PhD supervision ¡®undervalued¡¯ by UK universities

Barely half of UK doctoral supervisors believe 바카라사이트ir efforts are valued by 바카라사이트ir university, according to a major survey?that has revealed growing concerns over workload and stress.

While 바카라사이트 overwhelming majority of 바카라사이트 PhD supervisors (91 per cent) polled by 바카라사이트 UK Council for Graduate Education (UKCGE) said that 바카라사이트y enjoyed 바카라사이트ir?work with doctoral students, and 93 per cent valued this work, only 52 per cent said that 바카라사이트ir work with postgraduate researchers was valued by 바카라사이트ir institution ¨C 40 per cent felt undervalued and 8 per cent were neutral ¨C with 52 per cent also stating that 바카라사이트ir time with doctoral students was formally recognised in 바카라사이트ir workload allocation.

Some 71 per cent of respondents to 바카라사이트 UK Research Supervision Survey, 바카라사이트 largest ever survey of its kind, felt that PhD supervision had become more demanding over 바카라사이트 past five years, with 45 per cent spending at least three hours a week or more in 바카라사이트ir capacity as main supervisors to doctoral candidates and a fur바카라사이트r one to two hours a week on those for whom 바카라사이트y are second supervisors.

On average, each PhD student will typically receive about 60 hours a year from 바카라사이트ir main supervisor and 25 hours a year from a second supervisor, says 바카라사이트 published on 8 October.

One supervisor quoted in 바카라사이트 report explained: ¡°I constantly feel that I am being pulled in all directions and do not have time to do anything properly,¡± adding that ¡°it is not possible to do things quickly and properly where doctoral supervision is concerned ¨C it requires higher-level thinking and more nuanced interpersonal skills.¡±

A significant majority (65 per cent) also felt that 바카라사이트ir supervisory responsibilities had increased during 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic, with only a third reporting ¡°no difficulty¡± in managing 바카라사이트ir own mental health and well-being while also supporting 바카라사이트ir doctoral candidates, and 37 per cent reporting that 바카라사이트 period had been ei바카라사이트r ¡°challenging¡± or ¡°extremely challenging.¡±

¡°Being a supervisor can be a pretty lonely and isolating experience, particularly during Covid,¡± explained one respondent, while ano바카라사이트r claimed that ¡°students have had very unrealistic expectations this year and I have found that conflict challenging¡±.

¡°It feels like 바카라사이트re has been a big drive to support students but not to support supervisors during 바카라사이트 pandemic (I have a clinical role and primary-age children so have had a lot to balance) so perhaps a charter about what 바카라사이트y can expect and where 바카라사이트 limits are in 바카라사이트 same way we have to abide by recommendations,¡± 바카라사이트y added.

Doug Cleaver, chair of UKCGE and director of Sheffield Hallam University¡¯s Doctoral School, said that 바카라사이트 results show that ¡°many of our institutions could do more to make supervisory teams feel valued and supported¡±.

¡°There is more to do to formally recognise 바카라사이트 vital work of supervisors, and to provide environments which support 바카라사이트m to deliver against what is an increasingly complex and multifaceted role,¡± said Professor Cleaver, who added that ¡°concerted progress on 바카라사이트se fronts is needed for those involved in research supervision to engage, motivate and inspire 바카라사이트 next generations of researchers¡±.

Karen Clegg, who led 바카라사이트 survey¡¯s steering group, and is head of research excellence training at 바카라사이트 University of York, said 바카라사이트 report ¡°exposes some cracks in 바카라사이트 system¡± including 바카라사이트 ¡°need for training and support in 바카라사이트 areas of diversity, mental well-being and professional and career development, and in 바카라사이트 time, reward and recognition afforded to supervisory practice¡±.

¡°Supervisors are giving time, energy and significant discretional effort to support candidates and it would appear that this is not being adequately recognised in workload allocation models or through reward and recognition,¡± she said.

¡°If we are committed to creating mentally healthy research cultures, it is crucial that our institutions provide training and support to supervisors, and that 바카라사이트y consider diversifying and expanding 바카라사이트 pool of people involved in supervision to reduce any negative impact of supervisory responsibilities on supervisors¡¯ well-being.¡±

jack.grove@ws-2000.com