Conference on Supervision in Doctoral Education Entry phase – Warming up for research University of Zagreb, April 19th 2011 Lucas Zinner Head of the Center for Doctoral Studies University of Vienna

Key issues for the PhD entry phase Recruiting is crucial YES “Supervision is not a matter of luck. It’s a matter of awareness, intention and professional development of supervisors, advisors and mentors.” Key issues for the PhD entry phase Recruiting is crucial Clarifying your relationship Delivering the research question Planning the (individual) PhD trajectory Ensuring peer group support in your micro-environment Sharing experiences and purposes L. Zinner, Zagreb 2011

Recruit as you were hiring Recruiting “Dilemma: Should the students interest fit into the professors research program or do we have the responsibility to support the students freedom of choice?” Recruit as you were hiring Assessing the candidates skills and interests against supervisors and department’s requirements and potentials, Being active and selective, Not (only) formal knowledge but stamina, initiative, ability to handle frustration and motivation create successful completers, Discouragement might be fair and professional. L. Zinner, Zagreb 2011

Clarifying your relationship “Mentoring is a relationship. It is a close relationship between a student and a senior faculty member. It includes not only academic guidance but also prolonged nurturing of the student’s personal, scholarly and professional development.” Clarifying your relationship Broad spectrum of different roles from counselors, advisers to mentors Financier and PI Judge and assessor Door opener and networker Father/mother substitute or best friend Multidimensional facilitator The roles and expectations related to them have to be made explicit! L. Zinner, Zagreb 2011

Delivering the research question “In the eagerness to contribute to human knowledge young people tend to define their research subject to broadly and it is usually the role of the mentor to narrow it down. The psychological danger, in the process of narrowing down, not to suppress the original enthusiasm of the student.” Delivering the research question an entire process by itself, first major step in the transition from course taker to independent scholar, a task to be jointly addressed, experienced guidance needed. Solving puzzles is the driver for research! Share this right from the beginning. L. Zinner, Zagreb 2011

Planning the PhD trajectory “The transition should be gradual with the initial stage where the mentor should be more directional, short term focused, assigning short term tasks and deadlines. Gradually that should move into the direction of more open ended and long term goals.” Planning the PhD trajectory/project Construct an overall time line and break it down to different stages, Define and agree on subtasks, Define short and mid term goals, Agree on monitoring means and measurement of progress. Deadlines are important! React, if warning signs pop up! L. Zinner, Zagreb 2011

Ensuring peer group support “The mentor socializes student into the culture of the discipline….In the process of professional socialization the mentor is introducing the student into the “backstage” of the discipline or profession.“ Ensuring peer group support in your micro-environment Informal knowlege is crucial, Active move against isolation, Teamwork skills and cooperation across borders are essential, Support forming towards stewarts of the discipline. Supportive „peer cultural environment“ strengthens teamwork and increases research output. L. Zinner, Zagreb 2011

Sharing experiences and purposes “Supervision is not a matter of luck. It’s a matter of awareness, intention and professional development of supervisors, advisors and mentors.” Sharing experiences and purposes Establish and use a network of peers to reflect on diverse supervisory issues and purposes. L. Zinner, Zagreb 2011