Navigating the supervisory relationship: Covid-19 as a catalyst in displacing entrenched practices

Abstract

Navigating the supervisory relationship is a complex process influenced by both spatial and temporal factors. The process of supervision has come into sharp focus recently as supervisors and students unexpectedly had to react to the changing landscape presented by Covid-19. To understand the experience from the student perspective a qualitative survey was conducted with Masters” students (n= 455) during the summer of 2020. Findings suggest that the focus created by the pandemic experience can help to overcome pedagogic inertia in the Masters” supervision process by foregrounding the social aspects which complement the technical. Adaptive supervisory frameworks can help to ensure that appropriate expectations are established for both parties and that a transition to a more permanent hybrid model is sustainable.