Good supervision – strong concepts – new ideas

Supervising doctoral researchers and postdocs means taking responsibility for emerging researchers and for our academic system. Münster CERes invites you to join us in thinking about frameworks, benchmarks and methods of quality assurance – for a strong research culture and high-quality training for postgraduate researchers at our university. We are here to support you as advisors, trainers and partners – whether you are applying for external funding in which support for graduates plays a role, planning a summer school or developing new formats. Do feel free to contact us.

Transforming the culture and practice of research supervision

As a practitioner partner in the Next Generation Research SuperVision Project (RSVP), the Münster Centre for Emerging Researchers (CERes), together with Human Resources Development, is committed to promoting a positive supervisory culture at the university and creating the best conditions for excellent research. Based on empirical data and insights from renowned UK universities, collaborative formats for the professional development of supervisors are being developed and piloted, building on your expertise. These interventions provide an opportunity to reflect on your supervisory practice and share experiences that will strengthen excellent doctoral supervision at our university in a sustainable manner.

• The project

  Surveys indicate that doctoral researchers identify supervision as the strongest predictor of satisfaction and success in their degree programme (Clegg, Houston, & Gower, 2024; Liu et al., 2023). The large UK Research Supervision Survey 2024 focuses on the perspective of supervisors. According to the survey, most supervisors enjoy their role. They face increasing challenges in supporting doctoral researchers in areas such as promoting self-confidence and focus, high workloads, and mental or financial challenges (UK Research Supervision Survey 2024).

  New supervisors often initially draw on experiences from their own qualification period, but these may need to be adapted to the current contexts and individual needs of postgraduate researchers (Whittington et al., 2021). As part of RSVP, a pool of interventions for the scientifically based professionalisation of supervision is being developed, which is aligned with the criteria outlined in the UKCGE Good Supervisory Practice Framework (Taylor, 2020) and takes into account interdisciplinary, experience-related and regulatory differences. In an experiential learning approach, interventions are co-created, tested in diverse contexts and evaluated.

  The aim of the project is to continuously expand the pool of scholarly trained supervisors in order to enable an inclusive and positive supervisory culture and to optimally support the next generation of researchers.

• RSVP – Adding value

  CERes invites you to participate in piloting RSVP interventions in order to engage in dialogue with us and each other and to actively participate in the development of new concepts and formats. We see great potential in interdisciplinary discourse, but also in the discussion of specific needs in the departments. In collaborative formats and peer-to-peer learning interventions, you will get the chance to share your practice and have purposeful, enriching conversations about supervision. This will foster supportive networks and strengthen a professional supervisory culture.

  Are you writing a funding proposal in which graduate researcher support plays a role? Consider our interventions for supervisors as quality assurance measures. Are you planning a faculty meeting and need inspiration for programme planning? How about a short session to reflect together on your supervisory approaches and philosophies? Do you feel that something is amiss in a supervisory relationship and would like to discuss it? Take advantage of opportunities for confidential exchange with other experienced supervisors at the university.

• Interventions

  Supervision Practice Network

  Supervisors from all disciplines and experience levels are invited to participate in regular semi-open discussions on the topic of doctoral supervision. The objective of the programme is to enhance self-confidence through collegial dialogue and to refine supervisory practices in a practical manner. Participants gain new insights and develop concrete strategies for their work.

  • The pilot programme is currently underway; registration is closed. For future participation, please email us.

   

  Supervisors’ Dialogue – Roles and Approaches

  Depending on the needs of your group, this dialogue offers space for one to two hours of intensive and interactive reflection on your own supervision practice. Theoretical models from the extant literature on doctoral supervision encourage an analytical examination of your own role and the overcoming of habitual practices in order to flexibly adapt them to the context, values and needs. This format targets existing groups of professors at all experience levels in doctoral supervision (e.g., also feasible as an impulse within a regular or extended departmental meeting).

  • If you are interested in a Supervisors' Dialogue for your group, please feel free to contact us.

   

  Starting Strong: A Programme for New Research Supervisors

  This new pilot program offers a great opportunity to build specific skills in doctoral supervision. Delivered online by RSVP, you will spend four weeks as part of a fixed cohort acquiring basic practical skills, exchanging experiences, and making valuable international contacts to enable you to supervise effectively and confidently. The programme is designed for all those who are new to supervision, about to start, or are (in)formally part of a supervision team. For more details, please refer to the RSVP info page.

  • The registration phase for the first cohort has already closed. For interest in future participation, please feel free to email us.

   

  Establishing boundaries in research supervision: Meta-communication and active listening to manage expectations and build Rapport

  This workshop introduces postdoctoral researchers to key supervisory skills by focusing on meta-communication, active listening, and the supervisory expectations grid. It shows how these approaches can help align expectations, build rapport, and support effective collaboration, especially in team or cross-cultural supervision contexts.

  • No dates currently planned; feel free to contact us if interested.

   

  Supporting doctoral researchers' development

  This session helps research supervisors support doctoral researchers beyond the research itself by addressing the hidden curriculum and promoting reflective practice. It emphasizes healthy boundaries, inclusivity, and supervisor wellbeing, while also helping prevent burnout. Participants explore challenges and best practices through peer-led reflection, case studies, and an adaptable development planning template for creating structured, inclusive support plans.

  • No dates currently planned; feel free to contact us if interested.

   

  Further events will be organised during the course of the project and communicated here.