Topic outline
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Supervision for an Oral Defence (4:19) Advice for supervisors (4:37) The presence of the supervisor at the oral defence is not mandatory, but is the choice of the student. If the student prefers for the supervisor not to attend, the supervisor can still choose to attend for the examination decision and accompanying feedback at the close of the oral defence. When supervisors do attend the oral defence, they are required to remain completely silent and out of view of the student and examiners.
This is not to say that the supervisor's role in the oral defence is unimportant. Although the supervisor may not be present during the oral defence, and, when in attendance, they remain silent, the supervisor nevertheless plays a critical role in the oral defence. The supervisor's role is threefold: to provide support before the oral defence, to listen to and record examiner feedback and observe the student's performance, and to act as witness and educative support following the oral defence. Each of these roles is taken up in turn below.
Providing information, guidance and support in the lead-up
In the lead-up to the defence the supervisor plays an important role in:
- Instilling the seriousness of the oral defence and the importance of thorough preparation;
- Guiding the student with respect to information and resources;
- Encouraging students to participate in EDGE workshops and other activities—including those in their and other Academic Units, those which are University-wide and also those external to UniSA—which will support the development of their communication skills in preparation for the oral defence from the beginning of their candidature;
- Building confidence and giving moral support;
- Setting questions and reviewing summaries and preparatory notes with the student; and,
- Facilitating the set up of a 'mock' oral defence, and participating in it with the student.
Listening to and recording examiner feedback
The oral defence, taken together with the thesis, or exegesis and artefact, is the basis of the examiner's joint recommendation regarding the final result and any amendments to the written work. Understandably, the student will be in a heightened state of excitement and preoccupation during the oral defence, and may not therefore hear or understand all of the advice offered. The supervisor can choose to play a role in listening to the advice, any disagreement or debates that emerge, and in discussing these with the student after the completion of the oral defence when the student is feeling calmer. The supervisor can also choose to play a role in 'de-briefing' the student after the oral defence, reassuring them perhaps that although questions were certainly tough, in fact the work was well-received. This may be missed by a student anxious to answer questions thoroughly and who may, understandably, be overly focused on 'what is wrong' with the work.
Acting as a silent support
Although it is not mandatory that the supervisor be in attendance, and many students and supervisors will choose for the supervisor to be absent during the oral defence, a silent supervisor can give the student considerable moral support just by their physical presence, especially because the supervisor may be the only person in attendance that the student knows and trusts at this critical moment in their career.
Process and timing
For an overview of the purpose, format and conduct of the oral defence, see Guideline AB-58 AD8 Oral Defence of the Thesis in Research Degrees. The tabs on this site for students, chairs and case managers may also be helpful in clarifying the roles different parties play in the oral defence.
Some salient points for supervisors to consider include:
- When both examination reports are received, they are sent out to the student and the supervisors, without the preliminary recommendation, prior to the oral defence. The final result is delivered to the student and to supervisors who wish to be present at the end of the oral defence and in the written report that follows the oral defence.
- Neither students or supervisors are permitted to engage in correspondence with examiners prior to the oral defence. Any dialogue with the examiners must be via the Research Examinations office.
