This is a pedagogical question. A specialist in his own field may be a bad supervisor; a good supervisor can guide you 'through hell', otherwise you get burned. You cannot count on formal responsibilities, it will lead to your failure. All 3 have to fit: the topic, the candidate, the supervisor. This problem can only be solved in communicating openly with your faculty.

Martin Hernandez, unfortunately there are cases where students face such challenges when they are pursuing PhD. It is the biggest challenge being a student to find a supervisor who has enough experience in the field of your research interest. However, you should rather take further step in looking for another supervisor. I am not familiar with the rules and regulations at your institute or in your country's higher education commission.

Where there is a will there is a way. Just speak to the research director at your University he might be of help in this case I am pretty sure.

Seconding Zeeshan's opinion here. First stop is your supervisor, second stop your Research Director.

Roland

The following sources should be helpful, namely: managing/educating your supervisors; reducing communication barrier; changing supervisors (Phillips and Pugh, 2005); what makes a good/poor thesis (Mullins and Kiley, 2002), etc.

• Mullins, G. and Kiley, M. (2002). 'It's a PhD, not a Nobel Prize': how experienced examiners assess research theses. Studies in higher education, 27, 4, pp. 369-386.
• Phillips, E. M. and Pugh, D. S. (2005). How to get a PhD : A handbook for students and their supervisors, Berkshire, England, Open University Press.
• Wisker, G., Robinson, G., Trafford, V., Warnes, M. and Creighton, E. (2003). From supervisory dialogues to successful PhDs: Strategies supporting and enabling the learning conversations of staff and students at postgraduate level. Teaching in Higher Education, 8, 3, pp. 383-397.

I see two aspects: First, the supervisor should in principle be able to guide a PhD student concerning general scientific questions and scientific habits, and he should have the background knowledge to review the thesis.

However, a PhD thesis is the first step into scientific independence. Ideally, during the PhD work there should be certain point of the work, when the PhD student becomes the main expert on his own subject.

Whether you look for another supervisor (or, alternatively, ask your supervisor for another subject) is a question that should mainly be answered by yourself. So to say, this is also part of being a PhD student.

In refference: https://www.findaphd.com/advice/doing/phd-problems.aspx is recommended the following strategy to solve problems during PhD in UK: ”The strategy to try and solve any problem which arises during your PhD should ALWAYS begin by talking to someone about it. And the earlier the better! Best of all is to try and resolve things informally. Top of the list is talking to your supervisor (s). If you don’t feel confident speaking to them directly, why not put it in writing? Not only will it be documented but it may be easier to order your thoughts and to put your point across. Alternatively, if you can’t approach your supervisor, why not raise the issues at your next formal progress meeting or speak to the PhD programme director; head or manager of graduate school; another research colleague; or fellow students. In addition, remember that universities often have support services designed to help you such as the counselling, student unions, chaplaincy, career advisers, research development advisers and international officers. The last resort, if you feel that you have exhausted all avenues, is to start a formal complaint procedure, either through your university or through a public service body.”

This is a pedagogical question. A specialist in his own field may be a bad supervisor; a good supervisor can guide you 'through hell', otherwise you get burned. You cannot count on formal responsibilities, it will lead to your failure. All 3 have to fit: the topic, the candidate, the supervisor. This problem can only be solved in communicating openly with your faculty.

Dear Martin Hernandez,

The responsibility of a supervisor in PhD journey is to supervise the research work including all aspects that starts from the beginning of PhD until its completion. However, if the supervisor's area does not match supervise's area or have any other kind of conflict, there are few solutions.

1. Some universities offer one time chance to change the supervisor, if you have, you should.

2. You may also get a second supervisor to get supervision from.

3. However, if your university does not provide you with such an opportunity, try to sit with the supervisor and discuss your issues and try to resolve them either by switching to supervisor's area or by any other mean.

4. Sometimes, in the initial stages of a PhD journey, some supervisors give tough time to students to polish them and make them learn to search and review the literature and try to exhaust it because many thing cannot be learned by just listening from the supervisors rather those can be learnt by doing it yourself. Try to diagnose, if this is the point, take this time to enhance your skills and try to meet his/her expectations.

Best Wishes,

Dear @Martin, you may find some fine answers in the following research questions!

https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_features_should_a_research_supervisor_have

https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_are_the_most_important_qualities_that_PhD_supervisors_must_have_to_successfully_guide_a_graduate_student

https://www.researchgate.net/post/what_are_the_differences_between_mentor_and_supervisor

Supervisors should be available to help their graduate students at every stage, from formulation of their research projects through establishing methodologies and discussing results, to presentation and possible publication of dissertations. Graduate supervisors must also ensure that their students’ work meets the standards of the University and the academic discipline.

May be the attached file is good

superviing motivation and couragement

Luckily, I had a very good advicer. I am very grateful to him. Below were what he advised/helped me during my PhD carrier:

1. He advised me what classes needed to take for my major (when arrived at the lab).

2. For researches, he was knowledgable for his grant-supported projects. He already had a few (defined) research projects for me to choose.

3. Once I chose a research topic, he provided me the unique plant materials.

4. Every week, we met once to discuss what was the progress of my research, and provided suggestions for what I should be done.

5. Every week, we had a lab meeting. Every person (post-doc, PhD, technicins, student helpers,....) in the lab presented his/her results. He and the lab members would throw in their thoughts and suggestions.

6. Not only given advices in the lab, he (a carrot breeder) also took us to the fields, setting up cages, doing seed preparation, planting, harvesting, storaging, trials.....), so we had practical experiences on how to breed carrots

7. Before my PhD prelim exam, he reviewed courses with me by setting up question-answer sections with me.

8. He looked through my dissertation and gave suggestions before defense.

9. He helped (eidting, suggestion...) in publishing the research results to scientific journals

He did the same thing to all his PhD students.

Thanks for sharing this question.

Really I can not find words to say thanks to my Ph.D. supervisor for his unlimited academic efforts through my studying stage(s), by the way he is also RG member and his account ID (Muhsin Jweeg).

Regards, Emad

Outstanding comments as usual dear Dr. Ljubomir Jacić and Dr.Yuan-Yeu Yau , thank you so much for sharing your kind points of view.

Regards, Emad

Dear martin,

Attempt to read more standard books regarding your thesis topic. If you follow my words, then you will become your supervisor. Attain your doctoral degree as early as possible by overcoming minimum criterias in your university. Days...months....years....wont come again.....God bless you.

Your supervisor has some basic responsibilities to you and your search direction. These will usually include a meeting to discuss your work, read drafts, respond to emails and other forms of communication within a reasonable period of time. Some universities may formalize these commitments in a research brochure, and you should consult them if so. Other universities may leave more details for the student and the supervisor themselves. In both cases, here are some basic expectations that a PhD supervisor must fulfill such as

Experience in your subject matter, regular supervisory meetings, advice, support and more......

The solution is to sit with the supervisor and have counselling. But if the problem persist, change the supervisor or get a second supervisor.

Good question and Informative answers thank you all

Communicate your expectations and needs very clearly with your supervisor. Document this conversation. If nothing changes, then you need to speak with the Head of Department or the graduate school about changing supervisors or adding a supervisor. This needs to be done as soon as possible, don't let it drag on months and months. Or else the university may ask you why didn't you raise the issue sooner?

Dear @Martin, you have stated that your Ph.D supervisor not familiar with the subject of the thesis! That was the mistake at the early beginning.

You will have difficult communication and conversation with your supervisor. But show must go on.

How to Have a Difficult Conversation with your Supervisor?

For purposes of this communication, we are using the term “difficult conversations” to convey a situation where both parties in the conversation need to stay in a relationship, the stakes are high, opinions vary and emotions may run strong. At work, situations may arise between you and your supervisor that call for you to initiate a difficult conversation. Your supervisor may be many things, but it is doubtful s/he is a mind-reader. So if something is not working for you at work that your supervisor can influence, and it matters to you that it is not working, you’ll want to find your voice...

https://hr.utexas.edu/current/services/difficult-conversations-supervisor

Someone already mentioned above - the communication. But not the formal communication just for the sake of exchanging some information. How I see it, it should be constructive, relevant and in friendly manner performed communication. Of course, way easier to say then to do but still.

Roles and Responsibilities of Research Students and Supervisors

You can read this (as an example) - https://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/doctoralcollege/zone/staff/registration/responsibilities

This is some kind of regulations on doctoral programmes; all universities have basic guidelines, but not always followed by the student or guide.

The best solution is discussion with the guide, some have already mentioned.

Regards

Now a day research students are very much dependent on supervisor. The very first responsibility of a superior is to decrease this element of dependency. This is possible when h/she suggests a good workable topic. Second, to help the students in preparing work plan.

And the most important, avoid spoon feeding during data collection and analysis.

What is the responsibility of supervisor of a PhD student?

Generally, supervisors should provide all the possible facilities for their students in order to successfully completing their dissertations as planned or better. The supervision process also includes knowledge and experience transfer for maximizing the value of the research at the minimum possible duration.

What is the responsibility of supervisor of a PhD student who is not available and is not familiar with the subject of the thesis?

Usually, the supervision committee includes two or more members; however, one of the them is usually the most involved supervisor in the research work. This one is the main supervisor. If you have that supervisor, then he/she can coordinate the research issues among the other supervisors. Probably, the each of the other supervisors has a specific target within the thesis work. In another situation where your problem is with the main supervisor, you may directly talk with him/her about your problems, and you may suggest a solution. By the way, this issue is not 'usual around the world' as you think.

To supervise the scholar from time to time

According to my openion, if supervisor feild of area is your feild of intrest then you must be connect to supervisor, me that you try to take time when he is busy or some where else and if area is not your feild of intrest then change your supervisor along with feild.

Yeah! I agree with all comments. I think that exist some "bad" supervisors, because they do not know or want to teach in a pedagogical way, and only wants results or fame.... If you do not feel comfortable with your supervisor you must try to change, the subjective part its important too.

Regards,

Code of Supervision for PhD supervisors

Supervising PhD candidates is a complex process in which a supervisor fulfils different roles. On the one hand a supervisor interacts with his or her PhD candidates personally as a mentor and teacher. On the other hand a supervisor is the assessor of the PhD project, which has to live up to academic standards. As PhD projects are usually supervised by a supervision team, the communication flow, clarification of expertise among the supervisors, agreements on deliverables as well as reliable and on time feedback are all crucial.

You help demarcating zones of intellectual property, both with your own work and with that of other researchers working on the same or a similar project as the PhD candidate. It is important to communicate how you will refer to each other’s work in future publications, as well as authorship issues if you are a coauthor on publications of your PhD candidates. Under your supervision PhD candidates become part of the scientific community. At the end of their project PhD candidates should be independent junior scholars or scientists, who have gained national and international experience, are aware of the relevant scholarly or scientific networks and able to apply for personal funding to further their academic career. However, not all PhD candidates will continue to pursue a scientific career. Hence, as supervisor, you will also stimulate your PhD candidates to communicate their research to a general public, to introduce themselves to different sectors outside academia, and to consider alternative career options. The code of supervision offers recommendations for the process of PhD supervision...

Fight for your PhD or quit!

The responsibility of the supervisor is to guide you from start to finish... He should:

- inspire

- give you ideas on what can be a contribution and what can't be

- help you publish your research

- give you advise on research methods

- help you understand that the PhD is not an ordinary diploma but it includes a scientific approach

I recommend the answer of Ljubomir Jacić .

In any case the good supervisor should be aware of what are you doing no matter where in the world he is.

You can do two things:

1. Be positive and talk with him - at any price.

2. If (1) does not help - talk with your department and change your supervisor.

To provide some direction to research work and data analysis

To play a facilitator role by guiding the student towards accomplishment of his/her Phd studies. This also entails mentoring the student on research skills needed as well as providing the student with guidance with regards to literature search skills.

To coach, guide and facilitate the research process. To ensure it is the student learning not them. To ensure the student grows both academically and professionally throughout the research process.