The award provides both a contextual basis for the supervisors of research students and an opportunity for to develop your supervisory skills by engaging with the ideas of practitioners on key themes, and by critical reflection on the your own practice.

The award is based around a cycle of seminars that will cover themes such as: the use of reflective practice in postgraduate supervision, styles of postgraduate supervision, using the Researcher Development Framework (Vitae), key University regulations and procedures relating to the supervision of postgraduate students.

Resources for these seminars will be available on Blackboard. In addition, further material will also be available; e.g. on regulations and procedures, the administration of research degrees, the examination, procedures relating to the ethical approval of research projects.

In each case, there will be guidance on working through the material.


There are two routes to the completion of the award.

The standard route takes a minimum of eight months and is intended for staff who are new, or relatively new, to the supervision of postgraduate research students. The six month period is intended to allow you not only to work appropriately through the resources provided on Blackboard, and to prepare a submission for assessment, but also to build up experience of supervision on which to reflect in your assessment.

The Fast Track Route is intended for staff who are already experienced supervisors that: a) want to take a `refresher¿ programme to update their skills and knowledge of the procedures relating to postgraduate supervision at Staffordshire University, or b) are relatively new to Staffordshire University. There is no minimum time period for the Fast Track Route.

The use of the Vitae Researcher Development Framework will be encouraged as a means to support reflection on the progression of the research student, and on appropriate ways to support them.

There is a Discussion Board where participants will find questions to which they can respond, entering into discussions with fellow participants. They may also start a new thread with a question of their own.

Assessment is by portfolio, which can be composed according to TWO possible formats.

Portfolio Format One

A 5000 word essay presenting a critical reflection on an aspect of postgraduate supervision. The reflection should be based on the participant's own experience of supervising research students.

Portfolio Format Two

The assessment pattern consists of two elements.

Element 1 (50% weighting) - assesses learning outcomes 1 and 2

A 2500 word essay providing a critical reflection on an aspect of postgraduate supervision. The reflection should be based on your own experience.

Element 2 (50% weighting) - assesses learning outcomes 1 and 2

An interview (normally 30 - 40 minutes), to be conducted by the award tutor and a member of the Centre for Professional Development.

Both elements are to be completed at the end of the module. The module may span one or two teaching blocks, as there is a standard route and a fast track route available. In addition, entrants to the standard route may start in September or in January.

Blackboard

A comprehensive list of resources is provided in the Award Handbook. Here is a bried indicative list.

Delamont, S., Atkinson, P. and Parry, O. (2004) Supervising the Doctorate: A guide to success, Maidenhead: Open University Press, 2nd Edition

Lee, A (2012) Successful Research Supervision: Advising Students Doing Research. Oxon: Routledge.

Lee, A. (2008) `How are Doctoral Students Supervised? Concepts of doctoral research supervision¿, Studies in Higher Education, 33(3): 267-81.

Park, C. (2007) Redefining the Doctorate, (York: HEA)

Reymanhi, D. and Money, A. (2004) Research Supervision for Supervisors and their Students, Kidmore End: Academic Conferences Ltd.

Walker, M. and Thomson, P. (2010) The Routledge Doctoral Supervisor¿s Companion: Supporting effective research in education and the social sciences, Abingdon: Routledge.
Watts, J. (2008) Challenges of Supervising Part-time PhD students: towards student-centred practice, Teaching in Higher Education, 13(3): 369-73.

Wellington, J. (2010) `Supporting Students¿ Preparation for the Viva: their pre-conceptions and implications for practice¿, Teaching in Higher Education, 15(1): 71-84.

Wisker, G. (2005) The Good Supervisor, Basingstoke: Palgrave.

The entry requirements for the award are normally:

Honours degree from an EU university or its equivalent. In addition, entrants are normally expected to have, or to be near to completing, a PhD or a Professional Doctorate, and to have access to the supervision of research students (as a member of a supervision team, or as an observer).

Entrants wishing to take the Fast-Track route should be able to demonstrate extensive experience in the supervision of postgraduate research students.