Navigating the academic journey: a dissertation supervisor's perspective

Are you a healthcare professional passionate about guiding and supporting others in your field on their own academic journey? One of the most impactful ways to do this is by becoming a dissertation supervisor at RCSI’s Graduate School of Healthcare Management.

Learn more about the benefits of being a dissertation supervisor and the rewards associated with mentoring students as they navigate the research process and overcome challenges on route to academic success.

Every year, the team at the RCSI’s Graduate School of Healthcare Management (GSM) welcomes hundreds of students to the two-year MSc in Healthcare Management programme. As the largest masters programme in RCSI, this MSc offers healthcare management education to healthcare professionals and leaders worldwide. Delivered entirely online, this programme empowers healthcare professionals, managers and administrators to emerge as solution-focused leaders within healthcare services management and related fields.

In their second year of study, Healthcare Management students engage in a capstone dissertation project focusing on change or organisational development. For students this is a challenging but very rewarding experience, equipping them with the skills and tools to initiate and manage meaningful change in their own healthcare environment. This is where the role of the dissertation supervisor emerges and becomes pivotal to student success.

Significant benefits

Dissertation supervisors are healthcare industry experts who work with students individually as they navigate the capstone project, embarking on a journey of mentorship, guidance, and scholarly collaboration. The role extends beyond academic oversight, offering rich opportunities for personal and professional growth for both the student and the supervisor.

The supervisor who will have previously completed an MSc or equivalent and understands the challenges faced by the students, provides valuable guidance to them throughout the dissertation process, supporting them to refine research questions, and develop a comprehensive research methodology. As the student’s work evolves over months, they offer constructive feedback, suggesting avenues for improvement, and provide encouragement to help students navigate challenges and refine their research.

While dissertation supervisors are vital members of the academic team, the role also offers significant benefits to them personally and professionally. Supervisors have the opportunity to delve into various areas of healthcare management, gaining insights from students' research findings and scholarly inquiries, supporting their own continuous professional development journey. Importantly, by guiding students through the dissertation process, supervisors also contribute to the advancement of scholarship in healthcare management. Through their mentorship, supervisors nurture the next generation of researchers and practitioners, leaving a lasting impact on the field.

Contrasting challenges

Dr Paul O’Dwyer, a supervisor at GSM since 2017 and also an alumnus of the MSc in Healthcare Management, speaks about his experience and the benefits he has gained through his role working with students on their masters journey.

"The role is rewarding with many benefits. Personally, I gain a greater depth, and broader knowledge of current thinking in healthcare, across a wide range of disciplines. It informs me personally of many key areas in the delivery of healthcare – and the contrasting challenges – and sometimes common challenges that each sector encounters. It helps keep current thinking to the forefront, and it's a front row seat to the ever-changing needs of a disparate patient cohort."

The role also serves to enhance the supervisor’s own professional skillset in areas such as mentorship, communication, and project management, while strengthening communication skills and the ability to deliver constructive feedback.

According to O’Dwyer, listening is the most important skill for a supervisor. "Being able to listen and interpret the queries being raised is so important," O’Dwyer says. "You need to understand the challenges that the candidate faces and provide the right amount of support at the right time. After that, time management for both supervisor and scholar is key. Keeping on top of reading, along with the scholar, is really important. Supervisors have to be mindful of the time-bound nature of this type of writing coupled with the pressures of the day job. It is important to chart out the shared journey to finish and agree on your meetings/deadlines, along with the timeframe for delivery."

A meaningful difference

Collaborating with students on their dissertations also provides networking opportunities within the academic and healthcare management communities. Supervisors often establish connections with faculty, researchers, and industry professionals, expanding their professional network and potential collaborations. O’Dywer notes this as being one the advantages of the role.

"I really enjoy getting to meet colleagues from across the country and beyond – most of whom are working in different disciplines – but each with the same level of commitment to highest quality patient care."

Overall, O’Dwyer feels that the role has been very fulfilling for him personally. "For me, the role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in students' lives, helping them overcome challenges and achieve their academic goals. It is immensely rewarding."

Apply to be supervisor

The RCSI Graduate School of Healthcare Management is currently recruiting supervisors for its MSc programmes. This is a paid role. If you would like to explore the opportunity to shape the academic and professional trajectories of students, while also developing your own skills and contributing to the advancement of scholarship in healthcare management, please submit an expression of interest and CV here. 

Please note: Candidates can be based worldwide, and must have masters-level qualification and be working in healthcare.