Putting the Super in Supervision

Dr. Mark Matthews, Student Learning Development

What is supervision?

• Supervisor the key person

• Vital for student development

• Mentorship / apprentice

• Secure and trusting relationship

Supervisor’s Responsibilities

• Guidance on what is expected• Advise on academic standard of work• Maintain regular contact• Meet regularly for formal supervision • Provide constructive feedback on written work • Guidance on presentation/publication of

research• Guidance on writing thesis• Read the final thesis• Ensure student is prepared for viva• Assist with postdoctoral opportunities

• Undertake research training as agreed • Produce written work as agreed • Aware of process / protocol for transfer

(Calendar part II) 12 – 18 months• Decide when to submit the thesis • Ensure thesis complies with regulations.

Your Responsibilities

But…These are only guidelines

Supervision is the number one complaint

Quality varies

So what can you do?

Power“it is vital that supervisors realise that

students usually perceive themselves to be at the power-receiving end of the supervisor-student relationship. This can lead to an over-reliance on the supervisor and an inhibition of communication.”

TCD Supervisor Guidelines

Be Proactive

1. find out what is expected 2. tackle concerns early on3. discuss how to make guidance more

effective 4. agree and organise process

What else?

• Set ground rules

• Set realistic time-based goals

• Set deadlines

• Open professional communication

• Ask for help when needed

• Talk to others

Meetings

• Set an agenda for your meeting (email)

• Take as much time as necessary (no more)

• Be direct about everything

• What are outputs from meeting?

• Set date of next meeting

Successful Students

1. Meet regularly

2. Communicate well

3. Establish clear ground rules

4. Set clear, regular goals

Find out:

• Research Interests

• Recent publications

• Experience supervising

• How much time they will have?

• Will you be able to get on?

• What kind of role does your supervisor expect?

Rowena Murray, ‘How to write a thesis’

Managing Your Supervisor

Know Yourself

• What are you good at?

• What do areas need improvement?

• Communication

Managing the Process

Agree a plan of

supervisions

Prepare for supervision

Six monthly review of progress

Annual review of progress

Submit workfor supervisor

to read

Attend supervision

Summarisewhat youagreed

Send summary to

supervisor

Source: www.vitae.co.uk

Discuss the following situations in pairs.Come up with some solutions

1. “I feel like I’m being taken advantage of – doing work not related to my PhD”

2. “I feel like I’m on my own”(in my research)

3. “I’m really unhappy with how often my supervisor is meeting me”

4. “I’m really unhappy with the quality of my supervisor – he doesn’t know anything about my research area”

5. “My supervisor is really intimidating”

Complaints are common

“I feel like I’m being taken advantage

of – doing work not related to my PhD”

“I feel like I’m on my own”

Complaints are common

“I’m really unhappy with how often

my supervisor is meeting me”

“I’m really unhappy with the quality of my

supervisor – he doesn’t know anything

about my research area”

Complaints are common“My supervisor is really intimidating”

Assertiveness

“Assertiveness means asking for what you

want or giving people an honest no to things

you don’t want. It means not using other

people and not letting yourself be

used either.”

Assertiveness

Body Language

• Direct eye contact

• Facing the person you are talking to

• Audible, steady, clear voice tone

• Sitting up straight or standing tall

• Project confidence

Assertiveness Models

A: 3 step modelStep 1: State the situation

Step 2: State your position & how you feel

Step 3: Say what you want to happen

B: ‘Broken Record’ Approach Keep repeating yourself until you are heard

Role-PlayIn groups of 3, take turns in the following roles

Student: practice the 3 step method to get what you need

Supervisor: you’re busy so try and protect your time

Observer: listen and provide feedback on the conversation

If all else fails

1. Go to supervisor

2. Department

3. Director of teaching and learning

4. Dean of Graduate Studies

Supports

Graduate Studies http://www.tcd.ie/Graduate_Studies/

Postgraduate Advisory Service http://www.tcd.ie/Senior_Tutor/postgraduate/

Student Counselling Service http://www.tcd.ie/Student_Counselling/

Graduate Student’s Union http://www.gsu.tcd.ie/

ReadEstelle M. Phillips and D.S. Pugh, How to get a Ph.D.: a handbook for students and their supervisors; Buckingham: Open University Press, 1994

Best Practice Guidelines on Research Supervision for AcademicStaff and Students http://www.tcd.ie/Graduate_Studies/docs/Supervison%20Guidelines.pdf

University of Dublin Calendar Part 2, 2.8http://www.tcd.ie/calendar/assets/pdf/calendar-part-2-2009-2010.pdf

Key Points

1. Be proactive, take control

2. Set ground rules for supervision

3. Clear communication

4. Set goals & milestones

5. Be Professional

If something is worrying you or you think not right, tackle it

early on before it becomes a bigger problem.

Student Learning Development

Thank you for your time

Visit our website at: http://student-learning.tcd.ie