LJMU School of Education: Symposium on EdD Supervision

The School of Education’s EdD Symposium, taking place on 28 April 2026, invites colleagues into a collaborative and energising space dedicated to strengthening our collective practice around professional doctorate supervision. Held in the John Foster Building (JF/G01), this half‑day event brings together experienced supervisors, emerging supervisors and teams to share insights, demystify the supervision journey, and explore what truly supports EdD candidates from enrolment to successful Viva.

The day opens with an informal coffee welcome and an interactive Padlet activity designed to surface the questions, challenges, and provocations that matter most to participants. These contributions will shape conversations throughout the event and culminate in a collaborative problem‑solving session later in the day.

Following the welcome from Dr Diahann Gallard, attendees will explore how EdD supervision differs from the more traditional PhD route, highlighting the work‑embedded focus, accelerated timelines, and professional‑practice outcomes that define the EdD candidate experience. This framing sets the stage for a dynamic roundtable discussion, chaired by Professor Tony Wall where supervisors share practical strategies that help students not just progress, but thrive.

The programme continues with two focused presentations: Dr Craig Hammond will examine the role of respect‑based, adaptive supervision in building research confidence and navigating complex inquiry; Dr Gillian Peiser will contribute a second session extending these themes in Conversation with Dr Lesley Billingsley and Dr Heather Kirby.

During lunch, participants can continue sharing ideas and questions before reconvening for a lively, Padlet‑driven Q&A clinic. This session draws on the collective expertise in the room, offering rapid, practice‑grounded responses to real supervisory dilemmas. The event concludes with a plenary harvest capturing key insights, “Top 10 Practices,” and next steps to inform ongoing development within the EdD supervisory community.

Designed as a reflective, collegial, and solutions‑focused gathering, the Symposium aims to strengthen supervisory confidence, enrich practice, and build a shared culture of supportive, high‑quality EdD supervision throughout the School of Education.

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Host or Publisher Craig Hammond ([email protected])