The Craft of PhD Supervision

During three days, spaced over several months, you will explore how to build the conditions in which PhD candidates can grow in confidence, capability, and ownership. We start from your own practice: which supervision situations do you find most rewarding, or most challenging or draining? What typical strengths do you bring as a supervisor? And what kind of supervisor do you want to be? Throughout the course, you work with your own real-life cases and receive feedback from peers and trainers. In doing so, you deepen your understanding of supervision as a professional craft: one that combines structure and flexibility, clarity and empathy, leadership and learning.

Our approach is practical, evidence-based, and highly interactive. The programme connects supervision theory and models to the real dilemmas of daily research life. You explore different supervision styles, learn to manage expectations clearly, strengthen your communication skills, and reflect on integrity, well-being, and power dynamics. Just as importantly, you learn from one another: sharing experiences across disciplines, experiences and cultures.

The atmosphere of the course is open, honest and collegial. Together we strive for academic depth, real conversations, and humour to help each other grow—not only as supervisors, but also as leaders and - potentially - human beings.

 

Personal intake

Before the course begins, each participant has a personal intake conversation with one of the trainers. This conversation helps clarify your specific learning goals, explore your supervision challenges, and ensure that the course content connects closely to your daily reality. Insights from these intakes are also used to fine-tune the programme to the needs and themes that are most relevant to the specific group onboarding in that edition of the course.

Course structure

The course consists of three full training days, spread over roughly three months. Between sessions, you apply new insights directly in your supervision practice through short, tailored on-the-job assignments. You have full control over which on-the-job assignments you onboard and these do not necessarily require an additional time investment, as they can often be embedded in your existing activities (e.g.: trying out a new approach during an already planned supervision meeting).

Day 1 – The Foundations of Professional Supervision
We start by exploring your current supervision challenges and strengths. You assess your own supervision style, reflect on situational supervision, and clarify what kind of supervisor you aim to become. Themes include self-awareness, role clarity, and situational leadership.

Day 2 – Tailoring Supervision to Context and PhD Needs
This day focuses on flexibility and communication. You learn how to match your approach to different phases and personalities, how to create psychologically safe environments, and how to recognise signs of stress or disengagement. We practise constructive feedback and difficult conversations, and discuss healthy boundaries and well-being.

Day 3 – Navigating Power, Vulnerability and Complexity
We close with intricate dimensions of supervision: working with co-supervisors, managing ambiguity, power and hierarchy, and addressing ethical or integrity dilemmas. You engage in peer consultation (intervision) on complex real-life cases and integrate your learning into a personal action plan for continued growth.

Learning approach

The course combines theory, reflection and active practice. You work individually and in small groups, using roleplays, case discussions and peer consultation. Trainers foster a safe learning climate where participants can speak openly about real supervision dilemmas — including failure, uncertainty and cultural differences. All learning activities are designed to strengthen ownership and transfer: what you learn can immediately be applied in your daily supervision meetings.

For whom

The course is open to all Wageningen University and Research staff who supervise (or will soon supervise) PhD candidates. It is suitable for both experienced and new supervisors who wish to reflect, refresh and further professionalise their supervision practice.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, you are able to:

• Put the development of the candidate as a researcher in the center of your supervision
• Recognise and flexibly use different supervision styles
• Align expectations and communication with your PhD candidates more effectively
• Foster a psychologically safe and inclusive research environment
• Address ethical dilemmas and integrity issues with confidence
• Support well-being — both your candidates’ and your own
• Reflect on your role, influence, and growth as a supervisor
• Scope and tailor your supervision practise not only to your supervisee, but also to your own motivations and possibilities

 

General Information

Target Group:	Staff members (Full, Associate and Assistant Professors) of Wageningen University and Research who are member of one of the Wageningen Graduate Schools and who are supervising PhD candidates. Participants should have at least half a year experience in supervising PhDs
Group size:	Max. 12 participants
Course duration:	3 days
Language:	English
Trainers:	From Downsideup, specialists in ‘the human side of research’ and experienced in academic supervision and leadership development.
Venue:	TBD, Campus Wageningen University

 

Fee

Reduced fee: Supervisors who are member of a Wageningen Graduate School (EPS, PE&RC, VLAG, WASS, WIAS, WIMEK) and are supervisor of PhD candidates who will be defending their thesis at Wageningen University	€ 530,=
University fee: All other Wageningen University and Research postdocs and staff	€1050,=

Fee includes study and training material, coffee/tea and lunches.

 

Cancellation condition

You may cancel free of charge up to four weeks before the start of the course. After this date you will be charged the University fee. Unless:

• You can find someone to replace you in the course and supply the course coordinator with the name and contact information of your replacement.
  In this case you will only be charged a € 50,- cancellation fee.
• You (PhDs and postdocs of Wageningen University) have a valid reason to cancel (illness or death in the family 1st or 2nd degree).
  In this case you will be charged the reduced fee and your supervisor/PI must send a mail indicating the reason for cancellation.

Information

For more information please contact miriam.vanheist@wur.nl