Just how many research students should we be supervising?

Just how many research students should we be supervising?

This was part of a conversation I had last weekend with a senior academic. We were discussing various approaches to rationalising an answer, but also the perspectives and approach different Universities take in establishing guidelines.

Between research, lecturing, departmental and faculty obligations (committees, etc), there isn’t really a lot of time remaining for supervision. An educated guestimate by both of us that 5 research students in a year would be considered a healthy contribution to the future of academia, accounting for approximately 25% of ones’ time – we agreed that such a proportion would not be unheard of.

Fast forward until yesterday. Change location and context to Malaysia. And what did I see, a local private university advertising for a supervisory-based senior position – to work with research students as a supervisor at post graduate levels.

The expectation: supervise up to twelve (12) students within an equivalency of three (3) days per week, AND … network to promote the school, mentor and support others, and publish. Quite a big ask in relation to the quality of focused input that one would hope is achieved.

We knew the pressure was on in Asia, but how does this result in relevant and productive supervision outcomes for research students?

Ignore the issue that the discipline was left purposefully wide – a generic supervision blanket to enable students to have an on-campus (or on-zoom) supervisor for both Masters and PhD – tick the box rather than contribute specifically – not a guarantee that the supervisor can strategically contribute to the student research per se.

What it does is add justification to what we are doing at #TheThirdDegree. Investment in our #ResearchStudents is essential for the future. Don’t skimp on that investment, either financially, or with allocation of time and other resources.

Interested on your feedback as to ideal number of students to supervise, and how you balance that from semester-to-semester, to ensure consistent outcomes for your students.

#PostGraduateResearch #ResearchSupervision #AcademicWorkLifeBalance #Universities

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