International doctoral students’ perspectives on the qualities of supervisors: Expectations for intercultural supervision in Portuguese higher education

Abstract

Considering internationalisation of doctoral education and the crucial role of supervisors in doctoral journeys, this paper explores the perspectives of international doctoral students regarding the qualities of a good supervisor. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 students from Angola, Brazil, East Timor and Mozambique, attending a PhD Program in Education at a Portuguese university. Results from thematic analysis show that students value intrapersonal, interpersonal and communicative qualities associated specifically to pursuing a doctorate overseas. Within those, they underline: knowledge of their origin contexts (cultural characteristics, educational backgrounds and research traditions); acknowledgement of the influence of those contexts in learning and research approaches; and flexibility regarding students’ variety of Portuguese language. Directly related to this, qualities such as personal and emotional support, availability, commitment and empathy are highly appreciated. Findings highlight the importance of supervisor professional development for intercultural doctoral supervision.