Supervision

• Supervision Panels
• Graduate Supervisor Register
• Research Supervisor Forums 2011
  
• Supervisor News Bulletins
  
• Load Limits
• The Principal Supervisor

Supervision Panels

All candidates at UWS have a supervisory panel of at least two supervisors. Panels are advantageous for students in a number of ways:

• provide a backup should the principal supervisor be absent for any reason
• introduce additional expertise, they mentor new supervisors in a co-supervisory role
• are used to involve experts who are external to UWS
• creates opportunities for academic staff in an environment of limited admissions of research candidates.

Co-supervision is part of academic workload at UWS. The candidate record system can register any combination of percentage of time amongst the panel. However, unless otherwise specified by the college, the default allocation of load is 60/40 for a panel of two and 50/25/25 for a panel of three.

Graduate Supervisor Register

Principal supervisors are registered on the Graduate Supervisor Register. Registration requires attendance at a supervisor forum once every three years and completion of an application form. Normally, a principal supervisor will hold qualifications at least at the level they are supervising.

Graduate Supervisor Register Application Form (DOC, 49Kb)

Research Supervisor Forums 2011

Establishing Good Supervisory Practices; Suitable for Early Career Researchers

• August 23, Bankstown Campus, 9:30 am – 12:00 noon

This forum will look at the profile of research education at UWS and the relationship to national and international contexts. We will examine the role of the supervisor, how academics view supervision, establishment of candidature and look at the milestones for the first year of candidature.

We will explain how to get things done to help you to perform in your role and get the best for, and from, your students. We will talk about prevention of problems and look at strategies to use if problems do arise.

This forum is suitable for relatively inexperienced supervisors. This forum is not suitable for B Honours supervisors.

College of Health and Science

• July 27, Hawkesbury Campus
• August 31, Campbelltown Campus

Professor Deborah Sweeney Director of Research in the College of Health and Science, and senior members of the College will address topical issues in supervision.

The forum will cover policy updates and provide information about resources available to you and your candidate.

This forum is suitable for experienced supervisors who would like to up-date their registration. It is not suitable for BHons supervisors.

Professor Alison Rodger is professor of Biophysical Chemistry and Director  of the Molecular Organisational and Assembly in Cells Doctoral Training Centre at the University of Warwick, UK.

Alison will share her insights as a leader in higher degree education.

Suitable for all supervisors wishing to update their Graduate Supervisor Register status. 

'Together we built a bridge that I could cross’: Exploring supervision of international students

A/Prof Sue Starfield
9:30-12:00, Wednesday 21/09/2011

A/Prof Sue Starfield is the co-author of Thesis and Dissertation Writing in a Second Language: A Handbook for Supervisors (Routledge 2007). She has taught courses on thesis writing for a number of years at the University of New South Wales where she also runs workshops for supervisors on helping their students with thesis writing and on writing for publication.  In this session she will discuss issues that international students, particularly those from non-English speaking backgrounds, are faced with as they engage with higher degree research and writing in Australia.  There will be an opportunity for participants to discuss specific issues they are facing and share insights.

This forum is suitable for experienced supervisors who would like to up-date their registration. It is not suitable for BHons supervisors.

UNSW Supervisors Workshop available to UWS staff

Fulfils requirements of Graduate Supervisor Register.

Understanding HDR expectations through positive communication

This session will review the key issues supervisors should consider before engaging in a supervisory relationship. The session will also cover techniques to help supervisors build and develop a strong and effective supervisor-student relationship.

Professor Fred Westbrook from the School of Psychology and the 2010 recipient of The UNSW Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Postgraduate Research Supervision will present on his experiences with developing and managing a student relationship through positive communication. The session will also introduce participants to useful communication and expectation tools and resources.

Session: Understanding HDR expectations through positive communication
Date: Monday 31 October
Time: 10.00am – 12.00 noon
Venue: Kensington Campus

This session is open to the following universities who have agreed to a reciprocal initiative, for selected modules in the 2011 supervision program:

• Australian National University
• Australian Catholic University
• Charles Sturt University
• University of New South Wales (including UNSW@ADFA)
• University of Canberra
• University of Western Sydney
  

To register your interest in this module, please email Maree Magafas m.magafas@unsw.edu.au by Monday 17 October with full contact details and confirmation of your attendance will be sent to you, along with venue details.

Using the new registration system;

1. To start the enrolment process log into Staff On-Line https://staffonline.uws.edu.au
2. Click on the MyCareer Online link under Staff Development (it will open in a new window).
3. On the MyCareer Online Home Page simply type any portion of the forum title or a keyword into the Search box in the top right hand corner and press enter.Any of the following keywords will return all RSFs - RSF, research, forum, supervisor. Any of the following keywords will return all RSFs - RSF, research, forum, supervisor
4. Click on the ‘Title’ of the forum you want to register for from the search results.
5. Register by selecting the ‘Request’ option next to your preferred date (you may need to scroll down to see available dates)

Alternatively, staff who do not have access to online enrolment within Staff On-Line can enrol by completing the registration form available from the Teaching development box down the right hand side of the following intranet page;

NOTE: This option is only to be used if you do not have access to Staff Online.

There will be special introductory sessions for experienced supervisors who are new to UWS, by invitation only.  Please contact Mary Krone if you know anyone who is interested.

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Supervisor News Bulletins

2011

• Supervisor News Bulletin - March 2011 (PDF, 270Kb)

2010

• Supervisor News Bulletin - September 2010 (PDF, 223Kb)
• Supervisor News Bulletin - July 2010 (PDF, 235Kb)
• Supervisor News Bulletin - May 2010 (PDF, 188Kb)
• Supervisor News Bulletin - March 2010 (PDF, 160Kb)
• Supervisor News Bulletin - February 2010 (PDF, 167Kb).

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Load Limits

The maximum load limit as a principal supervisor is three full-time candidates or the equivalent. There is no load limit on co-supervision but all supervision arrangements must be negotiated as part of workload agreements. Research-only appointed staff may have a higher load of candidates than three Equivalent Full Time Student Load (EFTSL).

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The Principal Supervisor

The principal supervisor must be a non-casual member of UWS staff. The principal supervisor has a specific role in leading the panel and taking responsibility for a range of matters. Broadly these are:

• management of time
• monitoring of progress
• encouragement of candidate participation in UWS research culture
• ensuring that commitments made by the panel and candidate are met
• providing timely feedback
• ensuring that reporting milestones are met, i.e. early candidature plan, confirmation of candidature and annual progress reports
• arranging nomination of examiners, thesis lodgement and responding to examiners reports
• taking steps to address any problems that may arise
• advising candidates about Leave of Absence, if required
• ensuring that candidates are provided with resources
• advising candidates about the Research Candidate Misconduct in Research Policy, the Research Code of Practice and ensuring that they are aware of UWS policies on Intellectual Property (IP) and plagiarism.  

An Acting Principal Supervisor of the supervisory panel must be appointed during any significant absence of the principal supervisor, i.e. more than a month at a time, and always during periods of absence due to Personal Development Program (PDP) leave. It is never acceptable for a candidate to have their candidature disrupted by staff absences. Please see the Variation of Program for advice on changing panel membership.

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