Researcher Development / Supervisor Training

Resources and Toolkits to Support Supervisors

UoM PGR Supervisors do a great job – in the 2023 PGR Voice survey, 84% of PGRs rated the overall quality of their supervision as excellent or good. To ensure that every PGR continues to get the support they need to succeed, from October 2024, Manchester Doctoral College (MDC) require all PGR supervisors to engage with at least one supervision-focused CPD opportunity within each academic year.

The requirement for all academic staff to undertake their Faculty’s New Academics Programme and access the PGR Supervisor Toolkit remains, alongside any other compulsory staff training courses (e.g. Data Protection and Cyber Security, Export Controls, Diversity in the Workplace, Unconscious Bias).

 

PGR Supervisors Toolkit

The resource, for supervisors from all academic areas, brings together information and guidance about all aspects of research supervision from recruitment through to completion. It aims to quickly signpost you to useful services, enabling you to navigate policies and regulations, and facilitating your interactions with postgraduate researchers.  

The resource will be reviewed and updated biannually; please use the form within the resource to send us your feedback and help ensure the resource continues to be useful and relevant. 

To access the toolkit, click Postgraduate Researcher Supervisor Toolkit and follow the steps below: 

  1. When logged in to Blackboard, click the Enrol button with the green + symbol 
  2. Click Submit in the bottom right corner of the window 
  3. Click OK in the bottom right corner of the window 
  4. When you click on the link within Blackboard to launch the toolkit, ensure that pop-ups are enabled

LIST OF ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT CONTINUED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 

Minimum expectation of one activity per academic year. 

Faculty Doctoral Academies offer a range of CPD activities for PGR Supervisors, please see their websites for further details: 

Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health Doctoral Academy

Faculty of Humanities Doctoral Academy

Please contact the FSE Doctoral Academy with any queries: Science and Engineering Doctoral Academy

Supervisor CPD programme

Coaching Skills for PGR Supervisors Parts 1 and 2

Coaching skills are a useful part of any supervisor’s repertoire, and a coaching culture fosters growing independence and self-efficacy. These two short workshops introduce you to a simple coaching model, demonstrate the model live, and give you brief practice of coaching a colleague during the session.

Sign-up here

Cultivating Wellbeing for PGR Supervisors

PGR wellbeing may be critical to the success of their research, and is part of a positive research culture, but how can PGR supervisors help cultivate wellbeing? This short online interactive workshop for supervisors of postgraduate researchers will enable you to clarify the challenges to PGR wellbeing, practice specific solutions and approaches, and take practical steps to cultivate wellbeing in PGRs. 

Sign-up here

Discussion on PGR Supervision for Aspiring and Newer Supervisors

This online discussion is open to current and aspiring PGR supervisors, and to research staff informally supervising PGRs. We’ll welcome all questions and comments relating to supervision for an unstructured discussion and sharing of practice.

Sign-up here 

Inclusivity for PGR Supervisors

This masterclass for PGR supervisors aims to address inclusivity, through sharing of information, sharing the practice of participants, discussing case studies and good practice around inclusivity. We intend you to leave the session with action points and a greater understanding of diversity and inclusivity within PGR research.

Sign-up here 

PGR Mental Health and Wellbeing

Supporting PGRs to identify, respond to, and support PGRs in distress.

Sign-up here 

Case Studies for PGR Supervision in the context of Mental Health Difficulties

This module uses case studies to examine the process of PGR supervision when a supervisee is experiencing difficulties. This module complements the module Supporting PGR Mental Health and Wellbeing for PGR supervisors.

Sign-up here 

Working with PGRs: Boundaries and Expectation Setting (Coming Soon)

There are no absolute ‘rights’ and few absolute ‘wrongs’ in supervision, and as such it is essential for the supervisory relationship to be framed by clear boundaries and rooted in mutually explicit expectations about what is required and offered by all parties. In this focused, interactive session, we’ll examine how to discuss expectations and clarify boundaries. 

Working with PGRs: Feedback, challenge and support (Coming Soon)

Doctoral researchers require a mixture of challenge and support to develop and much of the value that a doctoral supervisor can offer is through high-quality and constructive critical feedback. In this session, we’ll examine good practice in giving feedback that supports and challenges PGRs. 

Enabling Creativity in Research Teams and Meetings (Coming Soon)

This blended course is for research supervisors who want to build a culture of creativity within research groups and collaborations. It explores the challenges of giving people the space and confidence to come forward with creative ideas while maintaining high standards for rigorous research. 

PGR Supervisor Toolkit

In consultation with academic and PS colleagues across the University, Manchester Doctoral College Strategy Group has developed a Manchester-focussed online Postgraduate Researcher Supervisor Toolkit, based on the UKCGE good supervisory practice framework, to support supervisors in their role. The resource brings together information and guidance about all aspects of research supervision from recruitment through to completion, with the aim of quickly signposting you to useful services, enabling you to navigate policies and regulations, and facilitating your interactions with postgraduate researchers. The resource is a source of information for supervisors from all academic areas and all levels of experience and will be reviewed and updated biannually; please use the form within the resource to send us your feedback and help ensure the resource continues to be useful and relevant.

To access the toolkit, click Postgraduate Researcher Supervisor Toolkit and follow the steps below:

  1. When logged in to Blackboard, click the Enrol button with the green + symbol
  2. Click Submit in the bottom right corner of the window
  3. Click OK in the bottom right corner of the window
  4. When you click on the link within Blackboard to launch the toolkit, ensure that pop-ups are enabled

If you have issues accessing Blackboard, please contact IT Support. If you can access Blackboard but have trouble with the toolkit, please contact staffLD@manchester.ac.uk.

Apply for Supervisor Recognition via the UK Council for Graduate Education

The UK Council for Graduate Education (UKCGE), the independent representative body for postgraduate education in the UK, has launched a Research Supervision Recognition Programme. This is a professional development toolkit which includes the sector-approved good supervisory practice framework and offers a route to recognition, specifically for research supervision. Becoming a UKCGE Recognised Research Supervisor, demonstrates to your university, peers and candidates that your supervisory practice has been recognised by a national body.

Applications

Applications require the submission of a reflective account of your supervisory practices in relation to the ten criteria of the good supervisory framework along with two personal references.

The reflective account should include for each criterion one or more examples drawn from your own supervisory practice and should also demonstrate your familiarity with scholarly literature. You should aim at an overall length of approximately 5,000 words.

Personal references should be from one former doctoral candidate and one colleague familiar with your research supervision. References should be no more than 500 words, and it is your responsibility to contact referees and ask them to authenticate your reflective account. References must be submitted with the application.

Process and Deadlines

The Researcher Development team can support your application. Please use this form Register your interest in UKCGE (Associate) Supervisor Recognition (office.com) to inform us of your intention to submit. If you have questions, you can contact gemma.muckle@manchester.ac.uk

Inform Researcher Development of Your Plan to Submit UKCGE Deadline Outcome Known
21 October 2023  22 March 2024  June 2024
 25 March 2024  28 June 2024  September 2024
1 July 2024  25 October 2024  January 2025

Please note that the reflective account and two references will be submitted along with the fee to UCKGE on your behalf. Please note that the University will cover the cost of the submission fee and will ask all recognised supervisors to join a pool of recognised supervisors and support fellow supervisors applying for recognition by reviewing their submission. You will be asked to review a maximum of three submissions per academic year.

Sources of support

If you have any questions about this recognition programme or process please contact gemma.muckle@manchester.ac.uk

Apply for Recognised Associate Supervisor Award via the UK Council for Graduate Education

To apply for the Recognised Associate Supervisor Award you will need evidence against 5 of the 10 criteria of the Good Supervisory Practice framework.

In your application you must include two supporting documents:

More information about the award and how to apply can be found here: UKCGE | How to apply

The Researcher Development team can support your application. Please use this form Register your interest in UKCGE (Associate) Supervisor Recognition (office.com) to inform us of your intention to submit. If you have questions you can contact gemma.muckle@manchester.ac.uk

Inform Researcher Development of Your Plan to Submit UKCGE Deadline Outcome Known
 21 October 2023  22 March 2024  June 2024
25 March 2024  28 June 2024  September 2024
 1 July 2024  25 October 2024  January 2025

Please note that the reflective account and two references will be submitted along with the fee to UCKGE on your behalf. Please note that the University will cover the cost of the submission fee and will ask all recognised supervisors to join a pool of recognised supervisors and support fellow supervisors applying for recognition by reviewing their submission. You will be asked to review a maximum of three submissions per academic year.

Sources of support

If you have any questions about this recognition programme or process please contact gemma.muckle@manchester.ac.uk

Supporting Wellbeing for PGR Supervisors

Gemma Dale Presentation

Resources developed by Gemma Dale in Supporting Wellbeing workshop delivered in 2021.

Additional Useful Resources

Short videos: Having a conversation about mental health and wellbeing action plans

Mind charity booklets:

UoM Sport activities: UoM Sport | Sport and Activities – UoM Sport (manchester.ac.uk)

Wellbeing videos / filmed lectures: wellbeing videos | Staff wellbeing | StaffNet | The University of Manchester

Resources for Supervising at a Distance

University of Manchester Guidance on Remote Supervision

The UK Council for Graduate Education has developed and shared resources and good practice for its members.

Guide to Online Research Supervision: This guide identifies the benefits of online supervision, considers the challenges, and suggests ways in which supervisors might be able to overcome them.

Webinar: Effective Practices in Doctoral Supervision at a Distance

Research Impact Training Modules (delivered by the Research Impact Team)

The Research Impact Team offers five research impact training modules, which are available through the Training Catalogue. They are cross-discipline and open to early career researchers (ECRs), mid and late-stage researchers, and interested Professional Service Colleagues. Topics include:

UKCGE Recognition

The UK Council for Graduate Education (UKCGE) is a recognised body thats support PGR supervision, training and development. Becoming a UKCGE Recognised Research Supervisor, demonstrates to your university, peers and candidates that your supervisory practice has been recognised by a national body. 

Gaining UKCGE Recognized Supervisor or Recognised Associate Supervisor status counts towards your annual supervisor CPD. Find out below about support available for gaining this status. 

UKCGE Supervisor Recognition support: Planning your application 

Need to get on with your UKCGE Recognised (Associate) Supervisor application, and would appreciate some structure? Perhaps unsure what to write in each section of the application?  

Come along to these sessions to focus on planning and writing your application! During each session you will have the opportunity to:  

  • Have a quick reminder of what’s required, and ask any questions about your application 
  • Plan what you’ll write for each section, and when you’ll write it 
  • Enjoy some protected quiet time to get on with writing your application, Shut Up and Write style 
  • Share and discuss your ideas and progress with other interested colleagues, if you wish to do so 

 These sessions will take place via Zoom and are not recorded, and you’re welcome to join us as many times as you wish. 

UKCGE Supervisor Recognition support: Reflecting upon and enhancing practice 

This session uses discussion and exercises to clarify what’s required for two sections of the UKCGE application. We will focus on Criteria 10 and 7 of the Good Supervisory Practice Framework, examining examples of good practice and considering your personal approach and evidence for meeting these criteria. Criterion 10 is Reflecting upon and enhancing practice, so attending this workshop will give you evidence in that area! Criterion 7 is Supporting candidates’ personal, professional and career development. 

UKCGE Supervisor Recognition support: Clinic and swap-shop 

Join this conversation with peers to discuss your application, whatever stage it’s at. Share any trickier aspects and ideas to complete those, seek feedback on parts of your draft application (if you have one) or discuss what to include and how to reflect upon your practice. 

Alternatively, you are welcome to attend and use the time as Shut Up and Write style protected time. Simply join the session, greet people if you wish, then turn off audio and microphone and get on with writing your UKCGE application!

Other resources for supervisors

Supporting PGR Wellbeing 

Mental Health and Wellbeing for PGR Supervisors: Presentation from Gemma Dal. 

Short videos: Having a conversation about mental health and wellbeing action plans 

Mind charity booklets: 

UoM Sport activities: UoM Sport | Sport and Activities – UoM Sport (manchester.ac.uk) 

Wellbeing videos/filmed lectures: wellbeing videos | Staff wellbeing | StaffNet | The University of Manchester 

Supervising at a Distance 

University of Manchester Guidance on Remote Supervision 

The UK Council for Graduate Education has developed and shared resources and good practice for its members. 

Guide to Online Research Supervision: This guide identifies the benefits of online supervision, considers the challenges, and suggests ways in which supervisors might be able to overcome them. 

Webinar: Effective Practices in Doctoral Supervision at a Distance 

Research Impact Training 

The Research Impact Team offers five research impact training modules, which are available through the Training Catalogue. They are cross-disciplinary and open to early career researchers (ECRs), mid and late-stage researchers, and interested Professional Service Colleagues. Topics include: 

PGR Mental Health and Wellbeing

Supporting PGR supervisors to identify, respond to and support PGRs in distress.

A Case Study Approach

Case studies exploring PGR supervision when a PGR is experiencing difficulties.

The University of Manchester