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Effective supervision

Effective supervision. Managing a doctorate May 2013 John Wakeford. a five-part series of questions, exercises, case studies and other materials designed to ensure that the doctorate is completed within the time available La T rahison des C lercs ? Julien Benda

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Effective supervision

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  1. Effective supervision Managing a doctorate May 2013 John Wakeford

  2. a five-part series of questions, exercises, case studies and other materials designed to ensure that the doctorate is completed within the time available La Trahisondes Clercs? Julien Benda ‘A crisis of the mind and spirit’ Anthony Grafton http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2010/mar/09/britain-the-disgrace-of-the-universities/

  3. Questions for a doctoral candidate • Do I sincerely want a doctorate? • Whydo I want a doctorate?? • Whendo I want mine? • How much will it cost? • How do I get it?

  4. 1 the investment The first exercise is to estimate what investment the doctoral candidate – and/or others providing support – is likely to be making in this doctorate: • Working with the person sitting next to you agree on a specific type of candidate (full- or part-time, home or international, etc) • Specify how long they have to finish • Use the check list provided to estimate the investment involved

  5. 2 the time commitment The second exercise is to calculate how much time is available to complete by their deadline. • Working with the person sitting next to you go through the second check list starting with the date the funding for the student you have identified will have run out • How many working days does this student have to complete their doctorate within their funded period?

  6. 3 The calculation Using the figures from the results of your two check lists, calculate the investment being made in each day of the doctorate These will be listed for discussion An alternative method: www.studentcalculator.org.uk/international What % did you allow for contingencies? Or think in terms of tolerances?

  7. An example: days work available to complete a phd in 3 years full time Days available 1st October 2012 to 30th June 2015 1004 less 143 weekends (143x2) leaves 718 less 6 weeks’ holiday and visits home (research council norm) (2.75x6x5) leaves 635 less 5% for illness/accidents (10 days pa) leaves 603 less allowance for family events, festivals, hospital and school visits, etc (10 days pa) leaves 573 less tutorial work/laboratory supervisions (assuming six hours a week for 25 weeks for two academic sessions plus preparation and marking) (12x25x2/8 = 75 days) leaves 498 less contingencies (5%?) leaves 473 So, even without a part-time job, a full time student has less than 500 days to complete within the period

  8. The same example but with 25% for contingencies Days available 1st October 2012 to 30th June 2015 1004 less 143 weekends (143x2) leaves 718 less 6 weeks’ holiday and visits home (research council norm) (2.75x6x5) leaves 635 less 5% for illness/accidents (10 days pa) leaves 603 less allowance for family events, festivals, hospital and school visits, etc (10 days pa) leaves 573 less tutorial work/laboratory supervisions (assuming six hours a week for 25 weeks for two academic sessions plus preparation and marking) (12x25x2/8 = 75 days) leaves 498 less contingencies (of 25%) leaves 247 So, even without a part-time job, a full time student has less than 250days to complete within the period

  9. scope time cost Management of the doctorate: a project manager’s approach 2 New thinking 1 Trad project time cost scope cost scope time 4 Successful doctorate 3 Uncompleted doctorate time cost scope

  10. A question You will be handed a sheet listing the characteristics of something What is it? ‘Perceived causes of failure of projects’ Young, Trevor L. (2000) Successful Project Management. London: Kogan Page Are there any parallels with doctorates not completed on time?

  11. 4 Why do students take so long? Three of the main factors in late completion: • Deadline distant • ..and can be renegotiated • Other commitments take priority Worker bees, procrastination and ‘Tassing’

  12. From my to do list…

  13. Why do students take so long? cont • ‘It’s not real work’ • The planning fallacy: underestimating time required • Other suggestions?

  14. 5 The ten point solution • Calculate the investment • Exact submission date • … with final + interim rewards • Rough plan, log, picture, model, chart, journey… • Identify training requirements, intermediate stages.. • Include breaks, conferences, publications, job applcns… • Add allowance for contingencies (at least 25%??) • Collaborative exercise - with public display • Revisit plans, review and revise • Refer to accounts by other doctoral students www.missendencentre.co.uk/links

  15. Successful strategies (also available as attachments) Five examples: • Dirk Frans (in 2010 Head, International Assistance Mission, Kabul) • Carol (now Lecturer at leading UK university) • Elaine (now Lecturer at UK university) • Josie (now Lecturer at UK university) • Kirstin (now Research Fellow at London University) 120 more: www.missendencentre.co.uk/links http://www.ucl.ac.uk/calt/case-studies/ http://3monththesis.com john@missendencentre.co.uk

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