Session 4: Enabling progress and independence
This final session focuses on practical techniques for supporting your candidates to become confident, independent researchers. It will consider how to set and revisit expectations, respond to your candidate’s self-doubt and uncertainty, and keep doctoral projects on track through effective planning and review.
Learning objectives
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
analyse common supervisory dilemmas that affect PGR progress and independence
differentiate between supervisory practices that build autonomy and those that reinforce dependence
apply practical strategies and tools to clarify expectations, support confidence, and focus feedback.
evaluate how their own supervisory communication and feedback practices shape PGR development.
Pre-session work
Take a few minutes to look through the Supervisory Expectations Grid and familiarise yourself with the statements and purpose of the tool.
Think about the question: How much freedom and how much framework should you give in supervision? Post your thoughts on the session 4 Padlet (see below).
Key documents
Supervisory Expectations Grid (PDF)
Use this to clarify and revisit expectations about roles, responsibilities, and support in supervision.
Case Study Scenarios (used in-session) (PDF)