York Research Supervisor Workshops

13 October 2025, 11am to 12.30pm (on campus - Berrick Saul Treehouse)
14 October 2025, 9am to 10am (online)

Bringing supervisors together for impactful conversations that further the development of supervisory skills and practice is at the heart of peer mentoring circles for research supervisors at York. Through sharing experiences, tackling real issues, and challenging each other’s thinking, participants can forge new relationships, increase understanding of the wider university context and build knowledge and confidence in their supevisory practice. In this session Dr Julia Rayner, RSVP Mentoring Coordinator, will cover how the programme will work (including key dates), how it can help you and how you can apply.

• Audience: All interested research supervisors from all disciplines and levels of experience (including principal, co- or assistant supervisors)
• Facilitator: Dr Julia Rayner, RSVP Mentoring Coordinator, Next Generation Research SuperVision Project (RSVP), University of York

This session is part of a pilot programme for peer mentoring circles for the Next Generation Research SuperVision Project (RSVP). Find out more about Peer Mentoring Circles for Research Supervisors at York.

We will be providing tea, coffee and refreshments at the in-person session. If you plan to attend this and have any dietary needs, please email rsvp-admin@york.ac.uk by Wednesday 1 October 2025 to notify us.

Book your place: Information session for Supervisor Peer Mentoring Circles

14 October 2025, 1pm to 2pm (online)
17 March 2025, 1pm to 2pm (online)

This session is for those supervisors who would like their supervision practice to be formally recognised. The UKCGE Supervision Recognition Programme is designed to provide a route by which PhD supervisors at all levels can achieve recognition of their professional practice (either through the associate route for those with less experience, or full recognition for more experienced supervisors). Supervisors will be introduced to the UKCGE Good Supervisory Practice Framework and encouraged to reflect and identify how their practice meets the criteria. Those supervisors who wish to develop evidence for submission will be supported through the process.

• Audience: Supervisors with two or more successful supervisions through to completion
• Facilitator: Dr Karen Clegg, Co-PI of the Next Generation Research SuperVision Project (RSVP) and Reader in Doctoral Education and Practice, School for Arts and Creative Technologies (ACT)

This introductory session is part of a pilot programme for recognition for the Next Generation Research SuperVision Project (RSVP). 

Book your place: Gaining recognition for your supervisory practice

17 October 2025, 1pm to 3pm (on campus - SLB/002)

This interactive session invites research supervisors to examine and refresh their supervisory practices and approaches. Through plenary discussions and small group activities, participants will reflect on the current challenges facing postgraduate researchers (PGRs) and supervisors; explore what a coaching approach looks like in doctoral supervision and the value of such an approach; and gain an understanding of the benefits of active listening in supervision.

By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

• Recognise the importance and value of dialogic, collaborative supervision in today’s research environment
• Explain the core principles of a coaching approach and how these differ from directive mentoring
• Practise and evaluate active-listening techniques in a supervised triad

 This is a pilot session for the Next Generation Research SuperVision Project (RSVP).

• Audience: All interested research supervisors from all disciplines and levels of experience (including principal, co- or assistant supervisors)
• Facilitators: Dr Julia Rayner and Dr Roisin Astell, Next Generation Research SuperVision Project (RSVP), University of York

Book your place: Using coaching approaches to develop criticality in PGRs

11 November 2025, 2pm to 3.30pm (online)

Designed to help those new to doctoral supervision, this session will explore institutional structures, governance, and support relating to research supervision and provide a forum for supervisors to explore the requirements of supervisory practice at York. This will be supplemented with the broader context of doctoral supervision, including national frameworks, sector-wide developments, and the evolving doctoral landscape. 

By the end of this sesson, participants will be able to:

• Align supervisory practice with institutional values, priorities, and expectations
• Identify sources of guidance and support at York
• Guide the research project and support independent scholarship

This is a pilot session for the Next Generation Research SuperVision Project (RSVP).

• Audience: New supervisors from any discipline
• Facilitator: Dr Karen Clegg, Co-PI of the Next Generation Research SuperVision Project (RSVP) and Reader in Doctoral Education and Practice, School for Arts and Creative Technologies (ACT)

Book your place: Research Supervision 101

20 November 2025, 1pm to 2.30pm (online)

The main purpose of this interactive workshop is to support critical reflection on co-supervisor roles within supervisory teams. The session focuses on three main themes. First, it explores the benefits and challenges associated with team supervision. Second, it provides clarification on the role of the co-supervisor. Third, it addresses negotiating the co-supervisor's position and their recognition within the team. Through dialogue and practical activities, participants explore how to define, analyse, and negotiate their position more clearly and effectively.

By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

• Identify key benefits and challenges of team supervision
• Articulate the role of the co-supervisor more clearly
• Reflect on how their competencies, recognition, and time investment align with their role within the supervisory team

This is a pilot session for the Next Generation Research SuperVision Project (RSVP) and it is new for 2025/26.

•  Audience: Suitable for anyone who supports doctoral researchers, including principal, co- or assistant supervisors and postdoctoral researchers, technicians and professional-services staff who offer informal supervision
• Facilitator: Dr Karen Clegg and Dr Julia Rayner, Next Generation Research SuperVision Project

Book your place: Supervising together - Clarifying the co-supervisor role

8 December 2025, 12 noon to 1pm (online)

This workshop provides a research-based overview of how doctoral supervisors can offer different forms of support during supervision, and how these forms of support relate to candidates’ learning and the development of their autonomy. The concept of self-efficacy is introduced and connected to doctoral supervision, and a tool for measuring candidates’ self-efficacy is presented. We focus in particular on how various types of supervisory support influence candidates’ satisfaction, autonomy, and self-efficacy.

By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

• Identify supervision approaches that promote doctoral candidates’ self-efficacy and autonomy
• Distinguish between academic support, personal support, and autonomy support in doctoral supervision 
• Explain the four dimensions of self-efficacy and how they can be strengthened in doctoral supervision
• Use a tool for measuring doctoral candidates’ self-efficacy

This is a pilot session for the Next Generation Research SuperVision Project (RSVP) and it is new for 2025/26.

• Audience: All interested research supervisors from all disciplines and levels of experience (including principal, co- or assistant supervisors)
•  Facilitators: Dr Julia Rayner and Dr Roisin Astell, Next Generation Research SuperVision Project (RSVP), University of York

Book your place: Supporting PGR self-efficacy

20 January 2026, 1pm to 3pm (on campus - location TBC)

This session seeks to help research supervisors support postgraduate researchers (PGRs) beyond their research by addressing the hidden curriculum and encouraging reflective practice. Emphasis is placed on maintaining healthy boundaries and fostering inclusivity, both of which are essential for supporting supervisor wellbeing and preventing burnout. As part of the session, participants will explore common challenges and best practices through peer-led, reflective practices, and case studies drawn from real-life supervisory experiences. Participants are also introduced to an adaptable development planning template, allowing supervisors to co-create inclusive, structured plans tailored to each candidate's journey.

By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

• Practise using reflective models to evaluate and improve research supervision
• Identify strengths and limits in their supervisory role
• Use strategies for balancing support, setting boundaries, and apply inclusive approaches
• Use a structured tool to guide meaningful PGR development conversations
• Develop skills to co-create structured development plans with supervisees

This is a pilot session for the Next Generation Research SuperVision Project (RSVP) and it is new for 2025/26.

• Audience: All interested research supervisors from all disciplines and levels of experience (including principal, co- or assistant supervisors)
• Facilitators: Dr Julia Rayner and Dr Roisin Astell, Next Generation Research SuperVision Project (RSVP), University of York

Book your place: Supporting PGR development beyond the project

5 February 2026, 10am to 11.30am (online)

This workshop provides an overview of the pedagogy of research supervision which is the Good Supervisory Practice Framework area that supervisors consistently feel less confident about. In this session, we will provide a general oversight of models of supervision (Gatfield, Adair, Proctor, Lee); theories (experiential learning, reflective practice, communities of practice) and data (PRES, UKRSS, etc) related to supervisory practice and the doctoral experience.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Recognise and reflect on different models, theories and approaches to supervision
• Consider which of the models resonate with their supervisory practice
• Identify how to align the theories and approaches with the Good Supervisory Practice Framework

This session is part of a pilot programme for recognition for the Next Generation Research SuperVision Project (RSVP). 

• Audience: Supervisors with two or more successful supervisions through to completion (including ECRs/‘informal’ supervisors) who wish to apply for formal recognition. Those responsible for doctoral programmes, such as programme leads, Heads of Department, and Graduate Faculty Leads, may also find this session beneficial as a standalone refresher.
• Facilitator: Dr Karen Clegg, Co-PI of the Next Generation Research SuperVision Project (RSVP) and Reader in Doctoral Education and Practice, School for Arts and Creative Technologies (ACT)

Book your place: Pedagogy on research supervision