How is new knowledge created, who produces it, and how is it transferred to new generations of researchers?
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Relationships between doctoral students and their supervisors play a key role in the production of knowledge. This particular form of scientific collaboration is being studied at the Centre for Methodology and Informatics, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana. Their findings show that successful knowledge transfer depends not only on the motivation of the mentees, but also on the quality of supervision. Moreover, having more than one supervisor contributes to the successful completion of a doctorate.
The importance of a partnership-based relationship between doctoral students and supervisors
Effective knowledge transfer is fostered above all by “supervisory relationships characterized by partnership, mutual trust, respect, attentive listening, and active collaboration. This includes opportunities for in-depth discussions and brainstorming, participation in Slovenian and international research projects, attendance at conferences, and informal researcher gatherings,” emphasizes Assoc. Prof. Dr. Luka Kronegger, principal investigator of the research project The Supervisory Relationship in the Context of Scientific Collaboration and Knowledge Production.
One of the key findings highlights the advantages for candidates who enter doctoral studies through the Young Researchers program. As Assist. Prof. Dr. Sara Atanasova explains, compared to doctoral students employed on projects or external candidates not professionally embedded in the academic environment, young researchers have greater access to different forms of knowledge transfer, which results in a broader set of skills acquired during their studies. The study draws on in-depth interviews with researchers from the natural sciences and mathematics, engineering and technology, medicine, biotechnology, social sciences, and humanities. They are affiliated with the University of Ljubljana, University of Maribor, Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, University of Primorska, Faculty of Applied Social Studies in Nova Gorica, University of Nova Gorica, and Alma Mater Europaea.
One in four doctoral students collaborates with a supervisor even before beginning their PhD
According to Assist. Prof. Dr. Marjan Cugmas, one-quarter of supervisors and doctoral students begin working together before the official start of the doctoral program. However, there is a growing trend of collaborations ending after the completion of doctoral studies. Partnerships between supervisors and co-supervisors usually do not continue once the co-supervision process ends, even though most of them had already collaborated scientifically before co-supervising a student. This suggests that co-supervision does not necessarily foster new collaborations among researchers, but that supervisors prefer to co-supervise with colleagues with whom they have already worked.
Co-supervision contributes to the success of doctoral studies
Having more than one supervisor has a positive impact on doctoral outcomes. Satisfaction with supervisory relationships and doctoral programs is strongly linked to psychological resilience—that is, the ability to cope with change, stress, failure, and obstacles in research. In addition, doctoral candidates who feel more integrated into their research groups reported acquiring more skills during their studies than others. A positive attitude towards publishing scientific results is also associated with intrinsic motives for enrolling in doctoral studies, such as a strong interest in research or in deepening knowledge.
The findings are relevant for both supervisors and policymakers, as well as institutions involved in higher education and science. The results will be presented at a professional meeting on Thursday, 11 September, at 10:00, at the Computer Museum in Ljubljana.
Participation in the event is free of charge, but registration is required to facilitate planning: https://1ka.arnes.si/mentorski-odnosi
More about the project and the event: http://www.cmi-fdv.si/projekti/arrs/
Project team:
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Luka Kronegger (Principal Investigator) – luka.kronegger@fdv.uni-lj.si
- Assist. Prof. Dr. Sara Atanasova – sara.atanasova@fdv.uni-lj.si
- Assist. Prof. Dr. Marjan Cugmas – marjan.cugmas@fdv.uni-lj.si
The Centre for Methodology and Informatics (CMI) was established in 1992 and combines research in social science methodology and social informatics. In the field of network analysis methods and tools, the Centre ranks among the global leaders in terms of research achievements. Its members collaborate closely with numerous domestic and international institutions and actively participate in international projects.
