Seminar on Master's Thesis and PhD Supervision

This seminar with international expert Gitte Wichmann-Hansen, offered in collaboration with Graz University of Technology, is primarily intended for researchers with a background in natural sciences, engineering, or technology. Researchers from other fields are also welcome if they work with technical or natural sciences methods or approaches.

Booking: Training und Weiterbildung - Research Careers Campus Graz

Be aware: The University of Graz also offers a retreat for PhD supervisors in February 2027! → Supervise and Lead

Prerequisites

• Prerequisite for participation is a doctoral degree.
• Please note that you are expected to allocate around 2-3 hours to prepare for the seminar. 

Content

The seminar focuses on supervision of master’s students and PhD researchers. It addresses three key supervisory skills:

1. Process skills: e.g., the ability to establish and maintain constructive work relationships with students, to align expectations early and regularly, to balance conflicting needs, and to plan and monitor progress
2. Text-related skills: e.g., the ability to assess students’ academic texts and to provide formative feedback that is targeted, prioritized, criteria-based, specific, and instructive.
3. Communication skills: e.g., the ability to ask questions that promote students' independent thinking, to listen actively and attentively, and to meta-communicate the content and process of supervision.

At the end of the seminar, participants are able to:

• align expectations with students early and regularly regarding goals, ambitions and forms of collaboration in the project
• encourage students’ independence and ownership of their projects
• support efficient research writing
• provide constructive text feedback
• apply questioning and listening skills to ensure high quality supervisory meetings
• balance conflicting needs, e.g., between product and process supervision, and between being private and professional in the relationship
• manage potential crises in students’ research journeys.

The teaching form is highly interactive based on a combination of group work, exercises, plenary discussions, and lectures.

Time and place

1. Seminar day: Wednesday, 4^th February 2027, 9.00 – 16.30.
2. Seminar day: Thursday, 5^th February 2027, 9.00 – 16.30.