ABSTRACT
This chapter describes 'Postgraduate Supervision: Guidelines for discussion' which the authors have developed to assist supervisors and students in the process of clarifying mutual expectations of the supervision process. This description is set to amidst a consideration of the current literature on postgraduate supervision, as well as stories from students' experiences of using the document with their supervisors. In addition the authors offer some discussion — from critical education and Foucauldian perspectives — of the power dynamics of the student-supervisor relationship in an effort to understand this sometimes troubled ground. The chapter outlines the usefulness of either a contract or a checklist as two procedures for alleviating 'the problems inherent in the current "postgrad process"'. It argues that if many supervision problems are to be avoided, good communication — based on mutual respect and leading to mutual trust — is essential.
