Karen Clegg

Professionalising Research Supervision through pedagogy, practice and policy

The Next Generation Research SuperVision Project (RSVP), aims to transform the culture and practice of research supervision. Working with 58 practitioner partners from across the globe, RSVP is challenging, celebrating and recognising supervision practice as a vital part of research culture.. 

This keynote will explore the way in which pedagogy, practice and policy relating to supervision enable, and at times, restrain the professionalisation of PhD supervision. Drawing on focus groups with supervisors, doctoral deans and Directors, industry stakeholders, doctoral researchers and empirical evidence from the UK Research Supervision Survey 2024 we will take stock of what we know about the supervisory experience, the role of team supervision and, importantly, how supervisors at all levels can be supported in developing their practice through onboarding and continued professional development. In conclusion, Karen will offer some tentative recommendations about the content, context and conditions required to give supervision practice the reward and recognition it deserves.

Dr Karen Clegg

Dr Karen Clegg, Co-Director/Principal Investigator RSVP and Reader in Doctoral Education and Practice, School for Arts and Creative Technologies, University of York,