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| The Protea garden at Spier is so nice and beautiful. |
This is a conference and workshop that neither M and D supervisors nor M and D students can afford to miss. The conference theme is: Postgraduate supervision: Spaces, journeys and new horizons. If you are enrolled for a M or D, and you can afford this, do attend. The doctorateness workshop that is led by Leshem from Israel and Trafford from England is a unique opportunity to see a doctoral thesis from a new perspective. Their ‘stepping stones’ focus on the ‘why’ and ‘how’ questions that the researcher and the supervisor should ask at each step of the way towards the compilation of content that should construct a doctoral degree.
Other workshops, which precede the conference, include ‘Getting
them to write and write well’ – also a useful topic for both supervisors and
students; ‘Publishing pedagogies’, ‘Trends in doctorate education’ and
‘Supervisory resources’. There is also a full-day workshop on sustainable
relationships with international funders which would complicate the choice of
where one should focus.
One thing that I personally like is the reduced registration fee
for South Africans and students. Early bird registration for South African
academics is R5 500, and the workshops cost an additional fee of R1500
each. The welcoming function is included in the registration but the Gala
dinner which is always exceptionally well organised and include awesome
entertainment, cost an additional R450 per person (and you can take a partner
with).
But the very best part of this conference (even better than the
opportunities to learn from experts and be amazed by what is indeed possible in
the field of postgraduate supervision) is the venue. Spier wine estate, just
outside Stellenbosch is simply one of the very best conference venues I ever
been to in the Western Cape region. I cannot list all their activities here
(check out their web page) but one of my favourite things to do is to stroll
over the bridge and walk through the protea garden on the other side of the
water. And crossing back on the other bridge down the path, I would stand for a
while to watch the birds on the water below. Oh, and there is nothing like the
bathrooms (especially the shape of the bath – just right for two people to
cuddle in with candles and wine and something to eat to the side). Spier
accommodation for the conference is R2060 for two people sharing per night and
this includes a very nice buffet style breakfast. Do ensure that you make the
booking as soon as possible because each year, they are fully booked and
several the delegates then need to find accommodation elsewhere.
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