ABSTRACT
This article draws from a mixed-method study of 111 Indonesian doctoral students’ experiences in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative data from follow-up interviews conducted throughout 2020 offer insights into doctoral students’ enforced online supervision experiences. Beyond the inevitable challenges, in-depth interviews reveal that most participants’ narratives involve cross-cultural issues. We highlight one participant’s cross-cultural experience of online supervision, which she called ‘a blessing in disguise’. This student’s narrative epitomises the transformative potential of repositioning oneself in relation to others and strategies involving additional support to operate online. By employing positioning theory, this study provides insights into effective practices for online supervision during a time of crisis.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the editors and two anonymous reviewers for their helpful suggestions to improve the article. The authors also would like to thank Eileen Hanrahan (Language Learning Adviser at Deakin University) for the feedback and all the research participants who volunteered to share their insights for this project.
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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
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Notes on contributors
Citra Amelia
Citra Amelia is a doctoral candidate in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Deakin University in Australia. Her doctoral research is focused on the factors affecting PhD completion progress.
Alistair Welsh
Alistair Welsh is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Deakin University in Australia. His interdisciplinary interests relate to socio-linguistic research into identity, culture and discourse.
Monika Winarnita
Monika Winarnita is a Lecturer in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Deakin University in Australia. Her research interest includes understanding the experiences of Indonesians in Australia, particularly through an ethnographic approach.
Ramón López Castellano
Ramón López Castellano is a Lecturer in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Deakin University in Australia. His research interests include a wide range of topics related to cultures, society and identity.