Asked to asses a PhD student's application - confused!

Amber 123

Just received an email from the academic registry asking me to consult my my.tcd.ie page because there is a course application for my attention. My.tcd.ie has asked me to make a recommendation (Conditional, unconditional, waiting list, reject) for a student who has applied to do a PhD in Near and Middle Eastern Studies.

I am not sure why I've been asked to asses this application and certainly don't think I'm qualified to do so. I'm currently studying a taught Masters in the department of English and have no background in Near and Middle Eastern Studies.

Was this application sent to my my.tcd.ie by mistake? I don't want this application to be compromised but am unsure how to respond/proceed.

It's worrying - I can see this applicant's name, address, D.O.B., PPS number, his references and so on. Is it routine to ask students to assess such applications? I might understand if I was at PhD level myself but I'm not.

Can anyone shed any light?

Thanks!

BeanbagBallbag

Is your tcd email similar to either of these, fitzpaa@tcd.ie or amayes@tcd.ie?

You should email the registry back explaining that you received the email in error anyway.

Ravelleman

I got this message as well. Clearly a catastrophic IT failure.

Amber 123 wrote: »

It's worrying - I can see this applicant's name, address, D.O.B., PPS number, his references and so on. Is it routine to ask students to assess such applications? I might understand if I was at PhD level myself but I'm not.

Of course it isn't normal.

aenes

I had the same situation and I assume I was asked to review the very same application (male student, middle eastern studies). That's not all - I know another person who also was asked to asses this application and again should not even have access to it. So together it makes three people who already got it and there are probably more. As far as I checked last time the application is no longer available on my account. However, the mistake is terrible - I was able to see the whole application, personal information, references... should not happen! I'm a PhD student myself and would not like to have my application send to random people in college.

If you still see the application on your account, I would simply report it to academic register.

Larianne

That's a disgrace. I hope people have reported it.

fungie

I got it too, his essay wasn't the best!

Ravelleman

Funny that people complain about the data-protection breach and then go and read his proposal...

Although, perhaps it's not the same people...

Still, shame on those who actually read it. It was quite obvious what it was so it wasn't even necessary to read it in order to clarify.

Slugabed

The Department of Near and Middle Eastern Studies is brand new and it's a complete mess at the moment.

fungie

Ravelleman wrote: »

Funny that people complain about the data-protection breach and then go and read his proposal...

Although, perhaps it's not the same people...

Still, shame on those who actually read it. It was quite obvious what it was so it wasn't even necessary to read it in order to clarify.

Relax, it was a joke. I've better things to do.