working with and managing your relationship with your supervisor(s) dr sunil kumar, dean of graduate...

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.

• Consider issues that may arise and think about how to overcome them.

• Discuss techniques for working with your supervisor and managing your relationship.

• 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.

Roles and Responsibilities

• What do the School’s Regulations say?

• Who do they apply to?

• What happens if they are not followed?

Regulations on supervision

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

Regulations: what (where) they are

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

Regulations for Research Degrees | 1

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


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


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.


• 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

The Student Charter | Your Responsibilities

Living up to the idea … ?

What issues might arise … ?

• Lack of guidance

• Lack of availability

• Insufficiently critical

• Too critical

• Lack of knowledge in subject area

Potential issues for STUDENTS …

• Overly dependent

• Lack of honesty

• Unresponsive/elusive

• Lack enthusiasm

• Don’t follow advice

• Oversensitive to criticism

• Lack commitment

Potential issues for SUPERVISORS …

• Lack of communication

• Mismatched expectations

• Personality clash

• Competing pressures

BASIS of issues …

• Keep expectations realistic

• Be organised

• Be professional

• Be open, flexible and honest

Overcoming issues | 1

• 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


If problems persist: Approach1. Your supervisor (if possible)2. Your department’s doctoral programme director/convenor.3. Your Head of Department …

If issue is not resolved, you should approachResearch Degrees Manager and (or) Dean of Graduate

Studies


• 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) …

Be aware of your supervisor’s other responsibilities

• 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.

Why should you manage your relationship with your supervisor(s)?

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 thisEnsure each chapter first page has:•Chapter number•Full current title•Details of word length, plus any missing element(s)

When submitting work to your supervisor

• 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

Writing is the driver of good supervision

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

working with and managing your relationship with your supervisor(s) dr sunil kumar, dean of graduate...

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