After slightly more than three years of hard working days and sleepless nights, my PhD student, Mr. Shahrel Nizar, a lecturer from UiTM is now Dr. Shahrel Nizar. On 14 July 2017, he passed his viva voce with minor correction.
Throughout his doctoral study, he went through numerous difficulties and challenges at his research work and personal life, but he overcame all of them, successfully. Well done Shahrel!
His success taught me a lesson:
Pursuing a PhD is not only about our IQ, it involves high EQ and consistent positive attitude as well.I became a PhD supervisor in 2012. The first PhD student assigned to me chose to withdraw from her study after the orientation day. Thus, there was more failure than success stories. In fact, not all registered doctoral students can make to the end of the journey, but I think this low success rate would make those who are now successful more appreciated.
At heart, I am also learning as a supervisor. As my knowledge, skills and experience grow over time, I become more particular and selective when potential postgraduate students approach me, telling me they wish to be supervised by me. Like my late mentor, Assoc Prof Dr Stanley Richardson always told me in the past:
The first principle of war is the selection and maintenance of the aim. And the aim in research is the one indispensable results plus constraints. (Richardson, 2005).To set the right aim, we do need IQ. However, to maintain the aim over several years with a lot of unpredictable challenges at work and in life, we really need high EQ.
Now I understand why Stanley would spend quite some time with a potential PhD student, understanding his cognitive strengths and weaknesses, and more importantly, observing his attitudes and behaviours towards academic research, before accepting or rejecting the student. It was not about how well or how thick their PhD research proposals were written, it was really about whether they would bear the temptation of giving up their research at any point of a research timeline.
Shahrel's success is also an outcome of his disciplined behaviour and consistent attitude towards the research plan and timeline we both set and adjusted along his doctoral research journey. His success motivates me to supervise more dedicated students like him to achieve their success. At heart, this reminds me of my typical answer to "how to research":
Do the right thing at the right time and use the right method.I wish all my other postgraduate students can refer to Shahrel as a role model, especially his respect and commitment on his own research plan and timeline. Brovo Dr Shahrel Nizar!!
