The supervisor's voice

Would you like to contribute to a research study looking at the role and limits of the supervisory relationship in supporting doctoral researchers?

Vitae is conducting a qualitative study looking at the extent to which supervisors feel able and willing to support their supervisees with matters not directly related to their research, such as wellbeing and career and professional development.

In the context of the rise of recognition frameworks and supervisor training, the study is interested in supervisors’ perspectives on what motivates and constrains their supervisory practice and what structures could be put in place to help them navigate the multiple roles that they are expected to fulfill as supervisors in the contemporary higher education landscape.

A focus group will take place at the University of Sussex, Brighton on Wednesday 23rd October at 2pm

The group discussion will be around 90 minutes and will be audio recorded, but not transcribed. Findings will be written up into a research report which will be published by Vitae. Participants’ names, disciplines and institutions will be anonymised in the written report. The hope is that, in addition to any report findings, participation will enable a group of supervisors to come together to critically reflect on their supervisory practice.    

Please note that we will seek to balance attendance at the workshops as we recognise that supervision operates differently in different disciplines. To be eligible participants should be, or have been, an arts, humanities or social science supervisor, with experience of having supervised at least one doctoral researcher. We would like to hear from supervisors of different genders, backgrounds and levels of supervisory experience.

You can register your interest for a particular focus group by following the links above, or if you have any questions please contact Katherine Parker-Hay.