Mutual Co-Operations and It Takes Two to Tango in Postgraduate Supervision

Abstract

Having a supervisor who can work with students in an ideal way throughout the research process is something that is very helpful to students. PhD students or prospective students and their supervisors are a team. Although the parties who need to conduct research and complete the thesis report writing are the students, supervisors also have responsibilities and interests in the continuation of postgraduate studies. The precise cooperation of students and supervisors can usually be seen in the perfection and completion of an excellent theses. However, students need to first understand what the real role of supervisors so that students and supervisors can work well together. Among the role of the supervisor are to provide effective supervision, act as a mentor and guide and serve as an additional knowledge reference centre. Supervisors should also be able to play the role of advisor and provide guidance to students for more accurate sources of reference. The objective of this study is to discuss the mutual co-operations and it takes two to tango in postgraduate supervision and the responsibilities of both the supervisor and supervisee in creating a positive environment and an effective supervisory process for the effectiveness in the postgraduate studies. The three (3) sample of common issue and case studies in addressing the issues encountered in supervision and the possible solutions to such problems are simulated as an option in creating better solutions and minimizing among the challenges faced. The study found that it takes two of them to tango and play their roles and understand their respective responsibilities for successful postgraduate supervision process.