Abstract:

This paper will recollect the experiences of joint supervision of 6 Masters (M.) and 4 Philosophiae Doctor (Ph.D.) students and 4 supervisors in three different disciplines. The aim of the study is to establish a sound understanding of joint post-graduate supervision at one University of Technology in South Africa. Different post-graduate supervision models will inform this process. Joint postgraduate student supervision implies more than one supervisor, at times two and in rare cases three. This multifaceted supervision approach is referred to by Pole (2006:261) as a safety net. On the one hand Dysthe, Samara and Westrheim, (2006:303) frame it as multi-voice dialogue process with the aim to enhance the quality of research done by the postgraduate student. At times, this approach is said to bring along a negative dimension for the student and supervisors.

An interpretivist qualitative research design will be used and a case study as a method. In-depth face to face and telephonic interviews will be conducted with both graduated Masters and Philosophiae Doctoral students and supervisors who have in the past had the experience of joint supervision. It is expected that the findings of this study both from the students and supervisors’ experiences will unearth an understanding that underpins past and present practices of joint post-graduate supervision for future practices.

Keywords:

Joint supervision, post-graduate student, disciplines, University of Technology, interpretivist.