Strategies and approaches for addressing critical issues in supervisory practice of engineering discipline

Supervising a doctoral candidate is a complex task; arguably, it is the most complex level of teaching in higher education. The supervision of a doctoral project incorporates a range of issues beyond the research activities. This paper reviews literatures on research supervisory practice in Engineering Discipline to explore the approaches and strategies used to address critical issues that may arise during research practice. Then by considering those issues, a check list for the first supervisory meeting with a hypothetical HDR candidate was developed. Early in candidacy, it is essential to specify (negotiate) expectations about supervisory style. Therefore, this paper has been divided into two parts-Parts A and B. Part A will address the strategies for possible issues that can be arised during research project. Part B will provide insight for first supervisory meeting.