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Research Supervision

Are you new to research student supervision or an experienced supervisor wishing to learn more about recent changes to doctoral education? Please find supports and workshops available to you below.

Seminars, workshops and supports provided by Graduate Studies 

The Researcher Development Centre, hosts a wide range of supports to inform on, and develop, researcher supervision skills. For example the RDC provides access, through the Self-Paced Courses dashboard to the online Professional Skills for Research Leaders course and the Research Skills Toolkit course.

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IUA cover image

The Irish Universities Association (IUA) Deans of Graduate Studies invites you to the 4th annual symposium on doctoral supervision, hosted by University of Galway and supported by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) and the IUA.

The theme for this year's event is Supervising for Success: Driving Completion and Career Readiness.

Whether you are a seasoned supervisor or starting out in research supervision, this symposium will deliver invaluable insights and practical strategies to elevate your practice and ensure future excellence in doctoral supervision. This event will feature expert-led talks, moderated discussions and will highlight best practice in the field of doctoral supervision.

The symposium will take place at University of Galway in G019, Human Biology Building (South Campus) See location here (No. 10)

 

Programme

10.45am-11.30pm

Registration & Coffee

11.30am-11.45am

Welcome & Opening

Prof. David Burn, President, University of Galway,

Prof. Orla Lynch, Chair, IUA Deans of Graduate Studies, University College Cork

11.45am-12.15pm

The postgraduate research journey: Strategies for starting well and completing on time

Dr. Byrnne Gilmore, Lecturer/Assistant Professor School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin

12.15pm-12.30pm

MyPhD.ie: A cross sectoral collaboration to promote doctoral education in Ireland

Prof. Emma Sokell, Dean of Graduate Studies, University College Dublin (UCD) and Laura Flynn, Head of Partnerships, Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI)

12.30pm-1.15pm

PANEL discussion: Shaped by Experience - Key Lessons, Support Systems, and Supervisor Impact

Moderator: Sinéad Beacom, Head of Research Development Centre, University of Galway with a panel of doctoral candidates and professional services staff (Maryam Arif, University of Galway, Almudena Moreno Borrallo, Trinity College Dublin, Emma Jude Lyons, University of Limerick, Dáire Byrne, University College Dublin and Áine Flynn, University College Cork)

1.15pm-2.00pm

Lunch & Networking

2.00pm-2.45pm

Conceptualising and Supervising Interdisciplinary Research

Prof. Rebecca Braun, University of Galway, Executive Dean College of Arts, Social Sciences & Celtic Studies

2.45pm-3.45pm

PANEL discussion: Doctoral attributes for society today & how best to mentor/support our doctoral students for diverse careers

Moderator: Prof. Dónal Leech, Dean of Graduate Studies, University of Galway with a panel of experienced supervisors (Dr Roisin Cheshire, Head of Individual Led Research, Research Ireland, Dr. Bárbara Oliveira, Co-Founder & Chief Clinical Officer, Luminate Medical and Professor John F. Cryan, Vice-President for Research & Innovation, UCC)

3.45pm-4.15pm

Effective research supervision strategies to support research talent, facilitating student progression and fostering an autonomous researcher for the advancement of society.

Prof. Peter Hanenberg, Chair of EUA-CDE Steering Committee & Vice-Rector for Research and Doctoral Education, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Portugal

4.15pm-4.30pm

Launch: High Level Principles for Postgraduate Researchers on the Use of Gen AI in Research

Prof. Sharon O’Brien, Dublin City University

Closing remarks

Prof. Ann McPhail, University of Limerick

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Supervisor Seminars & Workshops 2026

2 seminars/workshops will be delivered in the University of Galway in Spring 2026 

Please book your attendance at each of these through the HR Learning and Development Course Registration via Core Portal.

The seminars/workshop are

Course code: SUPSTUD

April 15th: 14:00-16:00 AC201 (delivered by Dean of Graduate Studies)
Seminar: Research Student Supervision at University of Galway

  • Galway Research Degree Guidelines
  • Student & Supervisor Support and the Researcher Development Centre

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Course code: TDRIV

April 16th: 14:00-16:00 Online via Zoom (delivered by Hugh Kearns iThinkWell)
Workshop: Challenges in Research Supervision

  • Mental Health
  • Supporting Writing 
  • Supervisory Teams
  • Disagreements and Clashes

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CELT courses

The Centre for Excellence in Learning & Teaching offer a module (CEL6103) on Research Supervision & Development as part of their course offerings in support of professional development.