Prof Doug Cleaver RSVP Co-PI and Director of the Doctoral School and Professor of Materials Modelling, Sheffield Hallam University, UK
Professor Doug Cleaver is a prominent physicist and academic leader specializing in computational materials science and postgraduate education policy. He currently serves as the Director of the Doctoral School at Sheffield Hallam University, where he oversees the strategic development and support of the university's postgraduate research community.
Professor Cleaver is a recognized national leader in graduate education standards and researcher development. His major contributions include:
Chair of the UK Council for Graduate Education (UKCGE): served as Chair from 2021 to 2025, advocating for excellence in postgraduate education across the UK.
Next Generation Research SuperVision Project (RSVP): He is a Co-Director of this Research England-funded initiative, which aims to transform the culture and practice of research supervision in the UK.
White Rose DTP: He represents Sheffield Hallam on the governance board of the White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership, a collaboration between major Yorkshire universities.
Prof Hala Mansour Head of Doctoral Programmes, Royal College of Art, UK
Hala is an experienced academic leader with more than 29 years of experience in Business Management. She has a particular interest in postgraduate research, doctoral and executive education.
Professor Mansour is the Head of Doctoral Programmes. She is responsible for leading the college portfolio of doctoral programmes, overseeing all College-wide processes and strategic initiatives relating to doctoral research and ensuring the RCA continues to provide a high-quality and supportive environment for doctoral study.
Dr Saneeya Qureshi Head of Researcher Development and Culture, University of Liverpool, UK
An internationally recognised expert in Researcher Development and Research Culture. Her strengths lie in fostering strategic, innovative and inclusive approaches that celebrate and nurture the breadth and diversity of talent. She is responsible for strategy, policy and practice in relation to award-winning development and cultural initiatives by teams which support researchers and research-enabling colleagues across all disciplines, career stages and leadership levels. She works in collaboration with a range of senior academic and professional stakeholders across and beyond Liverpool.
This podcast discussion explores how supervisors can support postgraduate researchers (PGRs) in moving from compliance to autonomy, emphasizing the importance of holistic, student-centred, and values-led approaches.
Key discussion points
Agency & Ownership: The "lightbulb moments" shared revolved around the transformative shift when doctoral students stop merely following instructions (compliance) and start taking ownership of their own development and research trajectory.
Pedagogy of Care: The group discussed Care@HE, a community-based approach to creating safe, humanized spaces for researchers.
The "Hand off the Saddle": A metaphor used by Doug Cleaver to describe the supervisor's role - knowing when to let go so the student can "ride" independently, even if they wobble.
The "Kitenge" Reference
The episode title refers to the luxury item chosen by Saneeya Qureshi to take to the "Treasure Island":
The Item: A piece of Kenyan Kitenge cloth.
The Meaning: It represents vibrant adaptability, cultural grounding, and a piece of "home," serving as a reminder that care and rest are essential for maintaining strength in academic environments.