Murdoch University was
founded as a research-based university, and is a growing institution with
more than 12,000 students,
700 of whom are undertaking higher degrees by research. The University’s
relatively small size is of great benefit to students, allowing close contact
with academic staff in a personal, caring environment.
The Vice-Chancellor's
Excellence in Supervision Awards confirm the commitment of Murdoch University
to encourage, recognise and reward sustained excellence
in postgraduate research supervision.
The Excellence
in Supervision Awards are awarded to two staff members who have been nominated
by their postgraduate
students. The recipients of the
awards
are selected from the nominees by a panel representing staff and students
and the recipients of this Award each receive a prize of $4,000.
These
awards are given to academics who are not only highly professional supervisors
but are also outstanding in their commitment and ability
to respect, support,
challenge and enthuse their postgraduate students.
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Ralf Cord-Ruwisch
During his time at Murdoch Ralf has motivated, inspired and enthused
many Honours and Masters students whom have gone on to complete their
PhD with him. His postgraduate students speak glowingly of his commitment
to them and the large amounts of time and energy that he invests into
the supervisory process. He is always available to his postgraduate students
to discuss questions, share ideas, give advice, and offer encouragement.
He passes on his great enthusiasm and genuine love of science to his
postgraduate students and recognises the importance of facilitating a
genuinely enjoyable and satisfying research experience for doctoral candidates.
Ralf is diligent in giving regular constructive criticism to assist students
in the writing of their research and actively seeks feedback from them
on his supervision. This allows him to adapt his supervisory approach
to the needs of individual students. He recognises that the role of the
supervisor is also to assist doctoral candidates in their future careers
and actively works with his students in this process. Murdoch University
places great value on academic supervisors such as Ralf who place the
student at the centre of the doctoral research process.
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Irene Styles
Over her many years at Murdoch Irene has supervised doctoral
candidates from a wide range of disciplinary areas. She works collaboratively
with
other academics and brings the great strengths of commitment, dedication,
enthusiasm, and a great sense of humour to the supervisory process. Her
postgraduate students declare that she is generous with her time and
energy, with her ability to bring clarity and focus to a project, with
her knowledge and expertise and with her willingness to work in a collegial
manner. Irene not only successfully supervises a large number of doctoral
students she also undertakes reflective research into the research process
and is very well published in this area. A review on a publication which
developed a theoretical model of postgraduate supervision commented that: " This paper should be required reading for all PhD students and supervisors." In
her practise of supervision she makes time for her students, negotiates
both the content of the thesis and the process of feedback in line with
their needs, builds rapport and trust, organises seminars and workshops
for them and acts as a mentor for career development. Murdoch University
is fortunate to have on its staff academic such as Irene who relish the
challenge and creativity of the doctoral supervisory process. |
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