Avoiding isolation

Overview and research

There are numerous reasons why candidates should be actively encouraged by supervisors to join in student networks either at the group, School/Centre, university, or wider discipline/methodology level. Some of these, with examples include:

• Active involvement in university's research student association. Through this involvement candidates can be representatives on University/ School committees and working parties. This experience not only allows candidates to develop the appropriate skills, but also to understand how such committees operate and provides a wider understanding of university politics and operations. Furthermore, by representing other candidates, they have a chance to broaden their relationships with others.
• Attending School/Centre/College research seminars, particularly when other candidates are presenting. Often it requires strong support from the supervisor for candidates to see the value of these seminars when they are not specifically on the candidate's topic. Value such as: seeing how others present, and learning how to pose and respond to questions.
• Where supervisors do not help and encourage candidates to join groups and other networks they often find that they are spending considerable time on 'personal' issues with their candidate, issues which often might be far better handled by peers. This is often particularly the case with international candidates.

For international candidates it appears from the research that to successfully negotiate their new personal and academic environments they need three sorts of 'peers': co-national, multi-national and host-national.  

• Co-national peer, that is those from their own country are particularly important for emotional support. Being able to talk with someone who has a shared culture and language is critical when one is going through a stressful emotional period.
• Multi-national peers generally provide social opportunities as there is a shared 'sojourner' experience which can often help with coming to terms with one's new environment. Candidates often report that it is easier to speak and understand English with other international students rather than domestic students.
• Host-national peers are important in assisting candidates to understand how to negotiate their new academic environment and in particular, ways of relating with supervisors and other staff involved in working with them on their research. It is through relationships with domestic peers that international students can learn the 'tricks of the academic trade.'

The above text was based on the following research:

Bochner, D., & Copper, E. (1991). Sturt study skills book (Revised ed.). Adelaide: Flinders University.

Furnham, A., & Alibhai, N. (1985). The friendship networks of foreign students: A replication and extension of the functional model. International Journal of Psychology, 20, 709-722.

Kiley, M. (2000). Providing timely and appropriate support for international postgraduate students. In G. Wisker (Ed.), Good practice working with international students (pp. 89-108). Birmingham: SEDA.

Ideas and tools

Supervisors who have two or three candidates find it very useful to arrange for candidates to meet regularly as a means of supporting one another emotionally, intellectually and practically. These meetings might be lab group meetings, methodology meetings or research skills meetings. Where a supervisor does not have enough candidates to develop a reasonable group size it would be worth joining forces with another supervisor for these meetings or seeking support from the Postgraduate Convenor for the discipline.

ANU information

The Postgraduate and Research Students' Association at the ANU provides very useful networking opportunities for candidates.

For College-specific information contact:

College of Engineering & Computer Science

College of Law

College of Arts and Social Sciences

College of Asia & the Pacific

College of Business & Economics

College of Medicine and Health Sciences

Alternatively, contact the College Associate Dean (HDR) for more general college information.