Supervising Students’ Thesis Writing
The overall aim of the course is to support the course participants in their professional development as university teachers, with a special focus on supervising students’ thesis writing, primarily first and second cycle studies.
Description
This thematic course provides participants the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the supervision of students’ thesis writing at primarily undergraduate and advanced levels. We will discuss different aspects of supervision, such as the interaction between supervisor and student, rules and guidelines for supervision and assessment of students’ thesis, students' perceived difficulties when it comes to the process and writing, how to structure supervision for individual as well as for groups of students, and how to help students move forward with good feedback. Course participants write individual in-depth papers, focusing on one or more of these aspects in relation to their own supervision experience and practice.
The course is based on workshops and seminars. Participants are expected to do assignments as preparations for course meetings and read and discuss literature as well as other content that is presented and relate this to their own academic field and teaching context. The individual project work, together with required readings, makes up the main part of the allocated course time.
Course Dates
Scope & Assessment
The course is equivalent to two weeks of pedagogical training, corresponding to 80 hours of full-time work. To receive a certificate, course participants shall demonstrate achievement of the intended learning outcomes by:
- Attending at least 80% of classroom and online activities. Presence at the first workshop is compulsory and not possible to compensate for.
- Actively participating in classroom discussions.
- Engaging in the peer review process.
- Assessment of an individual course project.
Note: The first workshop is foundational to your progression throughout the course. Your presence is essential and compulsory as it facilitates a shared understanding of course objectives, pedagogical approaches, and the formation of a learning community. While absence at the other workshops can be supplemented by a written make-up assignment, non-attendance in the first workshop will necessitate your enrolment in a subsequent iteration of the course.
If a participant does not complete a course within the specified time, all course components must be submitted within three years of commencement in order to receive a course certificate. For doctoral students, the course is translated to credits by the relevant administrator at your department or faculty.
Upon successful completion of the course, the participant shall be able to:
- reflect on student learning in relation to theses writing
- reflect on how different approaches to supervision can affect the student learning
- analyze traditions for theses writing and supervision within their own teaching context, and relate these to student learning
- reflect on the assessment and examination of students’ theses within one's own teaching context.
Applicants shall have completed ‘Teaching and Learning in Higher Education’, or any similar introductory course, prior to the course start.
Course participants will have access to all course literature via Canvas, including scholarly literature (articles and other relevant documents) related to the course content and their own individual assignments.
Course Description
Who is this course for?
Preference is given to teachers who are active supervisors. Subject to availability, the course is also open to other teachers who wish to strengthen their higher education teaching skills and qualifications.
Progression
The course is offered by the Division for Higher Education Development (AHU) as one of several different thematic courses. Participants are invited to attend any of our other thematic or project-based courses.