Doctoral supervision
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What makes for good supervision?
Every doctoral project requires academic supervision, which is provided either by an individual or a supervisory team. At the start date of a supervision relationship at Bielefeld University, a supervision agreement is concluded, which makes the supervision relationship transparent for both parties in terms of content and time. Each Faculty has created sample supervision agreements that can be adapted to the individual doctoral project. The DFG's recommendations for drafting supervision agreements also provide guidance.
At Bielefeld University, it is particularly important to us that all parties involved deal with each other in an open, fair and transparent manner. A trusting relationship and clear agreements on responsibilities between supervisors and supervisees are therefore of enormous importance for the success of one's doctorate. In addition to the supervision of immediate questions related to the research project, many other questions arise during the course of a doctoral project, e.g. about career planning. Successful doctoral supervision is characterised by the extent to which these aspects can be addressed in the doctoral supervision itself or at other counselling centres.
Future-oriented support for doctoral students is one of the most important strategic tasks of Bielefeld University. Intensive professional supervision plays a decisive role in this. For this reason, Bielefeld University has committed itself to guidelines for good supervision of Phd studies. In doing so, Bielefeld University not only wants to stimulate a discussion about the supervision of Phd studies, but also to promote the development of a "culture of good supervision". The aim is to ensure quality supervision for all doctoral students, regardless of their status and the form of doctorate they have chosen.
The guidelines are primarily aimed at the researchers in the faculties and graduate schools who supervise doctoral researchers in their doctoral projects. For doctoral researchers, the guidelines offer an overview of which tasks should be performed by the supervisor - and at the same time provide guidance on their own obligations, which are usually defined in more detail within the framework of a supervision agreement.
Who may supervise doctorate/Phd studies?
The general regulation of doctoral studies of Bielefeld University (§7) stipulates that university teachers, Privatdozent [senior lecturers], other habilitated or other members of the Faculty with at least a doctorate or at least appropriately qualified people working outside the Faculty or University may supervise Phd studies. In the case of interdisciplinary or cross-faculty work, a member of another faculty or university should also be appointed as supervisor. Further details can be found in the doctoral regulations of the Faculties.