About the Programme
The Research Supervision Excellence Programme offers professional development support for research degree supervisors. It expands on the advice and guidance available to our supervisory teams who work with postgraduate students during their journey towards research degrees. The programme offers a blend of online and in-person activities that will update you on all current developments, foster peer-oriented discussion on topics related to supervisory practice and strengthen the research supervisory community at RGU.
Live sessions continue to be supplemented with web-based resources from Epigeum, widely recognised experts in the development of higher education materials. Epigeum’s 'Supervising Doctoral Studies’ modules, which have been appreciated by supervisors at some of the leading universities in the UK, are now freely available to you through the Graduate School Moodle site.
Workshops
Further information and booking of all Supervision Excellence events is available through the new hub on Moodle:
2024
- Your student and the PG Cert modules: what you need to know – 10 October
- Initial Research Supervisor Briefing Session – 29 October
- Research Ethics and Integrity – 12 November
- Internal Examiner Briefing Session – 14 November
- Outcome Options when Examining Research Degree Students at RGU – 19 October
- Internal Convenor Briefing Session – 26 November
- Progress Monitoring – 05 November
- Internal Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (iPRES) 2024 Survey Outcome – 12 November
- The challenge of Inauthentic Participation in online research – 17 December
2025
- Supervising part-time and/or distance-based research students – 09 January
- Student Wellbeing and Mental Health – 14 January
- Researcher Development Programme & PgCert Researcher Development – 21 January
- Working with the Library to support doctoral students – 30 January
- NHS Research Ethics - Internal RGU process and requirements – 06 February
- Supervising Colleagues as Part-time Research Students – 20 February
- Supporting International Research Students – 27 February
- Initial Research Supervisor Briefing Session – 04 March
- Supervising STEM Research Students – 11 March
- Preparations for Viva Assessments – 18 March
- Student Journey through Transfer to Doctoral Phase – 15 April
- Student/Supervisor Relationships – 22 April
- Internal Convenor Briefing Session – 29 April
- Internal Examiner Briefing Session – 06 May
* Please note that, while we endeavour to ensure all workshops run according to plan, some event details may be subject to change.
Mid-career researcher development
Epigeum - Supervising Doctoral Studies
Epigeum is a leading provider of online courses that support the core activities of universities in four areas: teaching and development, research, studying, and support and wellbeing. Developed through a process of global collaboration between world-class subject experts, partner institutions, and in-house specialists Supervising Doctoral Studies addresses new and emerging developments in doctoral supervision. Topics covered include the widespread adoption of structured training programmes, the increasing diversity of the student population, the focus on developing respectful supervisory relationships, and recognition of the challenges relating to mental health and wellbeing that can be experienced by candidates, to ensure that supervisors are aware of the wider context and purpose of their work, and are able to navigate both academic and non-academic responsibilities with confidence.
Course materials are organised into 10 modules:
- Introduction: The Doctoral Context
- Attracting and Selecting Doctoral Applicants
- Research Cultures and Environments
- Managing Expectations, Responsibilities and Relationships
- Planning and Conducting Research
- Developing the Researcher and Enabling Progress
- Doctoral Writing and Effective Feedback
- Supporting your Candidate
- Preparing for Completion and Examination
- Developing your Supervisory Practice
Contacts & Further Info
For further details, feedback and suggestions for future development:
The UK Council for Graduate Education (UKCGE) offers additional guidance on good supervisory practice.