HDR supervisors

The Flinders University HDR Policy, HDR Supervisor Policy and higher education sector requirements set out conditions for HDR supervisors. These include the Australian Council of Graduate Research (ACGR) Graduate Research Good Practice Principles and ACGR Good Practice Guidelines for Quality Graduate Research. Department of Education and Training Research Training Implementation Plan, August 2017.

Principal supervisors have primary supervisory responsibility for the candidature and for maintaining effective communication with the student and with other supervisors. Refer also to section 3 of the HDR Supervisor Policy.

Associate supervisors provide additional supervisory support for the student and additional expertise to the supervisory panel. Refer also to section 3 of the HDR Supervisor Policy.

Associate supervisors may be required to temporarily assume primary supervisory responsibility when the principal supervisor is unavailable. Refer to section 4.1 of the HDR Supervisor Procedures for more information.

Adjunct supervisors may be appointed to provide additional expertise to the supervisory panel. The adjunct role is appropriate where extra expertise would be beneficial, but where the supervisor is not eligible to assume a principal or associate supervisor role; for example, a supervisor external to the university without Flinders full academic status. 

The HDR Supervisor Framework consists of:

• Higher Degrees by Research Policy
• HDR Supervisor Policy, section 4
• HDR Supervisor Procedures
• Charter for HDR Student and Supervisor Responsibilities

Refer to section 6 of the  HDR Supervisor Procedures. For further information refer to the HDR Supervisor Policy.  

For the purposes of the register, a recent masters by research or PhD graduate will be considered ‘research active’ as an early career researcher for a period of 5 years following award of the degree. Therefore, these staff members will be able to supervise the degree that equates to their own qualification level, as long as a qualified mentor is appointed. Refer to section 3.c.iv of the HDR Supervisor Procedures.

For example, a masters by research graduate can supervise masters by research students, and PhD graduates can supervise both masters by research and doctoral students. In each case a qualified mentor must be appointed. After 5 years, they will be expected to meet the criteria as currently stated in the policy in order to remain eligible to supervise HDR students. 

Once academic staff members are placed on the register, whether from the transition period 2011-2012 or through application, they remain there. The only exceptions are for those who resign, retire or do not have their Full Academic Status (FAS) renewed. However, if a staff member becomes research inactive (refer to section 6 of the HDR Supervisor Procedures), they will not be eligible to take on new HDR supervisions until they become research active. Please note that staff who become research inactive may continue supervising their current students.

Effective supervision is a key element in the learning experience for HDR students. All staff members new to supervising HDR students at Flinders must complete the HDR Supervision Program within 12 months of commencement of supervision. Experienced supervisors must update their supervisor training within 2 years. 

The HDR Supervisor Development Program comprises two core workshops and a choice of two electives: 

• Core: Workshop 1
• Core: Workshop 2
• Full day - Core 1 and 2: Workshop 1 & 2
• Elective: Supervising international students * 
• Elective: Supervising indigenous postgraduates
• Elective: Successful models of supervision
• Elective: Helping doctoral students to plan their career
• Elective: Supporting your students to get published
• Elective: Providing usable feedback 

*This module can be taken online. 

The program covers the complex environment in which supervision occurs, Flinders University policy and processes regarding HDR supervision and good practice in supervising students.

For more information refer to the Office of Graduate Research website or the HDR Supervisor FLO site.

To remain compliant with the register of HDR supervisors, experienced supervisors need to update their supervisor training every 2 years from 28 March 2018, in accordance with section 5.b.iv of the HDR Supervisor Policy. 

A range of face-to-face workshops, lunchtime seminars and online learning are also offered to experienced supervisors who wish to update their skills and knowledge. These include the:

• HDR supervisor PD program electives (x1 = 1 elective)
• OGR lunchtime seminars (x3 = 1 elective)
• OGR STEPS program (x5 = 1 elective)

HDR supervisors must complete one elective (or equivalent) every two years to fulfill their professional development requirement.

Reasons for exemptions to CILT supervisor training can be found in the Academic Supervisor Induction Guidelines for academic staff and supervisors. Evidence of previous training consists of a program that covers the complex environment in which supervision occurs, Flinders University policy and practice regarding HDR supervision and good practice when supervising students.

If you have provided a training course on any aspect of supervision, given a paper at a conference on supervisory practice, provided an information session at college level about supervision practice, or attended a college-run information session on HDR policies and procedures, you will be given credit towards updating your skills and knowledge. 

If any of the above applies to you, please advise the Office of Graduate Research via email (hdrsupervisor.register@flinders.edu.au) with a subject heading of “Equivalent Supervisor Training”. Please provide as many details as possible, and you will be advised by return email whether it has been approved and recorded on the register.

A qualified principal and associate supervisor needs to be appointed for every student in accordance with the HDR Supervisor Policy. Vice-Presidents and Executive Deans or nominee can approve special cases for supervision and may take into account factors such as the percentage of the research component of the professional doctorate, relevant publications and relevant academic and professional experience in the student's proposed field of study.  
 
At Flinders University as of 2015, all professional doctorates must comprise two-thirds research, the same proportion stipulated by the new Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) for a PhD.

No. The HDR Supervisor Policy sets out the requirements for supervisory teams and inclusion on the register of HDR supervisors. This advises that for new supervisions, a teaching specialist can only hold an adjunct position.

However, in November 2018, during the academic restructure negotiations it was determined that teaching specialist staff could continue their supervision of current HDR students if they have completed their confirmation of candidature at the time of the teaching specialist appointment.