How to guide your PH.D. students

Abstract

This editorial discusses the issues and challenges of Ph.D. student supervision. Several academic colleagues with much experience in Ph.D. supervision were asked to contribute their thoughts on this important task. We present the tasks of supervision, including how these may be adapted depending on student characteristics such as extent of managerial experience. Then we explore the challenges faced by Ph.D. students, and discuss how these can be addressed. Following that, we examine the role of the supervisor in helping build student capabilities in publishing and teaching. Furthermore, we address the benefits of taking on supervisory responsibility. In the conclusion, the co-authors of this editorial provide retrospectives on their own experiences as Ph.D. supervisors.