1 How to Become a Good Postgraduate Students’ Supervisor? Andrzej M. Goscinski October 2009

2 Step 1 – General view The essence of a PhD is to identify an important hole and contribute to its solution (Coldwell, 2002) The essence of a PhD is to identify an important hole and contribute to its solution (Coldwell, 2002) You should project yourself on the other side of a fence – learn from good things and your suffering of your PhD student time You should project yourself on the other side of a fence – learn from good things and your suffering of your PhD student time Postgraduate and even Honours student supervision is a huge responsibility Postgraduate and even Honours student supervision is a huge responsibility

3 Step 2 – Your roles as a supervisor Guiding students’ research by helping to Guiding students’ research by helping to Select an area and a topic Select an area and a topic Write a research proposal Write a research proposal Carry out research Carry out research Provide evaluation Provide evaluation Write reports, papers, thesis Write reports, papers, thesis Getting them involved in the wider research community Getting them involved in the wider research community Introducing them to colleagues Introducing them to colleagues Collaborating with them on research projects Collaborating with them on research projects Encouraging them to publish papers Encouraging them to publish papers Nominating them for awards Nominating them for awards Finding financial support Finding financial support Helping in finding and getting a job Helping in finding and getting a job

4 Step 3 – How to start your supervision Do not try to go and supervise any student who also comes with their project – offer supervision in your area of expertise – go to neighbour areas gradually Do not try to go and supervise any student who also comes with their project – offer supervision in your area of expertise – go to neighbour areas gradually Work initially with an experienced supervisor as a co- supervisor– this will help you a lot Work initially with an experienced supervisor as a co- supervisor– this will help you a lot You will feel more secure You will feel more secure You will learn a lot, although supervision is provided in an individual style You will learn a lot, although supervision is provided in an individual style Start as a Honours student supervisor – do not go for PhD student supervision – you will pay too much if you do not do this in this way Start as a Honours student supervisor – do not go for PhD student supervision – you will pay too much if you do not do this in this way

5 Step 4 – Year 1 student supervision You should know more in the area of a student project in the first year of their study You should know more in the area of a student project in the first year of their study It is something wrong if after the first year your student does not know more than you in the area of the project It is something wrong if after the first year your student does not know more than you in the area of the project After the first year of their study, a PhD student should have After the first year of their study, a PhD student should have The area of research / project well recognized and learned The area of research / project well recognized and learned The aim of the project stated The aim of the project stated Expected outcomes specified Expected outcomes specified Tasks to be solved identified Tasks to be solved identified Significance of the research well understood Significance of the research well understood Research environment well prepared Research environment well prepared

6 Step 5 – Interacting with your student Amount of direction Amount of direction Personal interaction and psychological support Personal interaction and psychological support Amount and type of criticism Amount and type of criticism Frequency of interaction Frequency of interaction

7 Step 6 – Male and female students Woman and male student face the same obstacles Woman and male student face the same obstacles Woman and male students react differently Woman and male students react differently Additional factors usually present in “male area” Additional factors usually present in “male area” Isolation Isolation Self-esteem Self-esteem Harassment and discrimination Harassment and discrimination Time pressures from family responsibilities Time pressures from family responsibilities Lack of support network (surrounded by nerds) Lack of support network (surrounded by nerds) The lack of relevant experience The lack of relevant experience You as a supervisor have to create a supportive, positive environment for your female students You as a supervisor have to create a supportive, positive environment for your female students

8 Step 7 – You should as a supervisor Create a good atmosphere of your interactions Create a good atmosphere of your interactions Be aware of their short term and long term needs Be aware of their short term and long term needs Set up goals that are not too high and not too low – the relationship with your student can break down if this condition is not satisfied Set up goals that are not too high and not too low – the relationship with your student can break down if this condition is not satisfied Pay attention to them when you meet your students Pay attention to them when you meet your students When reviewing your student’s proposals, reports, papers, thesis, write comments on the paper itself (do not use red pens) - verbal comments are not useful! When reviewing your student’s proposals, reports, papers, thesis, write comments on the paper itself (do not use red pens) - verbal comments are not useful! Encourage / direct your students to write technical reports and publish papers with them Encourage / direct your students to write technical reports and publish papers with them Keep your student supported and motivated Keep your student supported and motivated

9 Conclusion The presentation shows that to become a good postgraduate students’ supervisor you have to be a scholar The presentation shows that to become a good postgraduate students’ supervisor you have to be a scholar Your scholarship should address all scholarship dimensions: Your scholarship should address all scholarship dimensions: Research Research Teaching Teaching Integration Integration Service Service You have to start your work toward becoming an independent and successful researcher now! You have to start your work toward becoming an independent and successful researcher now! You can become a good postgraduate students’ supervisor in time! You can become a good postgraduate students’ supervisor in time!