HDR Supervision Development Workshops

Provider business unit: HDR Supervision Development Team »

Higher Degree Research (HDR) Supervision Development Workshops are a core component of the ANU HDR Supervision Development Framework.

There are two series of ANU-wide workshops:

Foundations of HDR Supervision Workshops are directed at those new to supervision, but all HDR supervisors are welcome. Participation in a Foundations of HDR Supervision Workshop is a required component of initial supervisor registration for those new to supervision. The Foundations of HDR Supervision Workshops are currently offered only online. We expect to offer some face-to-face workshops in 2021. Further workshops will be scheduled at least monthly. We’ll update the schedule on the Foundations of HDR Supervision Workshops webpage and in the monthly Research & Innovation News. Please visit the Foundations of HDR Supervision Workshops webpage to register for one of these workshops;
a second series of workshops and masterclass panels address a range of topics relevant to good practice in HDR supervision. The 2021 program will be listed below as it is confirmed, and in the monthly Research & Innovation News.

There’s no cost for the workshops, and participation will count as a qualifying activity for registration renewal under the ANU HDR Supervision Framework.

The ANU-wide workshops complement activities organised by Colleges, Schools and Centres. Updates will be posted on this webpage and in the monthly Research & Innovation News.

HDR Supervision Topic Workshops and Masterclass Panels

The current Topic Workshops and Masterclass Panels program for 2021 is below. Others will be added throughout the year.

How to stop your HDR students’ problems reaching the Deans’ desks

Both the Dean of Students and Dean HDR respond to HDR candidate issues that are brought to them when there may have been real or perceived problems with resolving the issue at local or College levels. Some of these issues are ones that might have been addressed at an earlier stage by adjustments to supervisory practice, or by supervisors being more flexible in their approaches. Join the Dean of Students, A/Prof Miriam Gani, and Dean HDR, Prof Ann Evans, to learn about some of the issues that commonly reach them, and discuss how HDR supervisors might best address these.

Date/time – 13 May, 1pm–2pm. Register for this workshop. Note: This workshop will be delivered via Zoom (Zoom information).

HDR Supervision Troubleshooting Forum – NECTAR special edition (offered twice)

Are you new to HDR supervision or keen to improve your supervision skills? Join this interactive and frank Q&A with early-career supervisors who will share their insights and tips, and answer your questions about HDR supervision challenges. This event is a collaboration between NECTAR and the HDR Supervision Development Team. If you have any questions about participation in this Forum please contact the HDR Supervision Development Team (hdr.supervision@anu.edu.au) or The Network for Early Career Academics at ANU (NECTAR) (nectar@anu.edu.au).

Dates/times

20 May, 2pm–3:30pm. Register for this forum. Note: This forum will be delivered via Zoom (Zoom information).

2 September, 10:30am–12pm. Register for this forum. Note: This forum will be delivered via Zoom (Zoom information).

Ethics, integrity and IP issues in HDR projects

In this RSD-led workshop, Robert Rigby (Associate Director, Research Operations) and Judi Burtenshaw (Team leader HASS, Research Contracts Office) will use real examples to discuss some common issues you can encounter in supervising research students and suggest some strategies to avoid them.

Date/time – 1 June, 1pm–2pm. Register for this workshop. Note: This workshop will be delivered via Zoom (Zoom information).

How to help your candidates be more employable on graduation

In the wake of Covid19, the academic job market will be even tighter and many more HDR graduates will need to seek employment elsewhere. What do supervisors have to do to help their candidates be more employable in this uncertain environment? What should you tell a new candidate about the job market in the future?

In this session, Professor Inger Mewburn (@thesiswhisperer) from ANU presents the latest data on the job market in academia and beyond. This data, drawn from a machine learning / big data study of job advertisements, gives us a clearer idea of the size and extent of the job market your candidates will face when they graduate. She will talk about the top rated professional and technical skills employers want and introduce you to a new tool called 'PostAc' which is designed to help your candidates search for research-oriented jobs.

Date/time – 9 June, 1pm–2pm. Register for this workshop. Note: This workshop will be delivered via Zoom (Zoom information). In addition, a recording of this workshop will be made and the video (which will include audio) will be made available (after the workshop has finished) on the HDR Supervision Portal.

Why don't HDRs get on with their writing?

Focus – Many HDRs love reading about their topic, talking about their research, conducting experiments, doing field work, collecting and analysing data – but often seem to avoid writing about their research. They don’t seem to realise that signing up for a PhD means becoming an author (no written document = no degree). This workshop explores why HDRs can struggle to produce useful text and offers practical strategies for supervisors to help their HDRs get on with the writing.

Lead – Dr Cally Guerin is a researcher developer in the Researcher Development team at ANU. She has been teaching, researching and publishing on doctoral education since 2008, working with both supervisors and HDRs to develop effective research practices. She is a founding co-editor of the Doctoral Writing blog.

Date/time – 7 July, 1pm–2pm. Register for this workshop. Note: This workshop will be delivered via Zoom (Zoom information). In addition, a recording of this workshop will be made and the video (which will include audio) will be made available (after the workshop has finished) on the HDR Supervision Portal.