Why have an agreement?
Signing an agreement such as the one suggested here signifies a strong statement of commitment. The act of signing cements the bond (trust) between student and supervisor and indicates that this is a real, serious, statement declared in good faith. It seems that not to sign the document could reduce the meaning associated with it. Should there ever be a need to refer to the document in discussion around a disagreement, having the signed version would be desirable so that there would be no sense that it was surreptitiously altered.
What the document is not
The agreement is not meant to be a legal document, or binding in any way. Nor is it meant to replace the myriad of policies that a university might have about supervision. It is meant to be nothing more than a personal agreement between a specific student and their supervisor. While it is intended that it be revisited, and while a student or a supervisor might use it in the future to remind the other about what they had agreed to, it is meant as a tool for communication rather than as an enforcement mechanism.
Possible variations on the example
The example used in this resource is designed for students who join larger research projects which have obligations to external parties. In other situations, such as those are initiated by a student seeking a supervisor might look rather different , espeially in relation to the discussion of IP, for example. The model used here also implies a single supervisor. An alternative version could make mention of all members of the supervisory team and indicate what they each bring in terms of skills and expectations
Introduction
Why have an agreement
Process to develop an agreement
Some comments on agreements
Example of an agreement