Students´ experiences of supervision in doctoral education in Industrial Engineering and Management

This study investigates how doctoral students experience supervision during their studies in one Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, and how different student groups differ from each other in their supervision experiences. The focus of comparison is on part-time vs. full-time students, newcomers vs. old-timers in study stage, and beginners, proceeders and achievers in research progress. Two sets of data were collected for the study: qualitative and quantitative. The results indicate that particularly part-time and full-time doctoral students and students differing in their research progress diverge in their supervision experiences. The results suggest that the flexible supervision system used in the Department is particularly suited for individuals with strong capabilities and ambition.