Topic suggestion

“I encourage the supervisor to provide suggestions for topics, but not be too descriptive about them. It’s not so helpful, if it becomes too descriptive and utilitarian. Rather, it is good to say that these are examples of topics. The student, then, can come up with his own ideas and suggestions and I help him to refine this. This is a more enriching experience. It may need more flexibility on the part of the supervisor, but it is less utilitarian and at the end of the day, the better approach for both.”

(Ansgar Richter)