Course content:
This course supports supervisors in reflecting on and improving supervision of their PhD candidates. If you supervise PhD candidates and feel that the relationship could be improved in its efficiency, time-management and expectations, you are an ideal candidate for this course.
Participants exchange experiences with colleagues and learn about the main problems in undertaking a PhD project from the point of view of the PhD candidate. You get suggestions and tools to optimise the quality of your supervision. You are given advice on the decisive early steps of the relationship between supervisor and PhD candidate, the supervisory process, and tools for evaluating and further developing your supervisory skills.
During the course you test the application of these tools in practical exercises. At the end of the course, you have a variety of instruments at hand that you can apply directly for improving supervision of your PhD candidates.
Follow-up day for course ‘How to improve PhD supervision’ (some months after the course has taken place):
The follow-up day will give you the opportunity to try out and practice new approaches, tools, and techniques with your PhD candidates over the next months and then exchange on your experiences and get further input during the follow-up day. This includes experiences you make with individual candidates and their specific problems. But - like during the course - we will also take up questions that are relevant for supervision across the groups and on a more institutional level. This helps everyone to streamline their efforts with supervision and benefit from each other’s experiences.
Comments from AWI colleagues in former courses:
“The structured discussion with colleagues was very beneficial. The realization by most participants that they don’t only face their own issues or concerns, but that their colleagues have similar issues with their PhD candidates.”
“I liked the breadth of topics covered. The different types of exercises. Diversity in the tools used for teaching meant we were all engaged all of the time! Well done!”
"It was certainly very valuable. It sets a standard for what a supervision is supposed to look like.”
"I think it is very important for people to have the opportunity to reflect upon and to discuss about their supervision with their colleagues. This course gives a good opportunity to do so."
"I found the suggestions for structure very helpful and the case studies helpful.”
"I lack experience, so I was looking for a good practice guide and that's what I got! Plus valuable comments and insight into experiences from others.”
"It made a few somehow well-known, but never really consciously reflected aspects of supervision clear. E.G. international trends, responsibilities, necessity to schedule regular meetings."
More information:
https://tressacademic.com/learn-with-us/supervise/how-to-improve-phd-supervision/
