Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, brought together, between 28 January and 6 February at Loures Campus, around 80 professors and researchers for a training session dedicated to doctoral supervision. The session, organised by the Técnico Doctoral School, aimed to reinforce the skills and role of professors and researchers who have recently joined the School and its research units, in training independent, critical researchers who are ethically committed to research and innovation.
The training course “Good Practices in Doctoral Supervision”, combined presentations, guided reflection sessions and small-group work, encouraging the sharing of experiences and the discussion of best practices in doctoral supervision.
Vânia Martins, a research assistant in the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering (DECN) at Técnico, and one of the course’s doctoral candidates, highlighted doctoral supervision as a “demanding responsibility, requiring scientific knowledge and interpersonal skills”, also emphasising the “importance of initiatives that support supervisors and improve the experience of doctoral candidates”.
During the afternoon, participants worked on case studies and practical exercises, discussing common challenges in supervision, motivational strategies, time management and integration into collaborative and international networks. Among the best practices highlighted were structured meetings with clear objectives, goal-setting, continuous feedback, progress monitoring and attention to the mental health of PhD students.
Joana Lobo Antunes, Assistant Professor in the Department of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineering (DER) at Técnico and also a participant in this initiative, highlighted the value of the course, noting that “the support provided by Técnico has been outstanding”. “Training in best practices for supervising students is useful for both experienced and novice supervisors. “The most important thing is to recognise that each student has unique characteristics and the thesis they develop is their own. Our role is to guide the topic and the questions while ensuring that the necessary conditions are in place for students to grow according to their abilities”.
The training session was led by Ana Salgado, coordinator of the Advanced Training and Careers Office at the Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR) and a professor at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (UPorto), and by Ana Freitas, a researcher at the Centre for Research and Intervention in Education (CIIE) of the Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences (FPCEUP) in Doctoral Education and a professor at the Faculty of Engineering at UPorto. Throughout the sessions, national and international trends in doctoral education, different styles of supervision and the essential skills of doctoral students were explored. “Supervising is not about teaching or marking work; it is about creating the conditions for doctoral students to develop their intellectual maturity and become autonomous, critical and ethically committed”, emphasised Ana Freitas.
Ana Salgado highlighted that “every journey is unique. Support is essential, particularly during critical stages, such as writing the thesis or changes in supervision”, adding that the course enables supervisors to “reflect on effective practices and manage complex situations”. She also emphasised that “a PhD is not just about completing a thesis; it is designed to train well-rounded researchers who are independent, critical thinkers with a strong commitment to scientific integrity”.
