granting body has waived the usual requirements such as matriculation, study, and the passing of examinations. The degree itself is typically a doctorate or, less commonly, a master’s degree. Usually the degree is conferred as a way of honouring a distinguished guest’s contributions to a specific field, or to community or to society in general. The university creates strong associations with experts or different fields and contributions by honouring them its honorary degrees. Nomination may be sent directly to SMCRAC Personnel with detailed profile of nominee and applicable fees payment along with all relevant documents of achievements which stand your case eligible for honorary Awards & Title before the reviewing committee. This degree is the highest award conferred by the SMCRAC & Its affiliates. An honorary Award may be awarded to an individual who has achieved acknowledged eminence in cultural affairs, in public service, or in a field of knowledge, Education and healthcare or any other core areas in which he/she has specialized. Honorary degrees are not awarded to encourage or reward contributions to the SMCRAC.

Honorary Title’s & Awards:

• Doctor of Excellence given to persons who have distinguished themselves in the humanities
• Doctor of Letters (D.Litt), given to scholars/intelligent in particular disciplines
• Doctor of Social Works (D.S.W), given to persons distinguished in Social service

The honorary award is conferred by the president / chief secretary or a designated representative on behalf of the affiliates. The autonomous body awards several honorary award annually. Recipients of honorary awards need not have been educated at or otherwise associated with SMCRAC or its affiliates. A recommendation that a person be considered for an honorary award should be submitted to the honours’ committee of the appropriate unit, if one exists,

The following format is to be used: 

• Nominee – Must be a current member of the faculty or staff, or a sitting Regent, & retirees are eligible.
• Nominator – must be an alumnus or member of SMCRAC or its affiliates or a current member of the faculty or staff.
• Nomination Summary – 50 words or less, restricted to outlining the nominee’s accomplishments, excluding degrees and appointments.
• Outstanding Accomplishments – one page summary highlighting the individual’s accomplishments.
• Biographical Information – not to exceed 5 pages and to include address, telephone/fax number, date and place of birth, education, employment, membership in professional societies, honours’ and awards, professional and public service, consulting activities, etc.
• Dean, Chancellor, Vice Presidential level Support – as appropriate (indicated by the cover letter to the nomination).
• Selected Publications of Nominee – not to exceed 5 pages (if not appropriate, 5 more pages are allowed for biographical information).
• Letter from Nominator – should focus on personal knowledge of the nominee’s career accomplishments and reputation.
• Supporting Letters – at least one, not more than 5 from the nominee’s peers in and outside SMCRAC; again, these should focus on personal knowledge as above.
• Maximum Length of Dossier – not more than 25 pages.
• Number of Copies – 05 of each item, collated stapled and clipped (Spiral Bounded or Hard Bounded).
• Date for Submission – at least three months before the award is presented.
• Submit to – the honours’ committee of SMCRAC, if one exists or any Affiliate partner campus.

Note: Persons writing letters of nomination should know that such letters will be legally available to the nominee upon request, even to an unsuccessful candidate who becomes aware of the nomination. Nominators should also make sure that writers of supporting letters are aware that their letters, too, will be available on request. A nomination approved by the Honours’ Committee is submitted to the President and, finally, to the Board of Director for approval. Board of Director Policy requires that no disclosure is to be made to the nominee while his or her name is under consideration.

Units sponsoring honorary degrees are encouraged to provide travel support when funds are available. In general, award and citation costs are borne by SMCRAC Relations, award ceremony costs by the nominating unit, and travel expenses by the awardees’.

Fee Payment: You may directly forward all concerned Honorary titles Nomination along with the complete dossiers to the Authorized International Affiliate Partner.

For more information write to us at: smcracoffice@gmail.com