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Therapy

Facilitator Resource Hub

Our suite of professional development interventions for research supervisors are grounded in evidence, rigorously tested, and shaped by vibrant communities of practice.

Created using evidence

Every intervention is grounded in existing scholarship and empirical data, including supervisor focus groups and the UK Research Supervision Survey (UKRSS) - ensuring they provide data-informed and pedagogically grounded development opportunities for supervisors. 

Trialled and piloted

Deliberately piloted in different contexts and within institutions with very different research cultures, the interventions have been developed and tested in at least two institutions and collaboratively refined. All the interventions can be adapted to suit different institutions, disciplines and cultures, while remaining relevant and effective.

Built around communities of practice

UKRSS data reveals that supervisors would like more opportunities to reflect on their practice or share experiences with peers - yet only 13% do. Designed to change this, our interventions prioritise peer-to-peer learning and collaborative problem-solving, and foster supportive networks beyond the session.

Practitioner Partners and our Piloting Programme

As Practitioner Partners, you are central to developing, evaluating and refining our interventions. Piloting them in your own contexts or across different countries will help us understand what works, what needs adapting, and why.

 

Through your feedback, we can assess the effectiveness and relevance of each intervention, exploring how approaches to supervision practice translate across diverse research cultures, disciplines, geographies and sectors.

Read our piloting guidance for Practitioner Partners for information on planning, delivering, and providing feedback on your piloting activities.

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Guidance for filter categories

Facilitator resource

Being a research supervisor

Delivering engaging workshops on doctoral policies and processes

Flexible

All supervisor levels

This intervention offers practical ideas to help supervisor developers deliver engaging professional development workshops aligned with institutional policies and processes.

Workshop

Working with candidates

Enabling conversations: Coaching and mentoring approaches to supervision

2 hours

All supervisor levels

This interactive session helps supervisors explore coaching and mentoring approaches, practice active listening, and develop strategies to promote independent thinking in postgraduate researchers.

Workshop

Working with candidates

Establishing boundaries and building rapport with PGRs

2 hours

All supervisor levels

The session equips research supervisors with the tools and techniques to build rapport with PGRs from the outset, establish shared expectations, and sustain productive supervisory relationships.

Workshop

Working in team supervision

Giving consistent feedback in supervisor teams

60 minutes

All supervisor levels

This session equips supervisors in teams to coordinate effective feedback and to improve the co-authoring process through a combination of brief presentations with plenary discussions and group work.

Peer discussion

Working with candidates

Let’s talk about preparing candidates for doctoral examination

60 minutes

All supervisor levels

This supervisor-led, facilitated forum introduces a set of questions to progress group-level peer learning and reflection around supporting candidates for doctoral examination.

Workshop

Working in team supervision

Supervising together: Clarifying the co-supervisor role

60 minutes

All supervisor levels

This workshop facilitates critical reflection on co-supervisor roles within supervisory teams. It explores benefits, challenges, role clarification, and strategies for negotiating position and recognition within teams.

Workshop

Being a research supervisor

Supervisory roles and approaches: Who are you as a supervisor?

60 minutes

All supervisor levels

This interactive workshop invites new and experienced PhD supervisors to reflect on how they enact their supervisory role, and explores models to support more intentional and educationally informed supervision.

Workshop

Writing and feedback

Supporting PGRs with writing

90 minutes

All supervisor levels

This interactive workshop helps research supervisors reflect on how they support doctoral candidates with writing through peer learning, and the introduction of a practical framework for analysing writing issues and developing effective support strategies.

Workshop

Working with candidates

Supporting doctoral candidates: How to enhance self-efficacy

60 minutes

All supervisor levels

A research-based overview of how supervisors can provide different forms of support to doctoral candidates, and how these approaches influence candidates’ learning, autonomy, and self-efficacy. 

Facilitator resource

Getting supervisors started

Designing an impactful induction for doctoral supervisors

Flexible

New supervisors

A flexible framework to design or refresh supervisor induction that aligns local policies with national expectations and encourages reflection, discussion, and professional development.

Workshop

Working in team supervision

Enhancing collaboration and aligning expectations in team supervision

60 minutes

All supervisor levels

This interactive workshop invites new and experienced PGR supervisors to reflect on how they collaborate within supervisory teams through a combination of plenary discussion, individual reflection, and group work.

Workshop

Being a research supervisor

Exploring supervisor approaches: Becoming a flexible supervisor

60 minutes

All supervisor levels

This session offers supervisors an analytical lens for reflecting on their role and supervisory approach by introducing theoretical models from doctoral supervision literature to guide their thinking.

Workshop

Writing and feedback

Giving feedback on PGR writing

60 minutes

All supervisor levels

This practical workshop explores how research supervisors can provide clear, constructive, and supportive feedback that enhances doctoral researchers’ writing development and confidence through evidence-informed strategies.

Workshop

Working with candidates

Meta-communication in research supervision

45 minutes

All supervisor levels

This session equips supervisors to apply meta-communication as a tool for clearer communication, ongoing alignment of expectations, and more collaborative supervision.

Structured programme

Reflecting on supervisory practice

Supervisor Peer Mentoring Circle Programme

6 months

All supervisor levels

Designed to bring supervisors together from a range of experiences and disciplinary backgrounds, this programme outlines how to establish and support peer mentoring at your institute.

Workshop

Working with candidates

Supporting PGR development beyond the project

2 hours

All supervisor levels

This session equips supervisors to support PGRs beyond research through reflective models, peer-led discussion, and a flexible template for co-creating inclusive, structured plans tailored to each candidate's journey.

Structured programme

Reflecting on supervisory practice

Supporting Reflective Practice and Recognition of Research Supervision

6 months

All supervisor levels

This programme helps supervisors reflect on their practice, share approaches with peers, and work towards formal recognition of supervisory excellence through the Good Supervisory Practice Framework.

Peer discussion

Working with candidates

Supporting international doctoral candidates: Facilitating peer conversations

90 minutes

All supervisor levels

This practice-sharing session fosters peer-to-peer dialogue and reflection among research supervisors on supporting international doctoral candidates, including the unique challenges they face and supervisory dynamics.

Piloting Guidance

Pair these intervention materials with our piloting guidance

Practitioner Partner FAQs

See our responses to common Practitioner Partner queries

Got a question?

Get in touch with our RSVP Relationships Coordinator

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