Supervisory Qualification Programme (SQP)

The PhD-Supervisory Qualification Programme at UiS is offered to academic employees from all faculties at the UiS. Each spring, 30 participants, both potential, new and more experienced supervisors, complete the course.

Published Updated on

UiS PhD Supervisory Qualification Programme

The goal of the course is to provide knowledge and skills that qualify and provide security for new PhD supervisors, while providing more experienced supervisors with tools and inspiration to do an even better job.

SQP 2024 will take place at Victoria Hotel at the following dates:

  • Module 1: 20-21 March
  • Module 2:  10– 11 April
  • Module 3:  11– 12 June
Practical information

Course structure

The course consists of three modules, each with two full-day sessions. The sessions run from 09.00 to 16.00. The course modules are all placed within one semester. The course is open for employees from all faculties at the UiS.

Application

The course is offered once every year, during the spring semester. The course details will be sent by e-mail to the departments and faculties in November.

Head of departments will be asked to submit a list of potentital participants from their department. If you wish to participate in the programme, kindly contact your head of department.

Target group

Academic staff at the UiS.

Prerequisites

Applicants must have a doctoral degree or an equivalent qualification. The applicant will benefit more from the course if they already are doing some supervision (or have done some).

Language

English

Workload and participation

The course implies a high degree of activity from the participants, and when applying for the course, participants must confirm that they will be present at all sessions. The three modules and the assignments before and between the modules is estimated to a workload of approximately 100 hours.

Requirement for course approval

Participation in all three modules. Lost modules cannot be re-taken at a later stage, as the entire course must be completed within one semester.

Completing the preparations and assignments between the sessions .

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching and learning methods will include lectures, case work, group work and individual assignments. Active participation is expected. The course content follows two interrelated workflows, where each day is divided between an overall topic and its corresponding theme related to the different phases in the process from starting to finishing a PhD-project. See below for more details on this.

Academic content

Module 1: To be a supervisor

  • Research training in national and international context
  • Approaches to supervision and the supervisor’s role
  • Regulations and guidelines for research ethics

PhD process I: Recruitment and selection and  II: Role clarification

Module 2: Communication and collaboration

  • A professional relationship
  • Challenges: Motivation, abilities and opportunities during the process
  • Handling cultural diversities
  • Conflict management

PhD-process III: Building and maintaining relationships and IV: Monitoring and mentoring progress

Module 3) Supervision and the PhD as part of the organizational framework:

Supervising the writing process

  • Formal, informal and non-formal organizing elements of the PhD and their influence on doctoral supervision
  • Learning contexts in doctoral education

PhD-process V: Developing texts and thesis and VI: Performing revisions and dissemination

Course certificate

The course certificate is awarded after satisfactory completing all three modules and the requirements for the assignments.

Administrative coordinator

Malin Henden, Research Department

Facilitators

The course is led by a group of academic UiS-staff and mainly run by using internal lecturers covering different topics of their expertise.