A New University Supervisor: Their Experiences and Enrichment

For various reasons, graduate students often hold the position of university supervisor. Because this population graduates every few years, first time supervisors are relatively common. In this qualitative case study, I explore the experiences of one graduate student who has just completed a supervisory assignment for the first time. Instead of focusing on the interpersonal dynamics of the supervisor’s experiences, the results of this study focus on the supervisor’s experiences of being in a position of authority, applying academic knowledge to practice, and understanding and interpreting professional standards into the context of the classroom. Another aspect that is explored is how these experiences enriched the graduate student, preparing him to be a better teacher educator. The results indicate several benefits of the supervisory experience, and that these benefits could be promoted as incentives for taking the position