Reflecting on a doctoral supervision : from scepticism to friendship
Date
2013
Authors
Waghid, Y.
Davids, N.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
UNISA Press
Abstract
In this article two colleagues are in conversation regarding doctoral supervision: The first author acted as a doctoral supervisor, while the collaborative author was a doctoral candidate during three years of study. The first author offers a narrative account of his sceptical encounter with the candidate while the candidate offers an account of her experiences during her doctoral studies. Drawing on the seminal thoughts of Harvard philosopher Stanley Cavell (1997), particularly on his ideas on 'living with scepticism', the first author argues that postgraduate student supervision ought to be an encounter framed by scepticism. He points out that supervising students sceptically might engender moments of acknowledging humanity within the Other (autonomous action); attachment to the Other's points of view with a readiness for departure (deliberative engagement); and showing responsibility to the Other (recognition of the other). Not necessarily in response, but certainly in conversation, the candidate presents her own experiences of encountering two unknowns, namely, the writing process demanded by a doctoral dissertation, and the unknown Other of a doctoral supervisor. She journeys her shift from naïve attachment to a writing that she thought she owned to one of mature detachment, strong enough to stand on its own. In exploring the necessary sense of completion and arrival that ought to accompany the doctoral process, the candidate singles out elements of trust, belief and the knowledge that the doctoral supervisor ought to attach the same value to a student's work as he/she does. Finally, in recognition of the unexpected of the doctoral journey, the candidate reflects on the flourishing of a friendship, which emerged from an encounter of scepticism.
Description
Please cite as follows:
Waghid, Y. & Davids, N. 2013. Reflecting on a doctoral supervision: From scepticism to friendship: Initiating the debate. South African Journal of Higher Education, 27(4):769-780.
The original publication is available at http://reference.sabinet.co.za/sa_epublication_article/high_v27_n4_a1 SEE ALSO - http://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC150428
Waghid, Y. & Davids, N. 2013. Reflecting on a doctoral supervision: From scepticism to friendship: Initiating the debate. South African Journal of Higher Education, 27(4):769-780.
The original publication is available at http://reference.sabinet.co.za/sa_epublication_article/high_v27_n4_a1 SEE ALSO - http://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC150428
Keywords
Universities and colleges -- Graduate work, Education -- Study and teaching (Higher), Communication -- Moral and ethical aspects, Graduate students -- Supervision of, Identity (Philosophical concept)
Citation
Waghid, Y. & Davids, N. 2013. Reflecting on a doctoral supervision: From scepticism to friendship: Initiating the debate. South African Journal of Higher Education, 27(4):769-780.