Information for Supervisors
Graduate research supervisors play a critical role in developing independent researchers. At La Trobe, we are committed to fostering a positive experience for graduate research candidates and supervisors alike.
Being a graduate research supervisor is an important part of academic life, and one that we hope you will value and continuously seek to develop at every stage of your academic career. These pages provide the information and resources to help you do this.
At La Trobe, graduate research supervision is considered to be equal parts teaching and research, and is reflected this way in academic workloads. It is also a highly interpersonal pursuit that requires a willingness to engage positively, critically and authentically with the candidates who you will mentor now and in the future.
Supervision forms part of your professional and pedagogical practice, and you are encouraged to continually reflect on the contribution you make to the development of graduate researchers.
Registration and Induction
All graduate research supervisors at La Trobe University need to be registered on the Graduate Research School Supervision Register. This includes adjunct and emeritus staff, supervisors from other institutions, and any other independent researchers. All applications are considered by the Chair of the Board of Graduate Research, on behalf of the Board of Graduate Research.
Registration ensures that supervisors are aware of their responsibilities, and that their role is aligned with their experience and qualifications. It also ensures that you can participate in supervisor development activities, which are available to all supervisors whether internal or external.
Registration Process
- Complete the self-guided Graduate Research Supervision at La Trobe induction module in My Knowledge Nest*.
External supervisors can access the GRO Supervision induction page as an alternative. - For La Trobe Staff: complete the Supervisor Register web form.
For external supervisors: contact the Graduate Research Coordinator in your discipline area to ensure that they have provided your details to the Graduate Research School (further communications may follow).
*Access to My Knowledge Nest
- Continuing and fixed-term staff: Access is available from launch.
- Casual staff: Access will be provided soon; you will be notified once it is available.
- CONAGOTHS, Adjuncts, Emeritus, and others with alternative employment arrangements:
These individuals do not have access to the Staff LMS.
More information about My Knowledge Nest, our Staff Learning Management System [intranet]
To make the most of your induction to graduate research supervision, come to one of the Welcome to graduate research supervision at LTU offered by the RED Team. These workshops occur each semester, providing an overview of supervision expectations, tips to help you manage your supervision commitments, and an opportunity to share your practice experience with other academics.
All supervisors are expected to:
- Follow the policies and procedures for supervision at La Trobe, and stay up to date with any changes.
- Adhere to the principles and practices outlined in the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research, and uphold and promote academic integrity when working with graduate researchers.
- Comply with registration requirements.
- Consider the wellbeing of the graduate researchers you supervise, and foster an environment in which all researchers are treated with dignity and respect.
- Foster effective working relationships within the supervision team, with particular regard to clear and effective communication.
- Contribute to the orientation and induction of graduate research candidates within their School or Department context.
- Support candidate progression processes, and in the event of a problem, be proactive in seeking help or advice.
- Consider occupational health and safety requirements, and do what is possible to foster a safe working environment for graduate researchers.
- Be responsible for any ethics and biosafety requirements, and Defence Export Controls that may relate to the project.
- Participate in formal supervision workshops, engagement with mentoring opportunities, and/or participation in other related activities organised at the Schools and Departments or discipline level.
In addition to these expectations, certain conditions apply to international graduate research candidates, such as completion timeframes, and other matters relating to their Australian residency.
When working with international candidates, supervisors are expected to consider the circumstances of the candidate when making decisions about their project, their progress, etc. If you are unfamiliar with these requirements, refer to the ESOS code for further information.
Support and Development
Graduate research supervision can at times be difficult or complicated, and supervisors are not expected to work in a vacuum. The university provides a broad support network that is there to help answer questions, to model expectations, and to provide advice. The institutional supports available to supervisors are as follows:
- Schools provide leadership in the expectations of graduate research through research activities (such as seminar series) held at the discipline, department or school level. Your School Director of Research can provide more information about activities in your area.
- Each school has a dedicated Director of Graduate Research (DGR) who oversees higher degree research matters for the School and can advise you on aspects of supervision procedure.
- Graduate Research Coordinators (GRCs) are appointed at the Department/discipline level to assist the work of the SGRCs and support supervisors and research candidates.
- The Research Education and Development (RED) team in the Graduate Research School offers specific workshops and seminars to help La Trobe academics develop their capacity as graduate research supervisors.
| Date | Session Title | Registration |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 2 December | Welcome to supervision at La Trobe | Register |
| Date | Session Title | Registration |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 14 October | Managing Graduate Research Progress: Info for Supervisors & Progress Chairs | Register |
Policies and Resources
All decisions concerning Graduate Research Supervision are informed by the Graduate Research Supervision Policy.
The National Code of Practice for Registration Authorities and Providers of Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) outlines the requirements that apply to international higher degree research candidates.
You can access the full suite of information (staff intranet), including how supervision is factored into workload allocations.
- Questions at discipline or school level – contact the University network of School Directors of Graduate Research and Graduate Research Coordinators
- Questions about supervision development – contact the RED unit at red.grs@latrobe.edu.au
- For any other inquiries - Contact the Graduate Research School grs@latrobe.edu.au