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PhD Beyond 50 Webinar “Making Supervision Work as a Mature PhD Student”

Published: January 22, 2026; Aithor: Julia Sonrisa

Systems, Self, and Relationships — A webinar to support those beginning or settling into their PhD journeys later in life.

The PhD Beyond 50 presents the Quarterly Webinar.

A webinar to support those beginning or settling into their PhD journeys later in life.

About the Webinar

Supervision sits at the centre of the PhD experience, yet it is one of the least explained and most misunderstood parts of doctoral study, especially for mature learners.

Many doctoral students return to academia with established professional identities, family responsibilities, and full lives already in motion. Navigating supervision in this context can raise quite a few questions around guidance, responsibility, feedback, expectations, and power dynamics.

Rather than focusing on theory, this session explores supervision as it is lived, operational, relational, and deeply personal.

What This Session Will Explore

The webinar is structured around three connected areas delivered by three speakers:

Understanding the Systems of Supervision
Led by Dr Anna Molnár

Taking Ownership of Your PhD Journey
Led by Dr Ifeoma Dan-Ogosi

Managing the Supervision Relationship as a Mature Learner
Led by Bishop Bob Alonge

Who This Webinar Is For

• Mature and non-traditional PhD students
• Those considering doctoral study and wanting clarity before starting
• Doctoral researchers navigating complex supervisory relationships
• Academics and professionals returning to study after time away

What You Will Gain

• Understand how supervision systems work in practice
• Gain clarity on your role and responsibilities as a doctoral researcher
• Develop strategies for managing supervisory relationships with confidence
• Feel better equipped to engage in supervision as a collaborative process

Time: 12:00 pm EST

Free!

Registration

Detailed information and discussion of the event.