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Effective Research Supervision: Policy and Practice

Graduate Training and Support Centre STAFF AND DEPARTMENTAL DEVELOPMENT UNIT. Effective Research Supervision: Policy and Practice. Dr Heather Sears Senior Training and Development Officer. Workshop outcomes. What is a PhD? What characteristics should a supervisor possess?

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Effective Research Supervision: Policy and Practice

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  1. Graduate Training and Support Centre STAFF AND DEPARTMENTAL DEVELOPMENT UNIT Effective Research Supervision:Policy and Practice Dr Heather Sears Senior Training and Development Officer

  2. Workshop outcomes • What is a PhD? • What characteristics should a supervisor possess? • When can students expect help from their supervisor? • What systems and processes can help students and supervisors?

  3. Developments in PhD training in the UK and at University of Leeds

  4. Sir Gareth Roberts Review (2001) SET for success

  5. The problem… • “the problem is that skills acquired by PhD graduates do not serve their long term needs. Currently PhDs do not prepare people adequately for careers in business or academia” “Sir Gareth Roberts Review (2001) ‘SET for success’. (Chapter 4 Section 4.2)”

  6. The solution….? • “…HEFCE and the RCs ... should make all funding related to PhD students conditional upon students’ training meeting stringent minimum standards. These minimum standards should include …two weeks of dedicated training per year, principally in transferable skills…” “Sir Gareth Roberts Review (2001) ‘SET for success’. (Chapter 4 Section 4.2)”

  7. The government has…. Provided ‘Roberts’ money Leeds receives £350,000 (6,300,000,000 Rp) per annum for training in transferable skills

  8. University of Leeds

  9. The Vision…. • To be the leading University for enabling research students to develop their Research Performance, Employability, Professionalism and Engagement with Society “University of Leeds Postgraduate Research Student Training and Development Strategy”

  10. What are we doing? Skills training and development is targeted at: • Development of skills required for efficient completion of the research degree (Research Performance) • Development of skills required to maximise future employability

  11. In other words…… • Have YOU got the full range of skills required to: • Producea Thesis • which is Finished On Time and of Sufficient Quality for the award of a higher degree • and Publish your findings in an internationally renowned journal • and Present Your Research to world experts at a conference • and….

  12. In other words…… • protect and exploit your Intellectual Property • all the while Maintaining a Life by Managing Your Time with Minimal Stress • and keeping an eye on the NextStep • by Building a Network and Managing Your Career • all without falling foul of Isolation and the SecondYearSlump • whilst keeping a HealthyWorkingRelationship with your supervisor and

  13. In other words…… • plan for a successful and fulfilling career?

  14. What is a PhD?

  15. What characteristics should a supervisor possess?

  16. When can students expect help from their supervisor?

  17. Situations where students may OR may not expect help from a supervisor • Consider whether the students are being :RealisticToo demandingProblematic What issues are raised?What should you do to set up good practice from the start?

  18. Students expect supervisors to be available when needed. Although you can plan regular supervisions, students need to know you are approachable in between more formal sessions, if necessary to ask key questions.

  19. Students expect supervisors to be friendly, open and supportive with academic issues and establish a consultative, supportive relationship.

  20. Supervisors need to be constructively critical, giving praise where relevant and informative (not harsh) criticism, so they can develop their work further. Gradually students should need less explicit guidance and criticism as they develop autonomy and their own sound judgement.

  21. Supervisors need to know to ask open questions, how to draw out ideas and clarify or define problems, and how to elicit information. Your student will need to interact with other students you supervise, those researching similar topics, students supervised by other supervisors, and the broader academic community.

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