Practices in postgraduate research supervision: from apprentice to scholar

Abstract

This article aims to identify lessons from current postgraduate research supervision practices at universities, relevant to improving the quality of such supervision. Research supervision practices in recent literature were scrutinised, current practices in selected universities were investigated and lessons that could be learnt from these practices were identified. The research focused on experiences of individual research supervisors within their specific contexts. The results of the research were analysed using Glassick’s six areas of assessing scholarship, and the data were located on a continuum ranging from “freedom-and-friendship” to “apprenticeship” practice types. Single and sets of practices emerged from the data analysis, revealing certain patterns relevant to scholarship, cohesion of practices and contexts.