Research Supervisor Training Programme

Introduction

A brief history of research degrees at UW

• From 1976-1992 supervision of research students at Worcester managed through the CNNA

• 1st April 1999 Worcester gained accredited status with Coventry University

• Accreditation renewed 2006/07 for a 5 year period• October 2008 applied for RDAP• August 2010 awarded RDAP• By May 2014 UW has 158 research degree

completions – 126 PhDs, 32 MPhils

Research Degrees at UW now• As of May 2014, 111 research degree students:

– 36 Full time (24 received or in receipt of UW funded studentship)– 75 Part time (27 UW staff and 1 part time UW studentship bursary)

• Currently award:– MRes– MPhil– PhD by Thesis– PhD by Portfolio– Professional Doctorate

• Research degrees managed by the Graduate Research School (GRS)• MPhil and PhD by thesis both incorporate the Research Student

Training Programme (compulsory and optional elements)

Supervision at UW• Supervision in teams of at least 2 often 3 supervisors• Lead supervisor is called Director of Studies (DoS) and is normally

a more experienced supervisor• External Supervisors may be used but are not required• All internal supervisors must be on the Register of Approved

Supervisors• Team must normally have a combined experience of at least 3

research degree completions (at appropriate level)• But new Supervisory Mentor scheme has been introduced which

allows for a less experienced team to be established if supported by an experienced mentor

• Team may include Advisors• Team is ideally established at application stage but is only

formalised when student’s research proposal is approved (RDB1)

Research Training• Student completes a Training Needs Analysis (TNA) at the

beginning of each year identifying ongoing and new training and development needs

• All students must take RTP401 at the outset of their degree• All students must also take a subject specific research methods

module (identified by the supervisory team ideally at interview) unless they can claim APL or APEL for this module

• Research students may take RTP402• These 3 modules together form the PG Cert in Research

Methods• Research students may attend sessions from the programme of

training and development workshops or external workshops• Relevant sessions normally identified through TNA

The GRS TeamJob Title Name Extensi

on

GRS Manager Mrs Helen Tabinor 5012

Research Degrees Administrator

Ms Joanna Jervis 5214

Prof Doc Administrator

Mrs Karan Atkin 2595

Administrator Mrs Kirsten Nayler 2182

Director of Research Development

Dr John-Paul Wilson 2196

Research Support Officer

Mrs Charlotte Wasilewski

2181

Research CoordinatorsInstitute Name

Business School Dr Catharine Ross

Education Prof Stephen Parker

Health & Society Prof Eleanor Bradley

Humanities & Creative Arts Prof Jean Webb

Science & Environment Dr David Storey

Sport Dr Louise Martin

Research Degrees Board (RDB)

• Chair – Prof. Geoffrey Elliott• Secretary - Graduate Research School

Manager• Up to 3 members of staff from each

Academic Institute, to reflect the range of disciplines in which research students are based (to be nominated by the Head of Institute and approved annually by the Academic Board)

• Director of Research Development• Up to two co-opted members from

within or outside the University

Some questions for you…• Who are you?• Why do you want to supervise research

degrees?• What is your experience of supervision

(at UG, PGT or PGR level)?• Is there a substantive difference

between research supervision and supervision in other contexts?

The rest of the day…

• Expectations – yours, the students, the University, etc

• The Supervisor’s role - formal requirements and good practice

• Regulations – the RDB process

• Approaches to Supervision