Title: Working with and managing your relationship with your supervisor(s)
1Working with and managing your relationship with
yoursupervisor(s)
- Dr Sunil Kumar, Dean of Graduate Studies
- Louisa Green, Research Degrees Manager
- 15 November 2012
2Todays workshop aims
- Explore and understand roles and responsibilities
in the student-supervisor relationship. - Consider issues that may arise and think about
how to overcome them. - Discuss techniques for working with your
supervisor and managing your relationship.
3Roles and Responsibilities
- Take 5 minutes to rank your views on the
statements shown in the Expectations in
Supervision questionnaire. - In pairs, discuss your rankings and agree a
position representing each of your views for each
category.
4Regulations on supervision
- What do the Schools Regulations say?
- Who do they apply to?
- What happens if they are not followed?
5Regulations what (where) they are
- School level
- Regulations for Research Degrees revised from
2012 http//www.lse.ac.uk/resources/calendar/acade
micRegulations/regulationsForResearchDegrees.htm - Student Charter revised from 2012
http//www2.lse.ac.uk/intranet/LSEServices/policie
s/pdfs/school/stuCha.pdf - Handbook for Supervisors and Doctoral Programme
Directors new from Nov 2012 http//www2.lse.ac.uk
/intranet/LSEServices/TLC/Home.aspx - Departmental level
- PhD Student Handbook http//www2.lse.ac.uk/intrane
t/home.aspx
6Regulations for Research Degrees 1
- On supervision models (paragraphs 12-14)
- Every student is entitled to a lead supervisor
who - has knowledge of a student's subject area and
theoretical approach - is a permanent member of the academic staff of
the School - has passed major review
- is usually assigned for the duration of a
students programme - has no more than eight primary supervisees
- Every student will normally have additional
supervision that may take the form of - co- or joint supervision that can include
supervision across departments in the School - an adviser or
- team supervision
7Regulations for Research Degrees 2
- On contact with supervisor (paragraph 15)
- Full-time students have the right to see their
supervisor at least three times a term in the
first year and twice a term thereafter - Part-time students have the right to see their
supervisor at least twice a term in the first
year and once a term thereafter
8Regulations for Research Degrees 3
- Supervisor also involved in
- Approving requests to change registration status
- Progress review (paragraph 19.1)
- Upgrade to PhD (paragraph 23.3)
- Ethics process (paragraph 28)
- Examination entry/nomination of examiners
(paragraphs 37-40) - Attendance at viva examination (paragraph 47)
- Supporting period of corrections following
examination result
9Regulations for Research Degrees 4
- If there are serious problems (paragraph 16)
- the Doctoral Programme Director or Head of
Department may agree a change initiated by the
initiative of the student or supervisor.
10The Student Charter Your Responsibilities
- Behave ethically
- Attend meetings with supervisor to discuss
progress and any concerns - Attend/participate in classes, seminars,
lectures, other events - Keep department informed of essential absences
- Manage learning responsibly
- Understand good scholarly practice
- Submit work by deadlines
- Seek and respond to feedback on written work
11Living up to the idea ?
12What issues might arise ?
13Potential issues for STUDENTS
- Lack of guidance
- Lack of availability
- Insufficiently critical
- Too critical
- Lack of knowledge in subject area
14Potential issues for SUPERVISORS
- Overly dependent
- Lack of honesty
- Unresponsive/elusive
- Lack enthusiasm
- Dont follow advice
- Oversensitive to criticism
- Lack commitment
15BASIS of issues
- Lack of communication
- Mismatched expectations
- Personality clash
- Competing pressures
16Overcoming issues 1
- Keep expectations realistic
- Be organised
- Be professional
- Be open, flexible and honest
17Overcoming issues 2
- Discuss expectations at the beginning
- Give sufficient notice for requests
- Draw up an agenda for your meetings
- Record the outcome of meetings and email to
supervisor(s)/use PhD Logbook - Arrange next meeting ahead of time
- Alert supervisor(s) to problems as they arise
18Overcoming issues 3
- If problems persist Approach
- Your supervisor (if possible)
- Your departments doctoral programme
director/convenor. - Your Head of Department
- If issue is not resolved, you should approach
- Research Degrees Manager and (or) Dean of
Graduate Studies
19PG Dean RDU Manager Contact details
- Dr Sunil Kumar, Dean of Graduate Studies
- OLD.1.07 7955 7574 PG.Dean_at_lse.ac.uk
- PG DEAN SURGERY (Term Time)
- Monday 1100-1200 Wednesday 0930-1100
- Appointments via Nicola Morgan, Executive
Assistant n.m.morgan_at_lse.ac.uk 7955 7849
- Louisa Green, Manager, RDU
- TW2.6.01 7955 6766 L.J.Green_at_lse.ac.uk
20Be aware of your supervisors other
responsibilities
- Undergraduate Tutees (8) and courses
- MSc Supervisees (8) and courses
- Class teachers for undergraduate courses
- Other PhD students (6)
- Research assistants and research staff
- Publications
- Administrative role within the Centre,
Department, School - Other Professional roles Editor, Referee for
journals, Conference, External Examining (PhD,
Masters degrees)
21Why should you manage your relationship with
your supervisor(s)?
- She or he probably busier than you think they are
- He or She may not be aware of regulations to
extent you are - Your enthusiasm and organisation may impress them
- You want to complete on time with as few problems
as possible - She or he will be your key reference for future
jobs etc.
22When submitting work to your supervisor
- Cover sheet on every piece of work submitted
with - Your name and year of PhD
- Your up-to-date thesis title
- An up-to-date chapter structure with full
headings - Highlight where todays chapter or bit of work
fits within this - Ensure each chapter first page has
- Chapter number
- Full current title
- Details of word length, plus any missing
element(s)
23Writing is the driver of good supervision
- Writing clarifies your thinking
- Conversation sometimes masks differences in view
or misunderstandings - Your supervisor gains information about your
progress and thinking from your written work - Supervisors cannot comment usefully on your
progress, or provide sound advice, unless they
can see your thought process in writing
24Summary of KEY POINTS
- Keep to time (meetings and tasks)
- Be honest and open with your supervisor(s) about
your progress - Ensure that you provide your supervisor(s) ample
time to comment on your work given their other
commitments. - Respond to comments (feedback) as constructively
as possible - Seek advice or support as soon as you think
something is beginning to affect your progress - Be aware of the regulations as they apply to the
different stages (years) of your PhD