Supervision

A student registered in the Graduate Programme is assigned to one of ITC’s full professors (the designated promotor = senior supervisor) and is entitled to supervision by one (or more) suitably qualified ITC staff member(s): the daily supervisor(s)¹.

It is not possible to be registered in the Graduate Programme unless an ITC professor has agreed to act as senior supervisor; nor is it possible to maintain registration if the senior supervisor withdraws and no replacement is available (see further under Exit arrangements).

In the case of registered ITC graduate students who are required to submit a thesis for the award of a PhD degree at the University of Twente², the composition of the supervision team is partly influenced by the way in which the PhD examination is formally structured. It is usual to have a senior supervisor (promotor-designate, who in principle will be appointed as promotor at the time of the PhD graduation) and a daily supervisor (who may become an assistant promotor3 at the time of the PhD examination). It is possible to have a first and a second senior supervisor, who will both be promotors at the graduation. Furthermore  two daily supervisors may be assistant promotors at the graduation. However, the maximum number in total (promotor(s) + assistant promotor(s)) is three. For full details, please consult the doctorate regulations of the University of Twente (please note that the Dutch version is the authoritative text). Staff members may also be involved in supervision (as daily or incidental supervisors) without being formally involved in the PhD examination. The composition of the team is usually based on complementary expertise (i.e. the expertise of the whole team covers the research topic of the graduate student).

The supervision guideline is two hours per week on average for the duration of the registration period, subject to a maximum of four years. This is not necessarily contact time as supervisors need to review the student’s written work and time may be spent differently on general issues concerning the PhD research topic. Also the average takes into account the fact that supervision may be more intensive at certain times, for example during the start-up phase, when fieldwork is included, and during thesis finalization.

Supervision is not location-dependent. During a period spent overseas as part of a sandwich study, a graduate student is entitled to distance supervision. Both graduate students and supervisors may expect a reaction within a reasonable time to work submitted or returned, bearing in mind prior notice of absence and with replacement of supervision arranged in advance when necessary.

The general content of the necessary personal skills development includes courses, participation in events, role as MSc advisor and informal learning. Soon after registration of the graduate student, the development path is agreed between the graduate student and the senior supervisor in a training and supervision plan. This plan is ultimately due six months after registration at the end of the qualifying phase, together with the qualifying report and the qualifying presentation (see further under Quality assurance). Subsequent adjustments can be mutually agreed and recorded in accordance with changing circumstances. The graduate student is responsible for working according to the training and supervision plan, and retains proof of completed items adding up to 30 ECTS credits⁴.

A graduate student dissatisfied with the quality of supervision by a member of the supervision team should report this to the senior supervisor (promotor-designate) and/or the research coordinator. A graduate student dissatisfied with the quality of supervision by the senior supervisor (promotor-designate) should contact the research coordinator. If deemed necessary, the research coordinator will report this to the portfolio holder research, and ultimately to the dean, who holds final responsibility. The graduate student should recognize, however, that while it is sometimes possible to adjust the composition of the supervision team, it is not usually possible to change the promotor-designate. If ITC is unable to offer supervision that satisfies the graduate student, the registration will be discontinued (see Exit arrangements).