Supervisors Cannot Bear the Sole Burden for Effective Graduate Education

• In Event: Graduate and Postdoctoral Supervision, Mentoring, and Professional Development

Abstract

The rapid and widespread pandemic pivot created a pressing need to improve understanding of effective online supervisory relationships. Our qualitative case study research with supervisors and doctoral graduates yielded five enabling factors for effective online supervisory relationships: 1) Establish trust early, 2) Engage in mentorship and scaffolding, 3) Provide multiple levels and layers of support, 4) Timely formative feedback, 5) Cultivate collaborative communities of support for academic writing. Enabling factors address program design, supervisors’ roles and responsibilities, and doctoral students’ experiences. Establishing relational trust and learning alliances was crucial for fostering effective student-supervisor relationships. Our findings readily translate into actions and strategies for supervisors, programs and institutions to leverage in improving supervision pedagogy and increasing student success.

Authors

• Michele Jacobsen, University of Calgary
  Presenting Author

• Sharon Friesen, University of Calgary
  Presenting Author

• Sandra Becker, University of Calgary
  Non-Presenting Author