Course Foundational course in PhD supervision

ECTS: 0

Course leader: Tove Hedegaard Jørgensen

Language: English

Graduate school: Course collaboration

Course fee: 0.00 DKK

Status: Course is finished

Semester: Fall 2021

Application deadline: 14/10/2021

Cancellation deadline: 14/10/2021

Start date: 28/10/2021

Administrator: Thilde Møller Risgaard

Supervisor course

The course is for main supervisors and co-supervisors of PhD students at the Graduate School of Natural Sciences and Technical Sciences (permanent and temporary staff).

The course Foundational course in PhD supervision is being offered by the Graduate School of Natural Sciences/GSNS and Graduate School of Technical Sciences/GSTS, Aarhus University, fall 2021 .

Target group: All main supervisors and co-supervisors of PhD students at the Graduate School of Natural Sciences and Technical Sciences (permanent and temporary staff).

We recommend the course for experienced supervisors (offered every spring) to those who have attended this foundational course within the last approx. 8 years.

Aim: To expand participants’ strategies and methods in supervision. 

Structure:
The course runs over four weeks and consists of:

  • Session 1: PhD supervision: rules, relations and communication (8 hrs)
  • Session 2: Supervision of writing (2 hrs, optional)
  • Session 3: The supervisor role in recruitment (2 hrs, optional)
  • Session 4: The supervisor role in assessment (2 hrs, optional)

Content and delivery:
The course is highly practical in content through the discussion and testing of methods and tools in supervision. Session 1 covers the most essential elements of PhD supervision and brings experienced and inexperienced supervisors up to date on developments and research in the area. It has three main elements: 1) the optimal use of (and alignment with) the rules and regulations of a PhD education, 2) managing the process of supervision (e.g. aligning expectations, handling cultural differences, ensuring academic development, managing crises and conflicts) and 3) communication skills (e.g. questioning techniques). Session 2 - 4 provide focused training in supervision of writing, recruitment and supervision for the part A exam and thesis defense. Highly experienced supervisors may choose to participate in session 1 and 2 only. Session 3 and 4 are particularly useful for faculty that are new to research supervision in the context of Aarhus University. Session 1 is a prerequisite for session 2-4.

Recent participants of the teacher training course for assistant professors at AU should note that the present course has a small overlap with module 3 on supervision in the teacher training course.

Objectives: After the course, the participants will:

  • understand rules and regulations for the PhD education including expectations for supervision on research integrity
  • have tools to align expectations for supervision with students
  • have tools and strategies to develop students’ skills and independence in writing
  • have communication tools that ensure progression in supervisory meetings and enhance students’ independent thinking
  • be able to identify and manage conflicts and crises that may appear during a PhD education

Preparation: Participants are asked to contribute two small pieces of writing in advance of the course (maximum 1 hour of preparation time).

Instructors:
Tove H Jørgensen, Associate Professor, Department of Biology
David Egholm Lundbek, Professor, Vice-dean and Head of Graduate School.
Rikke J. Ljungman, PhD-partner
Marit-Solveig Seidenkrantz, Professor, Advisor on responsible conduct of research, Department of Geoscience

Number of participants: Maximum 20 (first-come-first-served)

Time and date: 28 October from 9:00-17:00, and 4, 11, and 18 November from 14:00-16:00

Venue: On 28 October in Meeting room M1,  Fredrik Nielsens Vej 2, Building 1422, 8000 Aarhus C
The rest of the course is held in “Loftsalen” in Victor Albeck Building, Vennelyst Boulevard 4, DK-Aarhus C

Registration:
Due to an Agreement between Danish Universities coming into force as of 1 January 2011, participants from other universities than Aarhus University will have to pay DKK 1,200 per ECTS. In principle this also applies to external parties, but exemption can be granted under specific circumstances.

Please be aware that your registration for the course not necessarily equals your admission for the course. You will receive an e-mail after the registration deadline regarding whether you are admitted for the course or if you are registered on the waiting list. Please note that seats are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.

Course dates:

  • 28 October 2021 09:00 - 17:00
  • 04 November 2021 14:00 - 16:00
  • 11 November 2021 14:00 - 16:00
  • 18 November 2021 14:00 - 16:00