Events & Training for Supervisors
Supervisor Forum Reboot 2026-27
Since 2024, SGSAH has been running a Supervisor Forum – a series of drop-in sessions for colleagues at SGSAH member HEIs, whether currently supervising, planning to supervise, or working in PGR support roles.
Welcome to the SGSAH Supervisor Forum reboot 2026-27. We have devised a new programme of three interconnected strands of activities which we hope you'll find useful and engaging:
- SGSAH x SGSSS co-design development workshops
- Supervisor Open Floors
- Online Writing Residencies.
New this year, we are offering the Staff-led Interdisciplinary Training Fund which is a rationalised form of the previous Extended Training Allowance and Global Connects funds, providing up to £3000 of funding to each applicant, with an additional £1000 available for proposal that include an international dimension
Sign up to our SGSAH Supervisor mailing list for current and prospective supervisors of arts & humanities doctoral researchers based in Scotland
If you have an idea for a session you would like us to run, or suggestions for someone who would be good at delivering a session, please get in touch with SGSAH’s Director, Professor Maria Fusco, via director@sgsah.ac.uk.
Explore the information below for details of upcoming sessions, or view our events calendar.
SGSAH X SGSSS
A series of online, practical, peer-led, development workshops co-designed with the Scottish Graduate School of Social Science (SGSSS).
Supporting PGRs in Writing | 17 November 9-10am
Open to supervisors.
Writing is a fundamental part of the doctoral journey, yet it often presents emotional, motivational, and structural challenges. This practical workshop explores how research supervisors can provide clear, constructive, and supportive feedback that enhances doctoral researchers’ writing development and confidence. This workshop encourages supervisors to reflect on their current practices and explore evidence-informed strategies and tools that support both clarity and independence.
Led by Professor Jemina Napier (Heriot-Watt University)
Register via the SGSSS portal: portal.sgsss.ac.uk/event/supporting-pgrs-in-writing
Creative Practice Research | 1 December 1-2.30pm
Open to supervisors and supervisees.
Creative practice research occupies a contested space in academia: often sought out as a novel and engaging route to engagement and impact, but also questioned for its rigour and subjectivity. This session explores the scope and formats of creative research practices, focusing especially on the problems that arise when different knowledge domains attempt trans-, multi- or interdisciplinary projects. It suits supervisors considering creative practice methodologies, whether as an additional method within a more ‘traditional’ PhD or as the central thrust of knowledge generation, and asks when and how creative research practice can be used effectively, and when it is less useful.
Led by Dr Anthony Schrag, who is a practising artist, researcher, and Reader at Queen Margaret’s University (Edinburgh).
Registration will be available via SGSSS portal here: https://portal.sgsss.ac.uk/events
Generative AI and the PhD | 19 January time tbc
Open to supervisors and supervisees.
This session will bring supervisors and students together to explore how to use Generative AI responsibly in writing a PhD thesis - reflecting on the pros and cons and the challenges for both supervisors and students.
Led by Alastair Stewart.
Registration will be available via SGSSS portal here: https://portal.sgsss.ac.uk/events
Supporting students doing emotionally demanding research | 25 May 3-4.30pm
Open to supervisors.
Research on sensitive topics can take a toll on researchers, and the growing emphasis on impact and engagement with people with lived experience means many now work in environments they would not historically have encountered. While recommendations exist for supporting researchers doing emotionally demanding research, provision for PGR students remains limited. This session is a chance for supervisors to reflect together on the challenges of supervising PGRs who work with emotionally demanding material. The presenters will share insights from years of undertaking and supervising such research, discuss case examples, and offer tips and strategies drawn from facilitating reflective practice groups for PGR supervisors. Led by Dr Juliane Kloess. Senior Lecturer in Forensic Clinical Psychology (Mental Health & Wellbeing), University of Glasgow
Supervisor Open Floor
Supervisor Open Floor is a once a semester welcoming space to discuss current issues and ideas and an opportunity to meet with other doctoral supervisors across Scotland. Chaired by Professor Maria Fusco, Director of SGSAH.