CINet Research Degrees Supervisors Workshop and Forum

As academics we are often given new and exciting challenges in teaching and research. No challenge is greater or more exciting than supervising a research student towards their Masters or Doctoral thesis. As new academics we ask ourselves: "how do I get started supervising?" and after we get started we ask "how can I do this better?" CINet has recognised the need to work with members to help them develop their skills as supervisors and organised a supervisors workshop prior to the annual CINet conference, on Saturday 8 September 2007.

Fee
The participation fee for this workshop is € 50.

Interested in participating?
Express your interest in an email to j.m.visser-groeneveld@utwente.nl.

Preliminary programme

Time	Activity
On-line Survey closes 31 August	• Activity Pre workshop survey and readings • Content Expectations of a PhD Current students Current supervisors New supervisors • Facilitators Prof. Paul Hyland, Central Queensland University • Outline Many students do not make it to the end of a doctoral program. While to enter a doctoral program students have to do well in undergraduate programs that fail to prepare them for a postgraduate research award. As supervisors we need to understand students’ expectations and competences when commencing a doctoral program if we are to help them complete their studies. This session will look at the findings of a survey of doctoral students in Australia and Europe. The survey asked students about their experiences of the program of study, their interactions with students and academics and their supervisory experiences. The results are presented to help inform us all of areas that can be improved and of the issues that students face.
11:30-12:30	• Activity Lunch • Content Welcome Networking and presentation of survey results • Facilitator Dr. Mats Magnusson, Chalmers University
12:30-14:00	• Activity Roundtable discussion • Content Establishing a relationship between a PhD student and the supervisors • Facilitators Dr. Carmen Kobe, ETH Zürich, Zentrum für Produkt-Entwicklung Dr. Claudine Soosay, University of South Australia • Outline The goal of this session is to exchange experiences about what makes a good PhD student-supervisor relationship and how can students and supervisors interact to establish a good relationship. The session will start with a short introduction, where all participants give some information on the nature of PhD student-supervisor relationships at their own universities or the university where they completed their PhD. In a brainstorming exercise raw-ideas on good and bad relationships will be collected. This will be used in a roundtable discussion where participants will analyse this material and additional ideas to elaborate on ambiguous aspects and develop a good practice model of PhD student-supervisor relationships.
14:00-15:15	• Activity Group discussion • Content Managing the PhD process and project • Facilitators Prof. John Bessant, Imperial College London • Outline Doing a higher degree is often talked about as a journey - and there are enough 'interesting' traveller's tales about making it to tell us that it's not an easy one! But we also have a wealth of experience - some of it codified into maps of the journey, or 'rough guides' to how to undertake it - to help us. This session will explore - in interactive discussion - how to plan for the project, how to anticipate some of the roadblocks and celebrate some of the milestones, and how to maintain momentum when it gets to feel like a lonely and wearying trail! There isn't a magic 'master plan' - but attention to some key issues and, above all, treating it like you would any other major expedition into uncharted territory can help make it an enjoyable and successful process. Key themes will include: Mapping the journey Major and minor milestones Common geographical features Planning the journey Resources to help on the journey Navigating - and what to do if you get lost!
15:15-15:45	• Activity Coffee Break
15:45-16:45	• Activity Group Discussion • Content Publishing with PhD students • Facilitators Prof. Paul Hyland, Central Queensland University • Outline It is important during a doctoral program for students to publish. But what is the role of the student and what is the role of the supervisor? Understanding our roles and responsibilities and the roles of the student is just the beginning. We need to understand why it is important for doctoral students to publish and how this can be built into any doctoral program. This session will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of publishing during the doctoral program. The session will also look at the transition from the doctoral program to publishing after the doctorate has been awarded and how supervisors can assist students in this transition.
16:45-17:30	• Activity Feedback and conclusion • Facilitator Dr. Frances Jorgensen, Aalborg University