Sustaining a Healthy Supervisor-Student Relationship: Students Speak

Abstract

Student supervision process is a cumbersome exercise which requires both supervisor and student or supervisee to work in tandem. This implies that there should be a good relationship which culminates to trust between the supervisor and student. However, if the supervisor and student mistrust each other, the whole supervision process may be a fiasco. The problem is that some supervisors are reckless when it comes to handling students and their supervision matters, and this affects supervision relationship. Without a healthy relationship between a supervisor and a student, the undertaking and completion of the research study may not be feasible. This paper sought to examine students’ voices on strategies to sustain a healthy relationship between the supervisor and the student. Data were generated qualitatively using semi-structured interviews and the study was sampled purposively. Using a thematic analysis, this study revealed that a healthy relationship can be sustained through open lines of communication, giving hope and motivation, teamwork, honesty about capabilities, mutual respect, providing timeous feedback, keeping confidentiality and providing guidance and support. This study concludes that supervisors should guard against the manner they treat their students because if they treat them badly and or disrespectfully, the supervision process may be negatively impacted. Therefore, this study recommends that supervisors should explore different ways of accommodating students with their needs and be flexible enough to support them so as to secure and sustain the supervision relationship that can determine the completion of the research study.