ACGR Webinar 2/2025 - Becoming a Principal Supervisor: Exploring the Fast-Track Option

Growing a graduate research program depends on dozens of factors. One important issue is the capacity of universities to provide enough qualified principal or senior supervisors to accommodate any increases in demand (or simply meet threshold supervision responsibilities in a rapidly changing tertiary environment).

One response to this challenge is the creation of acceleration pathways whereby early and mid-career researchers can meet the institutional qualification of ‘principal supervisor’ in less than a full candidature period. How do these programs work? Where have universities developed nuanced models? Beyond capacity measures, do accelerator programs bring broader benefits to graduate research culture? What quality and compliance issues need to be considered? How are such programs approved?

Join us for a panel conversation that will consider the key practical and philosophical issues linked to the fast-track option of becoming a senior supervisor. Graduate research leaders from four universities will offer their perspectives on the issue and create a space for extended discussion with webinar attendees.

Webinar Panellists:
Chair: Associate Professor John Rees is Director of Research and Training, University of Technology Sydney.

Professor Pierre Benckendorff is Deputy Dean of the Graduate School and Professor in the School of Business, University of Queensland.

Professor Wendy Wright is Professor, Conservation Biology and Dean of the Graduate School, Federation University.

Associate Professor Deb Strickland is Coordinator of the Principal Supervisor Accreditation Program (PSAP), Graduate Research, Edith Cowan University.