PGR Supervisor Development Programme

This session introduces participants to the role of a PGR Supervisor. It includes important introductory information on being a supervisor of a research degree at Newcastle University.

This session will introduce important issues relating to the key academic activities and progression of research students and will introduce key concepts such as barriers/challenges that PGR students may face and the support available.

Guidance will be provided on university regulations:

• The PGR Code of Practice
• Key PGR regulations and policies

Participants will be given the opportunity to reflect on their experience of supervision and identify/share best practice in research degree supervision. Real-life examples will be provided as case studies.

In addition to introduction to the key academic activities, the session will also introduce the following elements and signpost where to go to for further support and expert advice, for example: 

• EDI (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion) sensitivity
• Supporting students with a Student Support Plan
• Psychology of Supervision
• Expectations of Supervision
• Staff and Student Wellbeing
• Doctoral College
• Careers for Researchers guidance available at NU Careers
• The role of Faculty Development Programmes in supporting PGR students

Open to new and experienced participants.

It will address the qualities, standard of behaviour, and attributes of good PGR supervision.

Held as a networking /group discussion session using real life case studies as examples. This workshop will include topics such:

• Managing expectations.
• Supervision style.
• Managing the relationship.
• Providing positive and effective feedback.
• Reflective practice.
• Working in a Supervisory Team.

The session will provide an opportunity to identify challenges, blockages, solutions, for effective, high-quality supervision.

This new session will draw upon a range of pedagogy and practice materials available to support best practice in research supervision. Including:

The UKGCE Guide to Good Supervisory Practice Framework (add URL).

University EDI Toolkit.

This session is designed to help PGR Supervisors identify when their students, peers, or they themselves may need wellbeing support, and who within the University, and wider community can offer such support.

Intended to increase supervisors’ confidence in knowing what is and what is not their role in the supervision of their student’s wellbeing.

The format of the workshop will be a mixture of presentations, individual and group activities focusing on:

• Overview of the key wellbeing issues affecting PGR students and supervisors. 
• Student Health and Wellbeing Services provision, including: 

• Dealing with distressed students 
• Where responsibility starts/ stops - where to signpost 

 Real-life Case studies will be used as examples, and an open forum discussion will help participates to build a network of support and share practice/experiences.  

Provides participants with an overview of key research assessment regulations and an opportunity to consider and discuss important issues relating to the assessment of research students, as a PGR Supervisor and/or Internal Examiner. 

The session will provide guidance on how to approach the assessment of the submitted work and in an oral examination.

Discuss the role of the Internal Examiner at Newcastle University and consider how the role may vary with that of an External Examiner from another institution. 

This workshop will provide an opportunity  to share good practice between an experienced Examiner/Supervisor and an experienced PGR Professional Services colleague.

This session can be undertaken as and when needed.

This session aims to provide supervisors with knowledge about some of the additional barriers that can face racially and ethnically minoritised PGRs at Newcastle. It is evidence-based, drawing on a recent research and action project (ProNE) which has collected data and trialled interventions across the five North East Universities.

Emphasising the diverse experiences within the broad group of racially and ethnically minoritized PGRs, the workshop identifies some common issues and discusses how supervisors might respond. The format will be interactive, with opportunities for questions and sharing each other's existing ideas and good practice. It will signpost further resources to support us as supervisors in actively tackling inequalities across the PGR journey.

The workshop will cover:

• Understanding the basics of equality, diversity, and inclusion
• The evidence base: statistics and lived experiences for PGRs at Newcastle (Home and International)
• Implications for supervision
• Building constructive relationships
• Allyship, cultural competence and anti-racism
• Intersectionality

This session will be open to new and experienced participants.

It will address the qualities, standard of behaviour, and attributes of good PGR supervision.

Held as a networking /group discussion session using real life case studies as examples. This workshop will include topics such:

• Managing expectations.
• Supervision style.
• Managing the relationship.
• Providing positive and effective feedback.
• Reflective practice.
• Working in a Supervisory Team.

The session will provide an opportunity to identify challenges, blockages, solutions, for effective, high-quality supervision.

This new session will draw upon a range of pedagogy and practice materials available to support best practice in research supervision. Including:

The UKGCE Guide to Good Supervisory Practice Framework (add URL).

University EDI Toolkit.

This session will provide an opportunity for supervisors to update their knowledge of Student Procedures and how they are used for PGR students, including: 

• Academic Query and Appeals Procedure 
• Academic Misconduct Procedure 
• Complaints and Resolution Procedure 
• Disciplinary Procedure 
• Support to Study Procedure 

This session will provide an opportunity for supervisors to update their knowledge of recent UKRI developments and to provide an overview of recent UKRI policy changes, in particular: 

• Changes to Doctoral Training Grant Terms and Conditions 
• The University’s response to these changes 

Target Audience 

• PGR Supervisors of UKRI funded students. 
• Professional Service colleagues supporting UKRI funded students 

A refresh of signposting support. Designed to help PGR Supervisors recognise when their students, peer and themselves may need support for their wellbeing, and who within the University, and wider community can offer support.

Intended to increase supervisors’ confidence in knowing what is and what is not their role in the supervision of their student’s wellbeing. 

Anyone who has not undertaken this development would be encouraged to take part.

This session aims to provide supervisors with knowledge about some of the additional barriers that can face racially and ethnically minoritised PGRs at Newcastle. It is evidence-based, drawing on a recent research and action project (ProNE) which has collected data and trialled interventions across the five North East Universities.

Emphasising the diverse experiences within the broad group of racially and ethnically minoritized PGRs, the workshop identifies some common issues and discusses how supervisors might respond. The format will be interactive, with opportunities for questions and sharing each other's existing ideas and good practice. It will signpost further resources to support us as supervisors in actively tackling inequalities across the PGR journey.

The workshop will cover:

• Understanding the basics of equality, diversity, and inclusion
• The evidence base: statistics and lived experiences for PGRs at Newcastle (Home and International)
• Implications for supervision
• Building constructive relationships
• Allyship, cultural competence and anti-racism
• Intersectionality

This workshop will introduce the principles and practices of open research and how we support our researchers in making their work as accessible as possible—whether it involves quantitative data, qualitative inquiry, or interpretive and creative practices—while recognising the need to protect sensitive information and the integrity of participants and collaborators. Participants will be encouraged to consider and discuss both the benefits and challenges of seeking to make research 'as open as possible and as closed as necessary’. 

This session focuses on neurodiversity-affirmative PhD supervision and support, with the following learning objectives:

• Increased knowledge of neurodiversity and neurodivergence, including the language of neurodiversity;
• Considerations for supporting a neurodiverse, inclusive, postgraduate research community;
• Reflecting on support for postgraduate researchers with lived experience of neurodivergence (and understanding the individual);
• Consideration of potential modifications to supervision practices, communication, and support for neurodivergent PhD students;
• Reflections on potential areas of specific need for neurodivergent PhD students, for example in relation to viva preparations.

This module explores the responsibilities of supervisors and mentors in supporting researchers. It highlights how effective supervision and mentoring can foster professional development, promote responsible research practice, and contribute to a positive research culture.

Learning outcomes

• Explain the difference between supervision and mentoring
• Summarise the main responsibilities of supervisors and supervisees
• Explain the role research institutions play in fostering responsible supervision
• Explain the reasons supervisors have for taking on supervision and the expectations students have when they enter a supervisory relationship
• Briefly outline how supervisors can foster the scholarly, professional and personal development of supervisees, notably in relation to responsible research practice
• Outline the elements of a personal development plan and explain how this type of plan differs from a research plan
• Provide examples of and discuss the impact of poor supervisory practices

Research Integrity - PhD Supervisors PGR SDP.pptx

Material to support your development is available at:-

• EDI Toolkit for Researchers | Our Research | Newcastle University (ncl.ac.uk)