Changing postgraduate supervision practice : a programme to encourage learning through reflection and feedback

New research training agendas necessarily bring with them renewed attention on the professional development of research supervisors. This paper charts specific aspects of the University of Sydney's Postgraduate Supervision Development Programme, particularly the development of a new innovation called the Recognition Module. The Recognition Module invites research supervisors to develop an online case study of their supervision practice as a form of professional academic development. To this end, we showcase the work of two supervisors who have engaged with the Recognition Module, and note the qualitative changes in their thinking about supervision. Further, we argue that the Recognition Module works to develop three sorts of processes - first, it provides institutions with a way of recognizing and rewarding those who partake in ongoing development activities; second, it provides evidence that development and change has taken place; and third, it provides individual research supervisors themselves with initial information about how best to structure their supervision in order to guide students toward timely completion.