Description:
Following four books on postgraduate studies and supervision in the 'Studies into Higher Education' series, the title for this fifth volume is: 'Spaces, journeys and new horizons for postgraduate supervision'.
The idea of 'spaces' refers to the variety of spaces where supervision and postgraduate work take place: personal, individual, disciplinary, collective, institutional, material, physical, virtual, and other spaces. The 'journey' metaphor has been debated as useful but probably insufficient to capture all the complexities and intricacies of supervision and postgraduate work. The term 'journey' is thus used here to indicate beginnings, movements, challenges, obstacles, assistance, support and other dynamic features of the supervision-study interface. The notion of 'horizon' associates with concepts such as transitions, changes, ranges of experience, outlook, perspective, vista, among others. The chosen volume title was thus sufficiently comprehensive and open to theorise, report, discuss and debate particular aspects of research on postgraduate supervision in its current variety and complexity.
Brief description: Eli Bitzer is Emeritus Professor of higher education at Stellenbosch University. His interests are in promoting postgraduate education, supporting research excellence, the training of novice supervisors and postgraduate student advising.
Review Quotes:
After centuries of barely visible incremental development, postgraduate education has experienced twenty years of considerable turbulence as
governments recognise its latent power, some responding more quickly than others and each in different ways. This anthology, drawing on research, deep reflection and praxis, illustrates the current situation in a range of geographical environments that result from such interventions, or lack of them, providing readers both with information about neglected contexts, challenges and concerns and with stimulating ideas about how they might be managed more effectively.
Professor Emerita Pam Denicolo
University of Reading, UK
Most of the chapters, regardless if they present results from projects in South Africa or from other parts of the world, are part of a common mission
to gain a deeper understanding of postgraduate supervision. They are all up-to-date and contributing to this field with relevant topics and theories.
This volume should speak to academics and research supervisors from many different areas of research.
Associate Professor Åsa Lindberg-Sand
Lund University, Sweden