thesis writing Archives - Enhancing Postgraduate Environments

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Between Supervisor and Postgraduate

PostGrad — Wed, 31 Jan 2018 07:07:49 +0000

The aim of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) is to give the postgraduate student and supervisor an opportunity to develop a sound and productive working relationship. There is no blueprint for such an agreement. Rather, it is the result of an open discussion in the early stages of the relationship, during which both student and supervisor can clarify expectations and preferences, surface any misunderstandings or misaligned expectations and pave the way for a productive working relationship.

The aim of this resource is to provide a starting point for such a discussion between postgraduate student and supervisor. The content given here is meant to serve as a prompt for things to include in one’s own agreement, and supervisors/students are encouraged to make as many changes as needed during their discussions. In its current form, this MoU template should not be regarded as policy or even as a fixed template. Each supervisor-student relationship is unique and the outcome of this discussion will be a personalised and adapted version of this MoU.

Having said that, it may be the case that your faculty or department already has its own MoU template. It may even be compulsory for you to complete such an MoU, according to your departmental requirements. In that case, please see this document as an additional prompt for issues you might want to discuss with your supervisor/postgraduate student at the start of your relationship. Departments and faculties are also welcome to use and adapt this template. It is then up to individual departments or faculties to explain the “status” of the MoU, e.g. whether it is compulsory, recommended or optional.

Developed by Stellenbosch University, Postgraduate Office. Thanks to Natasha Mothapo, Ethel Phiri, Jenna Leysens and Alison Bucholz who played key roles in the production of this video (SU). Thank you to Venita Januarie, David Phair, Rose Richards, Mannini Kotele, Karen Esler, Jaco le Roux, Nathaniel McGregor, John Measey and Samkele Zonyane for their valuable contributions in the making of this resource. Thank you to Sioux McKenna (Rhodes University) and Ronel Steyn for their earlier contributions to the MoU template.

Who might find this useful?

This resource might also be useful to postgraduate studies support divisions and faculties or departments that co-ordinate postgraduate supervision and that may not have an official MoU in place.

The following open questions are posed at the end of the video:

How do you feel about an MoU?
Does your department have one?
How do you intend to establish a healthy postgraduate/supervisor relationship?
Have you considered all aspects of how the different stages of the research project will be handled?
Have you agreed on the type and frequency of communication that needs to take place to maintain a good relationship?
Are you prepared to be flexible in your approach – to adapt the MoU contents if necessary as you progress along the research journey together?

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Additional reading for supervisors:

Van Schalkwyk, S.C., Murdoch-Eaton, D., Tekian, A., van der Vleuten, C. and Cilliers, F. (2016) The supervisor’s toolkit: A framework for doctoral supervision in health professions education: AMEE Guide No. 104, Medical Teacher, 38:5, 436, DOI: 10.3109/0142159X.2016.1142517
https://theconversation.com/ten-types-of-phd-supervisor-relationships-which-is-yours-52967

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Reading a journal article: techniques and skills

PostGrad — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 08:00:34 +0000

This brief PowerPoint presentation with voice over describes how to read journal articles and collating information using the rhetorical moves approach. The presentation explains the benefit of the rhetorical moves to enhance academic writing ensuring coherence, logic and flow of information. Lastly, the presentation shows how information can be consolidated from various authors using the rhetorical move approach.

Developed by Olushola Rotimi Adeniyi (PhD), Division of Post Gradute Studies (DPGS), University of the Western Cape (UWC). Thanks to UWC, DPGS.

Who might find this useful?

This checklist should be used in consultation with the screencast video “Solution lies in the problem”. The liberal use of free clipart from https://openclipart.org/ in the video is acknowledged with thanks.

The video can be found at https://postgradenvironments.com/

Explore these additional resources

https://kuscholarworks.ku.edu/bitstream/handle/1808/18514/GenrePerformancesAccepted.pdf?sequence=5&isAllowed=y

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Using technology to your advantage: Mendeley (Part 1-6)

PostGrad — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 07:15:00 +0000

This 6 part video series provides an in-depth explanation of how to use the free Mendeley reference manager effectively during your research process. With this application you can integrate all your literature into one platform that can be accessed on any device, anywhere and anytime, allowing you to stay organised. You can also add colour coded annotations to the documents that you read, and seamlessly insert citations with a related bibliography, into your working document.

With a wide network of researchers, Mendeley also allows you to collaborate with like-minded people and to receive alerts of new research in your focus area/s. More information can be found at www.mendeley.com

Developed by Nuraan Davids-Latief, University of the Western Cape.

Who might find this useful?

This might be useful to any student starting a postgraduate degree or research project. Even professional researchers could find this tool very useful.

Explore these additional resources

www.mendeley.com

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How is good scientific writing like good cooking?

PostGrad — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 09:42:11 +0000

How can good scientific writing be compared to good cooking? This resource cleverly describes how good scientific writing can be likened to good cooking. It describes the way that researchers should draw on other authors’ work but at the same time bring in one’s own voice and argumentation. It emphasises why ethical scientific writing must always be honest, clear and accurate and give credit to the ideas or text that belong to another author.

This material consists of a PowerPoint slide presentation narrated with voice over. The duration of the presentation is 5.20 minutes. A Word text of the narration is included and supports the PowerPoint slide presentation material for universal access.

Developed and narrated by Ronel Steyn (SU). Thanks to Jennali Leysens (SU) and Alison Bucholz (SU).

Explore these additional resources

How is good scientific writing like good cooking?

Who might find this useful?

This material may be useful to supervisors, academic writing workshop presenters/ facilitators, etc. to include in their presentations to elicit or to encourage group discussion.

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