Collaborative Supervision across Borders: Exploring the Motives of Mozambican Doctoral Co-Supervisors
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| Title: | Collaborative Supervision across Borders: Exploring the Motives of Mozambican Doctoral Co-Supervisors |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Cecilia Almlöv, Rehana Capurchande, Lars Geschwind (ORCID |
| Source: | Journal of Further and Higher Education. 2026 50(2):291-309. |
| Availability: | Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 19 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Foreign Countries, Doctoral Students, Supervisors, Motivation, Supervision, Supervisory Methods, Role, Student Research, International Cooperation, Capacity Building |
| Geographic Terms: | Mozambique |
| DOI: | 10.1080/0309877X.2025.2600547 |
| ISSN: | 0309-877X 1469-9486 |
| Abstract: | In Sub-Saharan countries, the number of enrolled doctoral students in international collaborations has escalated, creating an urgent need for doctoral co-supervisors. This qualitative study, carried out at one of the flagship universities in Mozambique, uses the Schutzian sociological model of 'motives' to examine Mozambican doctoral co-supervisors' motives for engagement in transnational research capacity-building projects. The analysis, based on in-depth interviews with nine doctoral co-supervisors, reveals that they are motivated by the growth of their doctoral students, the opportunity to do research and be co-authors, the updated knowledge that supervising the doctoral work might provide, and access to researcher networks. However, they are less motivated by supporting unmotivated students and feeling unrecognised within the supervisory team. We suggest ways to improve this situation: supervisory training in intercultural competences for the whole team, an introductory discussion about work allocation within the team, guidelines for team supervision and a continuous dialogue about the roles and responsibilities of a co-supervisor. With such improvements, current experienced co-supervisors from the Global South might not leave their co-supervisory roles, but choose to stay. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1505120 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | In Sub-Saharan countries, the number of enrolled doctoral students in international collaborations has escalated, creating an urgent need for doctoral co-supervisors. This qualitative study, carried out at one of the flagship universities in Mozambique, uses the Schutzian sociological model of 'motives' to examine Mozambican doctoral co-supervisors' motives for engagement in transnational research capacity-building projects. The analysis, based on in-depth interviews with nine doctoral co-supervisors, reveals that they are motivated by the growth of their doctoral students, the opportunity to do research and be co-authors, the updated knowledge that supervising the doctoral work might provide, and access to researcher networks. However, they are less motivated by supporting unmotivated students and feeling unrecognised within the supervisory team. We suggest ways to improve this situation: supervisory training in intercultural competences for the whole team, an introductory discussion about work allocation within the team, guidelines for team supervision and a continuous dialogue about the roles and responsibilities of a co-supervisor. With such improvements, current experienced co-supervisors from the Global South might not leave their co-supervisory roles, but choose to stay. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0309-877X 1469-9486 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/0309877X.2025.2600547 |
