Research Support, in collaboration with Prof Eli Bitzer, and with Solani Ngoben-Centre for Scholarly Publishing Services will separately host Postgraduate Supervision workshops for staff members of the NWU during 2026.

Introduction to Postgraduate Supervision:

This workshop equips early-career supervisors with essential knowledge and practical skills for effective postgraduate supervision. It covers the broader context and models of supervision, including how to guide students in developing strong research proposals.

Participants will learn key supervision practices such as helping students build sound arguments, engage critically with literature, develop conceptual frameworks, and improve academic writing through constructive feedback. The workshop also addresses assessment, highlighting differences between master’s and doctoral work, as well as examiner nomination and evaluation criteria.

In addition, it explores supervisors’ broader roles, including managing student progress for timely completion and supporting career development. The workshop concludes with a practical exercise where participants design and present a personal supervision plan for peer feedback.

Enhancing Postgraduate Supervision:

This workshop is designed for experienced, mid-career supervisors seeking to refine and expand their supervision practices. It explores current national and international trends, highlighting key challenges shaping postgraduate supervision today.

Participants will engage with advanced approaches such as cohort and group supervision models, as well as strategies for promoting ethical research and guiding students toward responsible scholarly conduct. The workshop also addresses the opportunities and risks associated with using Artificial Intelligence in postgraduate studies. Further focus is placed on the supervisor’s dual responsibility to both the research project and the student, alongside critical considerations in assessing and examining senior degree work, including common pitfalls.
The workshop concludes with a practical component where participants develop and share a personal supervision enhancement plan, fostering reflection and the exchange of innovative practices for high-quality supervision.

Facilitator: 
The above workshops will be led by Eli Bitzer. He brings deep expertise and a wealth of practical experience to the workshop, offering participants both scholarly insight and applied guidance on postgraduate supervision.
Prof Bitzer is Emeritus Professor of Higher Education and former Director of the Centre for Higher and Adult Education at Stellenbosch University. He has supervised over 90 postgraduate students, examined more than 50 theses, and published widely on postgraduate supervision, doctoral education, assessment, and quality in higher education. His recent work includes publications on doctoral co-supervision, student support, research capacity, and the role of AI in academia.His recent publications include:

• Bitzer, E.M. & Fourie-Malherbe, M. (2024). Doctoral co-supervision in South Africa – policies and practices. In Kumar, V. & Wald, N. (Eds.), Supervising together: Doctoral co-supervision policy and practice across the world. Singapore: Springer. 
• Leshem, S. & Bitzer, E.M. (2024). How study supervisors navigate the socio-emotional needs of their doctoral candidates. Journal for New Generation Sciences, 22(1): 35–51. 
• Lategan, L.O.K., Bitzer, E.M. & Swart, C. (2025). Building African university capacity through research output – The case of one South African university of technology. In Langa, P.V. & Kaldewey, D. (Eds.), Negotiating the Fabric of the African University. Leiden: Brill. 
• Bitzer, E.M., Holzbaur, U., Lategan, L.O.K. & Witthuhn, C. (2026). Artificial intelligence and the academic fraternity: What response from the university professoriate? In Kokt, D. & Lategan, L.O.K. (Eds.), The AI-enabled future and the world of work: What are the expected industry complexities? Johannesburg: UJ Press (in process). 

Introduction to Postgraduate Supervision - Fill out form

Enhancing Postgraduate Supervision - Fill out form

Course on Student Supervision:

This workshop is designed for NWU staff, including early-career and mid-career researchers, who are new to postgraduate supervision or wish to strengthen their supervisory skills. The course provides practical guidance on all aspects of student supervision, from understanding research structures to fostering effective supervisor–student relationships and promoting responsible research practices. 

Day 1 Activities:

• Introduction to supervision 
• Structure of MA dissertations and PhD theses 
• Roles and responsibilities of supervisors 
• Roles and responsibilities of MA/PhD candidates 

Day 2 Activities:

• Supervision practices, modalities, and styles 
• Ethics in research and supervision 
• Supervisor feedback and communication 
• Memorandum of agreement between supervisor and student 

By the end of the workshop, participants will have a clear understanding of the supervisory process, practical tools for supporting postgraduate students, and strategies for fostering timely and high-quality research outcomes.

Facilitator:
Solani Ngobeni is Publishing Director at the Centre for Scholarly Publishing Services (Pty) Ltd. He has extensive experience in academic and scholarly publishing. He has previously worked at Juta Academic Publishers/UCT Press, the Africa Institute of South Africa and the Human Sciences Research Council as a Publications Director, managing an IBSS accredited journal, Africa Insight and publishing scholarly books.
Mr Ngobeni's contribution to the publishing industry has been recognised with an award for International Young Publisher of the Year in 2007. With his experience and passion for excellence, he is an ideal facilitator for any publishing- related event or workshop.

Course on Student Supervision – Fill out form

For enquiries contact Mrs Amanda Koto at Research Support and Postgraduate Support.