Topic outline
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The University's procedure on research degree supervision (AB-58 P2) begins with the sentence: 'The most important resource that UniSA provides to research degree students is the expertise and time of the Supervisory Panel.'
It then goes on to outline form this Supervisory Panel should take.
'All research degree students are supervised by a Supervisory Panel, with the Panel composition determined as appropriate for the student’s research and intended career path. The Panel consists of a minimum of three (3) people, two (2) of whom need to be UniSA staff:
i. a Principal Supervisor (mandatory); and,
ii. one (1) or more co-supervisors/associate supervisors from the research degree student’s discipline area; and/or,
iii. one (1) or more co-supervisors/associate supervisors from other disciplines; and/or,
iv. one (1) or more advisors who are end users of research in the discipline.'
- The full UniSA academic regulations on higher degrees by research can be found on this page.
- The University's policy on research degree supervision is also relevant and can also be found on the same page.
Panel supervision brings benefits for both research degree candidates, their supervisors and also end-user members.
Potential benefits of panel supervision
The benefits of panel supervision to the:
may include
Candidate
- Opportunity to enrich the project with multidisciplinary expertise & perspectives
- Understanding of the end-user perspectives, research translation and/or industry practices
- Access to research participants, specialist equipment and/or facilities
- Continuity of supervision
- Opportunity to gain industry-based experience
- Career mentoring
- Broadened networks
- Employment opportunities
Supervisors
- Working as part of a supervisory team
- New collaborations with colleagues from other disciplines
- Optimising research outcomes that are relevant and usable
- Incorporation of market knowledge – via end-user advisor – to research project design
- Development opportunities for less experienced supervisors
- Continuity of support for candidate during staff leave
- Strengthened interaction with industry partner(s) (scale/depth)
End-user - Development of new knowledge to assist end-user organisation(s)
- Shaping research projects, to achieve real-world outcomes
- Access to technology pipeline
- Exposure to talented candidates
- Formation of networks and collaborations in the University
- Access to research that is evidence-based, rigorous, and future-focused
- Commercial outcomes
Guidelines for panel membership
As noted above, a Supervisory Panel requires a minimum of 2 UniSA supervisors, one of whom will be the Principal Supervisor. A panel will usually comprise between 3 and 5 members included as appropriate for the candidate’s discipline and project. The inclusion of 3-5 members in a Supervisory Panel is consistent with the model used for panels at several other Australian universities, including Australian National University, Charles Darwin University and the University of Sydney, and also shares similarities with European collaborative doctoral programs, UK universities following the former Council for National Academic Awards (CNAA) guidance on supervision, and the American supervisory committee model.
Key roles of the various members of supervisory panels
Field
Title
Role
Responsibilities
Academic Research Supervisor
Principal supervisor
Take the leading role in guiding the candidate to undertake a successful research project;
Lead discussions around the formation and organisation of the panel.
Ensure the Supervisory Panel and candidate are familiar with their responsibilities;
Fulfil the responsibilities of supervisors, as detailed in the Code of good practice: research degrees management and supervision;
Be the primary contact for the supervisory panel.
Academic Research Supervisor
Co-supervisor
Play an active role in guiding the candidate to undertake a successful research project, in collaboration with the Principal Supervisor
Fulfill the responsibilities of supervisors, as detailed in the Code of good practice: research degrees management and supervision, in collaboration with the Principal supervisor.
Academic Research Supervisor
Associate supervisor
Provide advice in specialised aspects of the research program
Participate in the supervision of the candidate, as agreed with them and the panel.
Industry-linked end-user
Advisor
Be involved in the development of candidate research project(s), &/or
Contribute end-user knowledge, skills, resources
and time;Actively mentor the research degree candidate, &/or
Actively mentor the research degree candidate in career interests, research translation, industry practices etc.
Likely to include some of the following, depending on the needs of the candidate, and the role of the advisor:
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Regular meetings with the candidate and/or the panel;
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Provision of mentoring throughout the candidate’s candidature, including a focus on skills development and career conversations linked with their EDGE experience;
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Provision of end-user linked (EDGE) experiences, such as invitation to company board meetings, placement opportunities, or other exposure;
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Assist candidates in gaining access to relevant research resources (participants, equipment etc) within an end-user’s organisation/ company/ community;
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Reading and providing feedback on the research proposal and/or on draft thesis chapters.