Open workshop for ph.d supervisors: Enhancing Well-being in Postgraduate Supervision: Insights from Work and Organizational Psychology

In academic supervision, particularly in postgraduate settings, the well-being of supervisors and supervisees is paramount. This presentation explores the key workplace factors that impact mental health and well-being, drawing on the specialized field of work and organizational psychology. The focus will be on the social relationships between employees (specifically between doctoral candidates and their supervisors) and leaders, and how these relationships either contribute to or protect against mental health issues. We are so lucky to have Torkel Einarsen, an expert in the field of work and organizational psychology to introduce the theme. He will focus on workplace factors affecting employee well-being and mental health.

Tentative schedule for the workshop:

09.00     Informal coffee chat before the start if you wish (log in and bring coffee/tea)

09.15     Welcome by Trine

09.20     Introduction: Enhancing Well-being in Postgraduate Supervision: Insights from Work and Organizational Psychology by Torkel Einarsen

09.50     Get coffee

10.00    Discussion and exchange of experiences 

10.40-10:45     Summary/wrap-up 

Before we meet, participants should reflect on:

1. Think through the theme and your own experiences about what matters when it comes to both Ph.D. – candidates' and supervisors well-being at work (as we will spend some time at the workshop to share experiences)
2. What promotes or inhibits the candidate's well-being, mastery and progression?
3. How do workload, availability, research group, supervision team and unclear expectations affect both candidate and supervisor?
4. What local support schemes are available at UiT in case of concern about the working environment, conflict, sick leave or delayed progression?

 Welcome!

Recommended Reading:
Hazell, C. M., Meader, N., Cavanagh, K., & Lovell, K. (2020). Understanding the mental health of doctoral researchers: A systematic review. Systematic Reviews, 9, Article 197. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-020-01443-1
Mavrogalou-Foti, K., Kambouri, M., & Çili, S. (2024). The supervisory relationship as a predictor of doctoral students’ mental health outcomes. Current Psychology, 43(21), 19163–19177. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-024-05992-1
Tikkanen, L., Pyhältö, K., & Anttila, H. (2024). Doctoral candidates’ and supervisors’ well-being: The role of supervision quality and quantity. Studies in Higher Education, 49(10), 1836–1850. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2023.2293883
Sverdlik, A., Hall, N. C., McAlpine, L., & Hubbard, K. (2018). The PhD experience: A review of the factors influencing doctoral students’ completion, achievement, and well-being. International Journal of Doctoral Studies, 13, 361–388. https://doi.org/10.28945/4113