Know how your university chooses research supervisors

Supervision during research is as important as completing your postgraduate degree. The sooner one starts and does their research seamlessly, the earlier they will complete their degree. That is what makes the Doctoral Committee/supervisory committee instrumental in all this.

The Prepare PhD baseline survey report at Makerere University identified lack of proper supervision as one of the key factors that hinder progress of both masters and doctoral students in Makerere University.

Doctoral supervision guidelines 2016, by Makerere University Directorate of Research and Graduate Training (DRGT) further define supervision in academic terms as, “a form of teaching method where control and responsibility of content and pace are divided more equally between the teacher and student. By and large, the progress of a student should be driven by the student and only assisted by the supervisor.”
Going by this definition, the student obviously pilots their academic progress guided by a supervisor or a team of the Doctoral Committee (DC).

“It serves as a student’s advisory and performance assessment committee and monitor’s the student’s progress throughout the study period on behalf of DRGT board. The DC discusses the student’s progress and provides additional guidance on research and overall professional development. It also supports timely completion of the PhD, and exposes the student to high quality research in an intellectually diverse, stimulating, active, friendly and transparent environment,” Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) postgraduate handbook highlights on functions of the committee.

The process
Though universities are obliged to establish this committee, the student is also involved in choosing some of the members on the committee, depending on his field of research. So what are the processes and how does a student choose a supervisor to work with the committee?

Benjamin Mugyenyi, a graduate student for an interdisciplinary PHD at Makerere Institute of Social Research, shares that depending on one’s field of research, this might be handled differently.
“Some students work only with supervisors from the university, while others work with those outside the university. Personally, my research will be around Genetically Modified Organisms in Uganda so with guidance from my supervisor, I felt it necessary to invite an expert who was known to me as well from the National Agricultural Research Laboratories to be part of my DC.” Mugyenyi explains.

“After justifying need for a supervisor outside the university while formulating the DC, I had to present their proof of qualification, work and research to be approved by the school academic board which endorsed him and later made recommendations to the College Academic board. The senate then appointed him on the committee on recommendations by the academic board,” he says.
Nonetheless, he also had to ask this potential supervisor to provide his time, guidance and supervision. “I had to ensure that he had a wealth of knowledge in my field of research and that he was passionate about the same topic as I was,” Mugyenyi explains.

Supervision load
At Makerere University, each supervisor handles five masters and three PhD students at any given time, according to supervision guidelines. “However, it has become apparent that in some faculties, the supervision load can be between 20 and 30 students,” DGRT noted. At MUST, on the other hand, the DC should supervise above three and not more than five students at a given time meaning that a DC may supervise more than one student at a time, but there may also be more than one DC.

“Typically, potential doctoral applicants are already working with someone that is; as advisers, mentors, in their desired research area. At the time of presenting the research concept (before provisional admission), the applicant is asked if there is any potential known supervisor. Such potential supervisors are requested to submit a CV and Commitment letter for assessment before their appointment on the DC,” Dr Vincent Batwala, Ass. Prof and director Directorate of Research & Graduate Training MUST, says.

Who is a good supervisor?
• Expert in the field/deep knowledge of the field
• Good academic track record
• The should be an active researcher and publisher and a resourceful person
• Compassionate, empathy, caring, open, honest, transparent, resilient, well organised
• Motivator, morale builder, energizer and mentor
• Good communication and listening skills
• Take keen interest in the pycho-social issues around the student,
• Provide opportunities for student to attend conferences
• Introduce student to their network and inculcate a research culture in the student
• Strive to transform the student into a researcher
Source: Doctoral supervision guidelines, Makerere University.

Vital Voice

“On the Bachelors of Laws programme we have a Dissertation Committee which is headed by one of the senior lecturers. This Committee is in charge of helping to allocate supervisors for the students though the students are also encouraged to approach supervisors of their choice. The Committee does not play any role in the actual supervision process.”
Dr Anthony Kakooza, Dean Faculty of Law Uganda Christian University

“For every student doing or planning for their postgraduate, education at this level is more about sharing ideas and building each other’s intellect through the people you interact with, especially in the academia and within year field of interest. Creating these very important contacts is paramount even before research and these can later work as mentors or supervisors or simply people you share knowledge and ideas. These contacts of course should be very well versed with your field and people interested in sharing knowledge but also have time for you.”
Dr Christina Lawrence, supervisor Clarke International University