Introduction:
Academic supervision and research guidance are fundamental pillars in ensuring the success of the research process within universities and higher education institutes. The relationship between the academic supervisor and the student researcher is a critical factor in determining the quality of scientific outputs, necessitating the development of faculty members’ supervisory and advisory competencies.
This diploma aims to equip academics with essential skills in scientific supervision and enhance their ability to support and guide students throughout the preparation of their research projects and theses.

General Objectives of the Diploma:

1. Equip university faculty with the essential skills for effective academic supervision.
2. Enhance the quality of the supervisor–student relationship based on scientific and educational principles.
3. Develop advisory competencies to support students throughout all research phases.
4. Strengthen the ability to manage research and educational challenges during supervision.
5. Establish professional and ethical standards in academic and research guidance.

Target Audience:

1. Junior and experienced university professors.
2. Members of thesis/dissertation examination committees.
3. Researchers interested in academic supervision.
4. Supervisors in research centers and institutes.

Diploma Topics:

1. The concept and historical development of academic supervision.
2. Supervision vs. guidance: roles and challenges.
3. Types of academic supervision and the characteristics of each type.
4. Assisting students in topic selection and problem statement formulation.
5. Research planning and timeline management.
6. Guiding students in selecting appropriate research methodologies.
7. Ethics in academic supervision and principles of scientific integrity.
8. Effective communication strategies between supervisors and students.
9. Providing constructive feedback and guiding students toward improvement.
10. Supporting students in academic referencing and source management.
11. Supervising writing phases and editing academic texts.
12. Using AI tools to support the supervision process.
13. Addressing research-related challenges faced by students.
14. Managing supervision sessions and documenting meetings.
15. Building trust and motivating students to complete their research.
16. Preparing students for thesis/dissertation defense.
17. Evaluating research papers and theses.
18. Managing individual differences among students.
19. The role of supervision in fostering innovation and interdisciplinary research.
20. Practical models and real-case scenarios from academic institutions.

Expected Outcomes:

1. Develop a practical framework for managing the academic supervision process.
2. Acquire the ability to follow up and mentor students through all research stages.
3. Enhance the quality of scientific theses under academic supervision.
4. Foster a supportive and motivating supervisory environment within the academic institution.

Key Features of the Diploma Program Participation:

1. Comprehensive coverage of 20 specialized modules in academic supervision and research guidance.
2. Practical training on essential skills including communication, evaluation, motivation, and problem-solving.
3. Exposure to real-life examples and applied models from academic institutions.
4. Introduction to artificial intelligence tools that support the supervision process.

Participation in the diploma sessions is free of charge for those wishing to benefit from the content. However, the professional certificate is not free and will be awarded only to participants who meet the program’s requirements, under the title: Certified Academic Supervisor and Peer Reviewer.