All three examiners commented that Jacinta Hawkin's doctoral thesis was well written and so it was.  Her work has been thorough (with careful attention to detail), engaging (with a thesis to convey in an absorbing way) and it was also very carefully crafted (with sound academic and scholarly standards readily apparent).   Her study, by way of interest, was concerned with examining the relevance of marketing models and strategies being deployed within a sample of primary schools in order to promote healthy eating and healthy (physical) activities.  Her work was geared towards schools achieving reductions in obesity amongst young children and their families.  Jacinta's thesis is especially relevant given the sedentary lifestyles and burgeoning obesity levels which prevail throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.  In my view, this is particularly important now given the recent very regrettable withdrawal of support by our current National led government for schools having to provide healthy lunch schemes.
 
The quality of Jacinta's work was clearly acknowledged by those involved in her oral examination last week.  We were in Australia at the time and the expected success text came through late on Wednesday afternoon.  I'd especially kept my mobile phone charged up in readiness.  When it came, we weren't at all surprised at the outcome because we've been privy to the huge amount of work Jacinta has completed - especially over the past year.

The thesis will , as is more often than not the case today, need a few minor tweaks which the supervisor will sign off.  In my experience, these are generally quite simple matters to attend to.  After that has happened, Jacinta, and Simon Martin (see previous blog), will each be capped at the next  Massey University graduation.   It's a fitting reward for each of them but again, there's a need to acknowledge the support of family.  For Jacinta, the careful proofing by her father was crucial - he picked up everything that there was to pick up and he was very instrumental in making sure that the logic of the thesis flowed.  He challenged and he counselled so that the final outcome was always going to be be excellent.  I've not yet met Jacinta's dad and neither have I met Jacinta's mum, but I know that their daughter is immensely grateful for the support she's received from them and also from her (still studying) brother.

Darren, Jacinta's partner, got in on the act too.  He cooked, he cleaned and he also proposed marriage to Jacinta a couple of days before her Viva Voce was scheduled.  She said yes, by the way so double congratulations are very much in order.

Because I can never remember if it's Voce Viva or viva voce, I looked the term up via Google and here is what they say about the meaning of Viva voce at Trinity College, London:

Viva voce is the traditional phrase (it is Latin, and literally means 'by living voice') for an examination of knowledge through question and answer or discussion, rather than through a written paper. Dissertations for university degrees have long been examined with the candidate face-to-face with the examiners.

Do not let the term put you off.  All it means in these syllabuses is 'discussion', and the content of discussion will always be relevant to what has been prepared and performed or demonstrated. Discussion will usually take place after the performance, as the final part of the practical examination, but may at times take place after one piece where it is not part of a performance programme as such. It is usually a relaxed and pleasant kind of give-and-take in conversation, rather than a quiz or a grilling. 

The emphasis on a relaxed and pleasant kind of conversation is important here because it very much denotes a conversation between peers and when the candidate has put so much effort into preparing a thesis, they deserve that kind of respectfully gifted time.  Typically, the tone is positive and the discussion is very professional indeed.  It's a chance for a celebration, a meeting of celebrated minds. 

Because it's a celebration, the occasion, could, in my view become positively and fittingly extended.  To explain.  I personally think that it would be entirely appropriate to invite supporters into the meeting after the candidate has met formally with the examiners.  That way, the efforts of those supporters, the Whanau and friends, could be acknowledged and highlights of the thesis could be shared. 

The presumption, of course, is that the candidate will have achieved a standard that enables admission to the degree.  I can't imagine anything more horrible than a small group of friends and family waiting expectantly for a green light only to be told that major revisions are required!  To avoid such a misery setting, I guess that the Viva Voce should only ever be allowed to proceed after horse trading about standards of excellence has been completed.  That way we'd all know that we were hanging around for a celebration of excellence achieved, excellence manifested by the output of one writer but mightily contributed to by a close-knit community of learning and practice. 

What do you think?

Jens