Opening the door on supervision: how academics manage the different elements of master’s project supervision

Undertaking a master’s level dissertation can be a challenging experience. Guidance from an interested, supportive academic is invaluable and the supervisor is acknowledged as a key role, at the nexus of teaching and research. Preparation for this responsibility is variable and there is relatively little research into master’s level supervision.
This presentation will report on a collaborative project which involved 25 master’s dissertation supervisors who identified that it is one of the aspects of the job that academics feel least prepared for and worry about. Through sharing their experiences, and reflecting together on the nature of supervision, the complexities involved in this role were articulated, and a three sided model, which conceptualises the process of supervision and explains the way supervisors practice, was developed. Building on their assessment of a student’s readiness, motivation and individual situation, they balance three functions in promoting student growth: Facilitating, Nurturing and Maintaining Standards.