HRA Monday Lecture on Good Supervision
5 July 2021
Photo: HRA
How does good supervision in academia look like and from which international best practice examples can we learn in Germany? In June, the Hamburg Research Academy dedicated a three-part online lecture series to the topic of good supervision. International experts presented the latest developments and provided impulses for supervision practice.
Over 80 registrations from Hamburg’s universities and research institutions and a lively discussion clearly showed the strong demand for training, professional support and collegial exchange in this field. In this article, you will find helpful information on the topic as well as an outlook on future offers of the Hamburg Research Academy.
"The Professionalization of Doctoral Supervision" on 7 June
Stan Taylor and Karen Clegg opened the lecture series with an international comparative perspective. Stan Taylor presented the results of a research project: „The Making of Doctoral Supervision. International Case Studies of Practice“. Representatives of the UK Council for Graduate Council (UKCGE), both experts presented the Good Supervisory Practice Framework, which provides an approved basis in the UK for supervisors from all disciplines to initiate and promote developments at their universities. Exemplary, Karen Clegg presented the online tutorial „Being an Effective Supervisor Tutorial“ (BEST) at the University of York, which has been implemented within the framework of the UKCGE Research Supervision Recognition Programme since 2019.
"Doing Supervision: How to Develop a Good Supervisory Relationship" on 14 June
Hands-on, Gitte Wichmann-Hansen, and Mirjam Godskesen continued the lecture series. In just 90 minutes, the two experienced trainers reflected with the participants on their supervision practice and gave them some concrete tips on how to organize the supervisory relationship more flexibly. The focus of this session was on methods such as active listening, constructive feedback and Geoff Gurrs „Alignment Model“ to reflect on different supervision styles. Gitte Wichmann-Hansen und Mirjam Godskesen will also offer a more in-depth workshop at the HRA in March and April 2022. Among other things, this workshop includes the opportunity for peer supervision for supervisors in Hamburg.
"Good Supervision with an Individual Development Plan (IDP)" on 21 June
Another tool for shaping supervision relationships was presented by Nora Glaubrecht in the third and final lecture. An Individual Development Plan (IDP) can support career development as well as communication between supervisors and doctoral researchers. An Individual Development Plan has been developed at the MIN Faculty of the Universität Hamburg within the project „PromovierendenBetreuung“ (ProBe), funded by the Joachim Herz Stiftung. Following the presentation, Ingenuin Gasser, Vice Dean for Internationalization and Support for Young Researchers, and Anselm Steiger, Vice Dean for Research at the Faculty of Humanities, discussed opportunities and limits of an IDP as well as challenges and responsibilities in the supervisory relationship. On the website of the MIN Graduate School (MINGS), you can download the Individual Development Plan (IDP) and find out more about the project.
Reading recommendation:
The Making of Doctoral Supervisors. International Case Studies of Practice
Edited by Stan Taylor, Margaret Kiley, Karri A. Holley, London: Routledge 2021
Please find further reading recommendations and information about the guests on the event page HRA Monday Lecture on Good Supervision.
SAVE THE DATE – HRA offers for supervisors
Führung und Betreuung von Promovierenden (online)
28/29 Oct 2021: workshop and coaching
Doctoral Supervision: Methods & Tools (face to face + online)
7 March 2022 and 7/8 Apr 2022: workshop and peer supervision
International Symposium on Good Supervision (face to face)
9/10 June 2022: two-day event, discussion, exchange and workshop offers;
HRA in cooperation with the Joachim Herz Foundation
The program for the winter semester 2021/22 will be online on 1 September.