In the past two decades or so, doctoral education has become increasingly important in the context of countries seeking to gain comparative advantage through training research workers for the knowledge economies. The success of such training depends, in large measure, upon the support and guidance offered to candidates by their supervisors.

The aim of this webinar is to outline the results of a comparative study, the first of its kind, of the ways in which supervisors are selected, supported, recognised and rewarded. The study encompasses in all 21 countries including the major producers of Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Iran, Japan, Russia, South Korea, Turkey, the UK and the US as well as others such as Australia, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Poland, South Africa, and Sweden. Collectively, these countries account for 76% of the world’s known doctoral graduates.

 The objectives are to:

• explain the background to the study;
• outline how it was undertaken;
• summarise the key findings;
• analyse these in terms of a model of ‘supervisor professionality’;
• identify good practice

Each of these themes will be outlined and followed by opportunities for interaction and discussion. By the end of the webinar, participants should be more aware of international variations in supervisor professionality and of good practice in terms of supervisor selection, support and reward. 

Facilitator

This webinar will be led by Professor Stan Taylor of the University of Durham who, with Professor Karri A. Holley (University of Alabama) and Dr Margaret Kiley (Australian National University) directed the project and edited the resulting book The Making of Doctoral Supervisors (London, Routledge: 2021).  His other publications include the Good Supervisory Practice Framework (UK Council for Graduate Education, 2021) and (with Margaret Kiley and Professor Robin Humphrey) A Handbook for Doctoral Supervisors. (2nd Ed., Routledge,  2018).