ABSTRACT
The traditional model of research supervision involved an experienced, successful academic researcher with high content expertise. This chapter focuses on the roles and responsibilities of supervisors, research students also have responsibilities, and no discussion of research supervision would be complete without including them. Matching of research students to research supervisors is one of the most important early tasks in research training. The current approach in most universities is to focus on the provision of whatever support is necessary, rather than on individual research supervisors. The larger the research project and the higher the level, the more important it is to have access to the widest range of expertise and support, and effective relationships with those providing the expertise and support. Content expertise is the most obvious skill set that both students and supervisors consider, and is the main feature of the traditional approach.
