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 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 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.
Introduction to Graduate Research Supervision
If you are new to supervision or to La Trobe, or want to refresh your knowledge of supervision, the RED team provides an intensive Introduction to Graduate Research Supervision workshop that covers all the basics and provides academic staff with the chance to reflect on what being a supervisor means in their disciplinary context. These workshops are face-to-face, and are held across various campuses on a rolling cycle.
Past workshops
Date | Session title | Campus | Booking |
---|---|---|---|
Thursday 20 February | Introduction to Graduate Research Supervision | Melbourne | Bookings closed |
Friday 21 February | Introduction to Graduate Research Supervision | Bendigo | Bookings closed |
Tuesday 25 February | Introduction to Graduate Research Supervision | Online | Bookings closed |
Tuesday 21 July | Introduction to Graduate Research Supervision | Online | Bookings closed |
Wednesday 22 July | Introduction to Graduate Research Supervision | Online | Bookings closed |
Thursday 10 December | Introduction to Graduate Research Supervision | Online | Bookings closed |
Supervisor Development Program
The Supervisor Development Program (SDP) is a semester-long series of interactive, online workshops that aim to provide graduate research supervisors at La Trobe with knowledge and resources that will enhance their supervision practice. The SDP responds to the La Trobe Strategic Plan and the Graduate Researcher Experience and Wellbeing Plan by helping supervisors to build shared understandings of supervision practice that will enhance the research training experience and promote timely and effective completions.
The SDP workshops are organised in a sequence of four staged topics. It is recommended that participants aim to access the workshops in sequence over the course of a single semester. Participants are welcome to repeat any of the workshops at any time to reinforce specific aspects of their supervision practice.
Past workshops
Date | Session title | Campus | Booking |
---|---|---|---|
Tuesday 3 March | Workshop 1: Pedagogies and Philosophies of Supervision | Online | Bookings closed |
Thursday 26 March | Workshop 2: Effective Communication | Online | Bookings closed |
Bookings closed | Workshop 3: Working with Student Writers and Giving Feedback | Online | Bookings closed |
Tuesday 19 May | Workshop 4: Problem Solving and managing change | Online | Bookings closed |
Wednesday 29 July | Workshop 1: Pedagogies and Philosophies of Supervision | Online | Bookings closed |
Wednesday 19 August | Workshop 2: Effective Communication | Online | Bookings closed |
Wednesday 16 September | Workshop 3: Working with Student Writers and Giving Feedback | Online | Bookings closed |
Wednesday 14 October | Workshop 4: Problem Solving and managing change | Online | Bookings closed |
Chairing Progress Committees
The Progress Committee Chair plays a pivotal role in supporting graduate research candidates and ensuring the success of their research endeavours.
The purpose of these workshop is to provide Progress Committee Chairs with an opportunity to develop their knowledge of the requirements of the role, and to share their experience with other Chairs from across the university.
Past workshops
Date | Session title | Campus | Booking |
---|---|---|---|
Wednesday 11 March | Chairing Progress Committees | Melbourne | Bookings closed |
Thursday 12 March | Chairing Progress Committees | Online | Bookings closed |
Thursday 12 March | Chairing Progress Committees | Bendigo | Bookings closed |
Wednesday 25 March | Chairing Progress Committees | Online | Bookings closed |
Thursday 14 May | Chairing Progress Committees | Online | Bookings closed |
Thursday 6 August | Chairing Progress Committees | Online | Bookings closed |
Wednesday 26 August | Chairing Progress Committees | Online | Bookings closed |
Monday 5 October | Chairing Progress Committees | Online | Bookings closed |
Tuesday 15 December | Chairing Progress Committees | Online | Bookings closed |
Preparing Progress Support Plans
These workshops provides an introduction and guide to the progress support plans process.
Past workshops
Date | Session title | Campus | Booking |
---|---|---|---|
Wednesday 13 May | Preparing Progress Support Plans | Online | Bookings closed |
Friday 15 May | Preparing Progress Support Plans | Online | Bookings closed |
Managing Expectations in Graduate Research and Supervision
These workshops are offered separately in two cohorts for candidates and supervisors, which aims to empower all members of the supervision team with strategies for effective communication and expectations management.
Past workshops
Date | Session title | Campus | Cohort | Booking |
---|---|---|---|---|
Wednesday 11 March | Managing Expectations in Graduate Research and Supervision | Melbourne | Graduate researchers | Bookings closed |
Friday 13 March | Managing Expectations in Graduate Research and Supervision | Bendigo | Graduate researchers | Bookings closed |
Wednesday 15 April | Managing Expectations in Graduate Research and Supervision | Online | Graduate researchers | Bookings closed |
Wednesday 26 August | Managing Expectations in Graduate Research and Supervision | Online | Graduate researchers | Bookings closed |
Thursday 3 September | Managing Expectations in Graduate Research and Supervision | Online | Supervisors | Bookings closed |
Tuesday 6 October | Managing Expectations in Graduate Research and Supervision | Online | Supervisors | Bookings closed |
Respectful relationships in Graduate Research Supervision
These workshops aim to engender mutually positive and respectful interaction in graduate research supervision. This workshop is recommended for anyone involved in research training, and is offered in specific iterations for candidates, supervisors, and professional staff (pleased see event listing for correct cohort details).
Past workshops
Date | Session title | Campus | Cohort | Booking |
---|---|---|---|---|
Wednesday 12 August | Respectful relationships in Graduate Research Supervision | Online | Supervisors | Bookings closed |
Supervising at a distance
A new workshop for the current climate, but also responding to longer term work across campuses and partner institutions.
Past workshops
Date | Session title | Campus | Booking |
---|---|---|---|
Friday 15 May | Supervising at a distance | Online | Bookings closed |
Supervisor Forum: Distance Supervision
This half-day forum aims to give supervisors an opportunity to consider the impact of remote supervision on their practice, and offers potential solutions to some of the challenges that can arise from remote or distance supervision.
Past workshops
Date | Session title | Campus | Booking |
---|---|---|---|
Thursday 30 July | Supervisor Forum: Distance Supervision | Online | Bookings closed |
For information on other workshops, please visit the RED Workshops page