📄 Abstract
This paper delves into the inhabited realities of postgraduate supervision within institutions of higher education, exploring the elements that determine how supervisor student approach conflict influence postgraduate completion rates. Postgraduate supervision is a key determinant of the quality of university postgraduate research and accomplishment thus need for positive relationship between the parties. Drawing on the ABC Conflict Triangle as a conceptual lens, this study illuminates how supervisor student approach conflict can cause tensions that ripple through the supervisory process, affecting the quality of research produced and completion. The challenges facing postgraduate supervision in universities are both systemic and deeply personal. Overburdened academics faculty members, unclear supervisor appointment procedures, midway changes of supervisors, conflicting expectations, retirement or leave procedures among others influence postgraduate students supervisory procedures and completion. The paper advocates supportive supervisory relationships built on mutual respect, clear communication channels, and genuine care to transform postgraduate supervision to a dialogical, participatory, collaborative, and humanising process. Institutional policies must evolve to match with present situation, provide frameworks which protect, guide, and empower both the supervisor and student. Continuous professional development programmes to equip them with current knowledge, best practices in postgraduate supervision, mentorship, conflict management, and research ethics. Universities should invest in IT/digital infrastructure and train supervisors and students in the effective use of e-supervision platforms to ease access and provision of timely feedback. In this vision, supervision is not merely about producing graduates, but nurturing scholars, through logical academic inquiry to contribute to knowledge generation and socio-economic development.
🏷️ Keywords
📚 How to Cite:
Rose Mwikali Kithungu (Ph.D.), Gideon Mutuku Kasivu (Ed.D) , Dr. Jeremiah Mulinge Kawinzi (Ph.D.) , AN EXPLORATION OF SUPERVISOR-STUDENT CONFLICTS: IMPLICATIONS ON POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH QUALITY AND COMPLETION RATES , Volume 12 , Issue 10, October 2026, EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR) , Pages: 78 - 86 , DOI: https://doi.org/10.36713/epra31746