Research Supervision as a Mutual Learning Process : Introducing Salutogenesis into supervision using "The Collegial Model"

• Research using salutogenic factors to promote health is extensive. Salutogenesis, and its coreconcept 'sense of coherence' (SOC), is a resource-oriented theory and framework, applicable indifferent contexts. Research combining health promotion and doctoral supervision in higher educationis scarce. This article places research supervision in a broader context of sustainable workinglife by focusing on stress management. It is about health promotion in an area of research supervision,a new approach not described earlier. Research on supervision in general is extensive,focusing on co-generative mentoring, counselling and coaching. A new salutogenic model, 'TheCollegial Model', is presented as an example of practical application. The aim of the present articleis to introduce and discuss how the salutogenic theory and model of health can be applied to researchsupervision of postgraduate students. Knowledge about how SOC impacts health andlearning has benefit from a systematic review on salutogenic research covering published papersfrom 1992 to 2003 and until today. 'The Collegial Model' examines fundamental characteristics ofsupervision related to ethics and sense of coherence: relations, communication, processes, reciprocity,reflection, learning, comprehensibility, manageability, meaningfulness and coherence.Principles for carrying out supervision 'the salutogenic way' are suggested. The conclusion is thatdoctoral supervision involves mutual learning processes between colleagues in the supervisoryteam. Supervision has to be theory driven, implying that supervisors could benefit from applyinga salutogenic way of thinking and working, particularly in development of guidelines for researchsupervision.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

research supervision

salutogenesis

sense of coherence

mutual learning process

Folkhälsovetenskap

Public health science

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

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