The Roles of the Supervisor

Source: https://www.ugent.be/en/work/mobility-career/career-aspects/professorial-staff/supportive-program/rolesphdsupervisor/leadershiprolessupervisor.htm

The supervisor facilitates the formulation of realistic and achievable goals by the student that align with the scope and expectations of the programme. The supervisor provides academic and methodological guidance, helping the student to refine their research question, guiding with the correct methodological approach, and apply appropriate disciplinary or interdisciplinary approaches. Effective supervision is possible to achieve with regular meetings, constructive feedback, and ongoing encouragement. The job of a supervisor can be challenging. By understanding their responsibilities and taking some proactive measures, all supervisors can take to maximize their effectiveness.

The roles include:

  • Subject Expert
  • Gatekeeper of academic standards
  • Resource person and Advisor of literature
  • Project manager
  • Shaper
  • Scaffolder and supporter
  • Editor
  • Promoter of student self-efficacy

What Each Role Involves?

  • Subject Expert: The supervisor acts as an expert in the relevant academic field. They help students understand complex concepts, and ensure the project aligns with current developments in the discipline.
  • Gatekeeper of academic standards: Supervisor uphold the academic integrity and quality of the student's work. They ensure that the project/dissertation meets instituational and disciplinary standards, including proper referencing, and ethical compliance.
  • Resource person and Advisor of literature: Supervisors guide students in identifying, accessing and critically engaging with relevant literature. They help students by recommending key readings, and support the development of a strong theoretical and conceptual framework.
  • Project manager: Supervisor helps the student plan and manage their time effectively. They assist in setting milestones, monitoring progress, and ensuring the project stays on track for timely completion.
  • Shaper: Supervisors help shape the direction and scope of the project. They encourage critical thinking and support the student in developing a well-structured and academically sound solution.
  • Scaffolder and supporter: Supervisor offer encouragement, help overcome obstacles, and build the students confidence in their abilities.
  • Editor: Supervisors provide feedback on strucure, clarity, and academic style. They help students improve the quality of their writing and presentation.
  • Promoter of student self-efficacy: Supervisors encourage students to develop confidence in their ability to successfully complete the project.

While the responsibilities remain consistent, different universities may use varying terminology to describe them. For example, Ghent University uses the terminologies leader, manager, coach, entrepreneur, and expert. Overall, supervisors play a crucial role in shaping the quality and success of student projects and dissertations, while also promoting the development of confidence and competency in students.

Depiction of roles

Your role

A supervisor's role evolves continuously to meet the changing needs of the student. The above images depicts a student driving a vehicle with different degrees of supervisor participation. Students bring a variety of personalities and expectations of the process – some eager and driven, others anxious or uncertain, and while others somewhere in between. Hence, supervision can be considered as a dynamic process in which students might require close supervision in the beginning, eventually the supervisor’s role changes, enabling students to take responsibility for their work. Ultimately, effective supervision involves knowing when to step in, when to back off, and how to help students become confident, self-sufficient learners.

Role of a supervisor

In this video, Dr. Ziene Mottiar, engages in conversation with three lecturers from TU Dublin to explore the benefits of supervising undergraduate honours research students. The discussion offers valuable insights into the roles and expectations of supervisors throughout the supervision process. It is good to hear the perspectives from experienced lecturers from TU Dublin, on the topic the roles of the supervisor, shedding light on effective supervisory practices.

Establishing ground rules

In this video, Gina Wisker, the author of the 'The Good Supervisor', talks about establishing effective relationships between supervisors and students. The author, emphasizes to set the expectations and ground rules during initial days, addressing topics such as meeting schedules, roles, and responsibilities regarding research and writing.