This workshop is provided as a forum for experienced, new and aspiring doctoral supervisors to share best practice as well as any reservations/trepidations/triumphs/joys they have in relation to the dilemmas and challenges that arise when supervising doctoral candidates.

The workshop will take the form of a guided tour of the process and procedures of the doctoral process, from recruitment through support and training to the viva and finally completion, using one or two case studies and vignettes drawn from our experience and that of our colleagues across the sector to raise issues and aid discussion. We will deliberately try to keep participation numbers small enough so that you can join in the debates, so sign up quickly if interested in joining us.

Presentations by the organisers will be kept to a minimum since the main discussion points will be determined by the participants who are invited to share their experiences on the day and to send in advance any dilemmas or challenges they have faced or heard of, that they would like to have aired and debated. Some of those might include but are not restricted to: different expectations between supervisors and doc researchers; building rapport while supervising remotely; working with co-supervisors with different viewpoints; supervising colleagues; ethical challenges; candidates unable to cope with the work; ensuring on-time completions; making the process humane and survivable, nay enjoyable for all parties.

Please send to Pam: p.m.denicolo@reading.ac.uk a note by Friday 16^th April at latest of any topics you would like discussed, with enough detail to identify the main points of the situation, so that we can introduce the topic appropriately but anonymously.