The Supervisory Relationship: The Impact of the Supervisor/ Supervisee Relationship on the Outcomes of PhD Projects

Abstract

he PhD experience stands for one of the most challenging and demanding phases that Moroccan students may undergo in their academic career. Its difficulty relates to many interrelated factors that include the student researcher, their prerequisites in terms of knowledge, abilities, skills and, thus, competencies, and most importantly their capacity to be an active and a dynamic actor within this learning / training context. The latter dynamism basically relates to and depends on the quality of relationship doctoral students may develop with their supervisors. It is worth pointing out, in this sense, that the supervisor, having the crucial responsibility of managing the whole doctoral journey, has been traditionally considered to be the .
success key factor. As such, the type and nature of bonds that relate them to supervisees determine, to a great extent, the outputs of any doctoral journey. Within this perspective, this study qualitatively explores the supervisor / supervisee relationship and its impact on the launching, development and completion of Moroccan students’ PhD projects. Ten participants took part in this inquiry: five professors and five doctoral students belonging to French and English departments in four different faculties: the FLSH of Fez Saiss and Dhar Mehraz of Fez, the FLSH of Kenitra and the FLSH of Meknes. Data collection procedures included semi structured interviews with professors and doctoral students, in addition to content compilation of three Facebook pages that belong to doctoral students. Data analysis relied on a thematic content analysis of, first, transcribed interviews and, second, of doctoral students’ views, comments, interactions and evaluations of their own experiences that are shared on their Facebook pages. Results comprised six main themes: mutual respect and professionalism, positive reciprocity, lack of communication, weak prerequisites, irresponsibility and alternation. Further research is needed specifically within a quantitative configuration that would permit the widening of both samples and geographical areas and would, thus, lead to generalization of conclusions.