May 12, 2021, by Lisa Chin

Exploring & examining research supervision

*This post is written by Dr Tissa Chandesa, Research Training Development Manager at the Graduate School.

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2021 marks the third-year anniversary of the Supervisory Research Seminar Series. Unlike previous years, this year symbolises a new beginning for the series as the series is now benchmark against the UK Council for Graduate Education’s Good Supervisory Practice Framework. With each session fulfilling each of the below mentioned criterion (of the above-mentioned framework), the aim is to set/manage expectations for all doctoral supervisors as well as support their continuous development as doctoral supervisors:

1. 1. Recruitment and selection

   2. Supervisory relationships with candidates

   3. Supervisory relationships with co-supervisors

   4. Supporting candidates’ research projects

   5. Encouraging candidates to write and giving appropriate feedback

   6. Keeping the research on track and monitoring progress

   7. Supporting candidates’ personal, professional and career development

   8. Supporting candidates through completion and final examination

   9. Supporting candidates to disseminate their research

   10. Reflecting upon and enhancing practice

The 2021 cycle of the series kicked started with a new session called “Responding to postgraduate students in difficulty” on 27^th April 2021. The session was presented by Dr Maniam Kaliannan, Associate Professor at University of Nottingham Business School. This session aimed at exchanging knowledge and experience in supervising postgraduate research (PGR) students to establish key factors as best practice in providing an effective supervision. Over the duration of the 1.5-hour session, Dr Kaliannan actively engaged with 12 UNM doctoral supervisors to openly discuss and share best practices, therefore, addressing the following learning outcomes:

• • Identify the challenges faced by doctoral students and identify steps of what to do about them

  • Understand (as doctoral supervisors) your own role and limits of your responsibility towards students in difficulty

  • Distinguish scenarios when (and when not) to intervene

  • Develop and discuss strategies for dealing with more complex and difficult situations

The second session on 4^th May 2021 focused on the role of the internal examiner and was delivered by Dr Jee-Hou Ho, Associate Professor at the Department of Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering. The session was attended by 14 doctoral supervisors. The session aimed at sharing vital information pertaining to postgraduate research (PGR) assessment (e.g. annual progression and viva assessment) as well as the various responsibilities/roles played by the chair, external and internal examiners. Over the duration of the session, Dr Ho addressed the following learning outcomes:

• • Distinguish how to conduct an annual review (purpose and expectation, giving an appropriate rating and how to write an appropriate set of review comments)

  • Identify your roles before, during and after a viva voce

  • Distinguish your continuous responsibilities to providing feedback and assessment, post viva voce

  • Identify with the relevant and required documentations involved

  • Evaluate and discuss uncommon scenarios faced by internal examiners via case studies

Attracting and appointing the ideal doctoral candidate is essential to a successful and rewarding partnership (between supervisor and doctoral candidate). Several recruitment activities exist. However, not all will work best. As a result, a new session called attracting & appointing strong doctoral candidates, made its debut on 5^th May 2021. Unlike previous sessions, this session was conducted as a forum with three vastly experienced UNM doctoral supervisors as panellist. They are Dr Hsin Vonn Seow (Associate Dean of Research & Knowledge Exchange for the Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences), Professor Christopher Gibbins (Associate Dean of Research & Knowledge Exchange for the Faculty of Science & Engineering) and Professor Dominic Foo (Professor and Interim Head of the Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering). During the hour-long session, the panellists shared their views, addressed several questions from the 8 attendees, as well as addressed the following issues (below) pertaining to this topic:

• • Distinguish the current approaches used to attract potential doctoral applicants

  • Identify problems with the existing approaches used and reflect on possible proactive measures

  • Practise approaches to engage and build relationship with potential doctoral applicants

Overall, all three sessions received very positive reviews/feedback from those who attended. On behalf of the entire Graduate School team, I would like to say a big thank you to the convenors for dedicating their valuable time as well as contributing their valuable insights and advice to the mentioned topics.

With exam and marking season upon us now, the next cycle of supervisory series sessions will take place sometime in early summer. We at the Graduate School will be working behind the scenes to finalise upcoming sessions’ details with potential convenors. Once these details are finalised, we will advertise the sessions to our doctoral supervisor community.

Till we meet virtually, take care and stay safe!

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