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Working with and managing your relationship with your supervisor(s)

Working with and managing your relationship with your supervisor(s). Dr Sunil Kumar, Dean of Graduate Studies Louisa Green, Research Degrees Manager 15 November 2012. Today’s workshop aims …. Explore and understand roles and responsibilities in the student-supervisor relationship.

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Working with and managing your relationship with your supervisor(s)

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  1. Working with and managing your relationship with yoursupervisor(s) Dr Sunil Kumar, Dean of Graduate Studies Louisa Green, Research Degrees Manager 15 November 2012

  2. Today’s 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.

  3. Roles 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.

  4. Regulations on supervision • What do the School’s Regulations say? • Who do they apply to? • What happens if they are not followed?

  5. Regulations: what (where) they are School level • Regulations for Research Degrees revised from 2012 http://www.lse.ac.uk/resources/calendar/academicRegulations/regulationsForResearchDegrees.htm • Student Charter revised from 2012 http://www2.lse.ac.uk/intranet/LSEServices/policies/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/intranet/home.aspx

  6. Regulations 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 student’s 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

  7. Regulations 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

  8. Regulations 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

  9. Regulations 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.

  10. The 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

  11. Living up to the idea … ?

  12. What issues might arise … ?

  13. Lack of guidance Lack of availability Insufficiently critical Too critical Lack of knowledge in subject area Potential issues for STUDENTS …

  14. Overly dependent Lack of honesty Unresponsive/elusive Lack enthusiasm Don’t follow advice Oversensitive to criticism Lack commitment Potential issues for SUPERVISORS …

  15. BASIS of issues … • Lack of communication • Mismatched expectations • Personality clash • Competing pressures

  16. Overcoming issues | 1 • Keep expectations realistic • Be organised • Be professional • Be open, flexible and honest

  17. Overcoming 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

  18. Overcoming issues | 3 If problems persist: Approach • Your supervisor (if possible) • Your department’s 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

  19. PG Dean & RDU Manager| Contact details Dr Sunil Kumar, Dean of Graduate Studies • OLD.1.07 | 7955 7574 | PG.Dean@lse.ac.uk • PG DEAN SURGERY (Term Time) Monday 1100-1200 & Wednesday 0930-1100 • Appointments via Nicola Morgan, Executive Assistant | n.m.morgan@lse.ac.uk | 7955 7849 Louisa Green, Manager, RDU • TW2.6.01 | 7955 6766 | L.J.Green@lse.ac.uk

  20. Be aware of your supervisor’s 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) …

  21. Why 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.

  22. When 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 today’s 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)

  23. Writing 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

  24. Summary 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

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