Supervision
Supervision panels
All candidates at UWS have a supervisory panel of at least two supervisors. Panels are advantageous for students in a number of ways:
- providing a backup should the principal supervisor be absent for any reason
- introducing additional expertise, they mentor new supervisors in a co-supervisory role
- involving experts from other research organisations, such as CSIRO or international institutions
Graduate supervisor register
Principal supervisors are registered on the Graduate Supervisor Register and participate in a supervisory development program that supports their practice with access to the most recent information about national and international trends in doctoral pedagogy, as well as advice on UWS policies and processes for managing candidatures.
This quality assurance program ensures that the research education environment at UWS is excellent. For more information see the Research Supervisor Forum Program.
Qualifications of principal supervisor
Normally, a principal supervisor will hold qualifications at least at the level they are supervising.
Supervisor accessiblity
The University limits the maximum number of research candidates a principal supervisor may supervise at any one time. This ensures that each candidate has access to the principal supervisor’s expert but often limited time and is assured of timely feedback on their research plans and writing.
The principal supervisor
The principal supervisor must be a non-casual member of UWS staff. The principal supervisor has a specific role in leading the panel and taking responsibility for a range of matters. Broadly these are:
- management of time
- monitoring of progress
- encouragement of candidate participation in UWS research culture
- ensuring that commitments made by the panel and candidate are met
- providing timely feedback
- ensuring that reporting milestones are met, i.e. early candidature plan, confirmation of candidature and annual progress reports
- arranging nomination of examiners, thesis lodgement and responding to examiners reports
- taking steps to address any problems that may arise
- advising candidates about Leave of Absence, if required
- ensuring that candidates are provided with resources
- advising candidates about the Research Candidate Misconduct in Research Policy, the Research Code of Practice and ensuring that they are aware of UWS policies on Intellectual Property (IP) and plagiarism.
An acting principal supervisor of the supervisory panel must be appointed during any significant absence of the principal supervisor, i.e. more than a month at a time, and always during periods of absence due to Academic Development Program leave. It is never acceptable for a candidate to have their candidature disrupted by staff absences. Please see the Variation of Program for advice on changing panel membership.
