The new normal: shifting the CPD paradigm for Higher Degree Research supervision enhancement

Macquarie University (MQ), Australia has ambitious strategic aspirations for Higher Degree Research (HDR), including MRes and PhD, supervision with a key objective of preparing ‘world-ready’ research candidates through the provision of ‘inspirational supervision’ through an outstanding supervisory and mentoring experience.

Currently, we are reviewing policy and procedures to support academic staff and research supervisors. We wish to enhance confidence, capability and capacity; by transitioning from a conventional CPD registration and annual updating workshop compliance mantra to an Academy/Fellowship framework with crafted support (face-2-face, blended and online modes) for time poor supervisors by fostering critically reflexive practice in research training.

The issues concerning change management, challenges of community acceptance and the value of evidence based approach will be presented. Finally, we present a conceptual model and framework which we believe is the first of its kind Australia and valuable as a cross-institutional reference and benchmarking tool.