1. You are now in the: MERIT room
Option 2: If you have a microphone, raise your hand by
pressing the button. You will be entered into a
queue. When I am ready to take your questions, I will
prompt you to speak.
When prompted, press the button and
speak into your microphone. I will respond to your verbal
questions.
To move into another room –click on
button and select the room that you wish to enter from
the dropped down list.(hold down control key on a Mac).
Main Room is the reception.
Should you have any further queries, please email me at
c.p.pathirage@salford.ac.uk
To exit this software go to ‘File > Exit’ (on a PC) or
‘Blackboard Collaborate Web Conferencing menu’ > Quit’
(on a Mac).
Option 1: I If you do not have a microphone, type a
message in the box to the bottom left and press the
Enter button on your keyboard.
I will respond to your text questions.
I am Chaminda Pathirage, the Programme Director. The agenda for this session is as follows:
1.I will begin with a 15 minute presentation
2.If you have questions as we go along, please either type them in the chat box (Option 1) or raise your
hand (Option 2)
3.At the end of my presentation I will read through the text questions and answer them; I will also give
microphone rights to those who wish to verbally ask questions
4.I will start my presentation at 18:30pm, and will repeat it again at 19:05pm.

2. History
MERIT was launched in January 2004
Professor Mustafa Al-Shawi’
Brains behind MERIT
Prof. David Eaton
1ST
Programme director
MERIT Programme director – January 2005

3. MERIT team
Miss Sarah Ricketts
IT support
Rachel Lilley
Admin Support
Vian Ahmed
Programme Director

4. MERIT support and supervisors:
Management, Economics Research
and IT

5. Current and Past Intake
Location
-Ireland,
-Kuwait,
- UAE,
-Palestine,
-Lebanon,
-Jordan,
-Saudi Arabia
-Canada,
-USA
-Nigeria
-Ukraine
-Hong Kong
- UK
Background
– Industry based / academia or neither
Reasons for leaving
– financial or lack of performance
More of the MERIT community on
Blackboard

6. Admission and Registration
- Entry requirements same as all PhD
- But Must have an MSc
- Must chose their local advisor in their country of residence
Admissions
Offer letter issued
-Prepares the induction
Programme.
Induction

7. All have 2 weeks induction
-Meet the programme director (overview).
-Meet their local advisors and supervisors
on-line.
-Train to use endnote and library resources.
-Receive their timelines.
-Receive a list of required reports.
-Receive Research Methodology Training.
Beyond Registration

8. Sulaiman Saleh Al-
Shuraim
Location
Saudi Arabia
Proposed Research
In spite of existing contributions to resolving this issue I think there is still room for further
contributions and improvements especially that the research will be not only library based for all
the previous literature involved but will also involve field work conducted on representative
samples of related parties such as developers, contractors, loaners, purchasers, leasers,
lawyers, scholars, engineers, architects, building material
Supervisor
Paul Chynoweth
Local Advisor
Dr Nabil Moh’d Ali
Abbas

9. Amira Myra Khattab
Location
United Kingdom
Proposed Research
Applying the principles of sustainability to human activities requires close scrutiny of all
sectors of economic activity to assess the changes that are necessary to provide for a high
quality of life for future generations. Businesses, in light of their impact on environmental
quality and resources, will be scrutinized and evaluated. The sustainability of the corporate
sector is dependent on a fundamental shift in the way resources are managed. This will
require a shift from using non-renewable items to utilizing renewable products, from
demonstrating high levels of waste to high levels of reuse and recycling, and from use of
products based on lowest first cost to using products based on life-cycle costs and full cost
accounting.
Supervisor
Dr Vian Ahmed
Local Advisor
Bob Von Bernuth

10. Local Advisor
Dr Mohammed-Asem Malak
Supervisor
Dr Gerard Wood
Proposed Research
The general idea behind the proposed topic is to get the Facilities Management best practices,
knowledge, and requirements integrated in the Design and Construction Phases of a facility.
Introducing FM (Facilities Management) from day zero, when the concept starts being
developed evolving into a detailed design and complete contract documentation then entering
into the construction phase through to handing over to the Owner.
The abovementioned procedure should be carried out for purposes of optimal construction
processes, in addition to reduced operation and maintenance costs, increased efficiency and
functionality, and a longer facility lifetime.
As a result, the services needed by a particular organization and which are provided through
facilities management, will lead to optimal performance.
Location - Lebanon
Habib Bu Jawdeh

11. MERIT TIMELINE
MERIT CANDIDATE: Sample student: Yr 2
COMMENCE FINISH DURATION COMMENTS
(Months)
INDUCTION 19/01/2004 19/02/2004 1
RESEARCH METHODS 19/02/2004 19/05/2004 3
PROPOSAL 19/05/2004 19/08/2004 3
LITERATURE REVIEW 19/08/2004 19/04/2005 8
RESEARCH Part 1 19/04/2005 19/10/2005 6
RESEARCH Part 2 19/10/2005 19/04/2006 6
TESTING 19/04/2006 19/07/2006 3
WRITE UP 19/07/2006 19/01/2007 6
VIVA 19/01/2007 19/03/2007 2

12. Stage 1 (Research proposal)
- within 3 months
-20 pages
-to clearly establish the aim and objectives of the
research and the rational behind it.
Stage 2 (Literature Review)
-8 month
-30 pages.
-Contains the preliminary work within the research.
MERIT Reports

13. Stage 3: Research Package 1
-6 Months
-30 pages report.
-Include the preliminary works of the research and
technical experimentation.
Stage 4 : Research Package 2
-6 months
-30 pages report.
Critical evaluation of the findings with respect to
the literature
How MERIT works

14. Stage 5 – Testing.
-3 months.
-Summary of findings.
Stage 6 – Writing up (6 months).
– Viva at Salford.
How MERIT works?!

15. Monitoring Progress

16. Date and
type of
session
Notes on progress made to-date and
feedback given
Actions to be taken by next supervision
session
Progress report
MERIT PROGRAMME – Monthly Progress and Feedback Sheet
Types of MERIT sessions may include –
horizonwimba sessions, meetings, group tutorials,
e-mails, phone calls, etc.
Students should fill this form out and pass to
local advisor to email to the MERIT
administrator. These forms will only be
accepted if received directly from the local
advisor.
Supervisor
Advisor
Student

17. Communicating the progress reports
Procedure
Student Supervisor
Local Advisor E-mail to
PG administrator
Programme Director
Shared DriveShared Drive

18. Stages of your research
Learning Agreement
Interim Assessment
Internal Evaluation
Viva
Within the first 3 months
A minimun of 12 months
Assessment at Salford
12 months after IA
Assessment at SalfordAnnual progress report
Self evaluation report
Assessment at Salford

19. Motivating Students

20. ‘Research Over Coffee’

21. Delays in registration.
Technology and Culture (supervisors and
local advisors).
Technology.
Change of admin.
Students’ background and culture.
Regulations !!
Teething Problems

22. MERIT Statistics
Intake Registered Left Completed Progressing
2004 7 3 4 0
2005 4 1 3
2006 5 1 0 4
2007 4 4
2008 8 1 0 7
2009 8 0 0 8
2010 2 0 0 2
Total 38 6 7 25