The Faculty of Management Sciences’ juggernaut keeps pushing ahead. True to what the Dean of the faculty said soon after taking up the post, now Dr Bheka Ntshangase took a team from his faculty to a Postgraduate supervision workshop in the Drakensberg- 20 -24 May 2024. Describing the event as “laying a foundation for enrolling Master’s and Doctoral Degrees”, Dr Ntshangase said the “primary” motivation for the workshop was to prepare academics in the faculty for quality and effective postgraduate supervision. “The initiative aimed to equip faculty academic members with advanced skills and knowledge in supervising postgraduate students; foster a supportive and collaborative environment among supervisors; address common challenges faced in postgraduate supervision; ensure that postgraduate students receive high-quality guidance and mentorship, which is crucial for their academic success and timely completion of their studies; and promote best practices and innovative approaches to supervision, among others,” said Dr Ntshangase.
Dr Ntshangase also said that the workshop aligns with the MUT strategic Goal Three – Excellence in Research Innovation and Engagement and broader goals of continuous improvement and professional development. According to Dr Ntshangase, the workshop showed a commitment to raising academic standards and research output; enhancing the quality of teaching and supervision; building a culture of lifelong learning among faculty members; and strengthening the faculty’s reputation as a centre of excellence in research and postgraduate education.
Dr Ntshangase said some of the key areas that were discussed were best practices in postgraduate supervision; strategies for managing supervisor-student relationships; conflict resolution between supervisors and students; techniques for providing effective feedback and support; ethical considerations in postgraduate supervision; addressing diversity and inclusivity in supervision; techniques for fostering independent research skills in students; and developing and monitoring research proposals.
Some staff members mentioned what they learned from the week-long workshop. Dr Lynelle Martin, a Lecturer in the Department of Marketing, said she learnt the importance of a personal journey, starting how to supervise Master’s and PhD students, the importance of co-supervision,