Direcció de tesis sense manual d’instruccions: compartint experiències que (típicament) funcionen

On October 27, 2026, the Doctoral School of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) organized a participatory session in the Àgora room aimed at teaching and research staff (PDI) to share experiences and reflect on the challenges of directing and supervising doctoral theses.

The Director of the Doctoral School, Dr. Cristina Canal, welcomed attendees and introduced the working dynamics, highlighting that doctoral supervision requires tailoring support to each individual, to the different stages of the thesis, and to the circumstances of each situation.

Through the exchange of experiences, the session addressed several key issues in doctoral supervision: setting expectations, work planning, and communication with the PhD candidate; the balance between autonomy and guidance; motivation and commitment throughout the doctorate; coordination in co-supervision and the division of responsibilities; and time management and dedication of supervisors.

Specific challenges were also addressed regarding the supervision of international PhD candidates, industrial doctorates, or candidates with complex personal circumstances, as well as well-being, detecting risk situations, stagnation, conflict, and dropout prevention. Other topics included publications, authorship, good research practices, the use of artificial intelligence, and support in preparing for the thesis defense.

The Doctoral School thanks all participants for their attendance, participation, and contributions, and has gathered their feedback to take into account when designing future initiatives and in the continuous improvement of support for doctoral supervision.