Traversing Doctoral Borderlands : Black doctoral students’ experiences of identity construction in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Rudo Fortunate Hwami
Keyword(s):  
Identity Formation ◽  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Doctoral Student ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Student Experiences ◽  
Doctoral Studies ◽  
Doctoral Candidate ◽  
Intellectual Identity ◽  
Ideological Transition ◽  
Borderlands Theory

Doctoral studies are described as a process of formation and becoming. This is an in-between space between unknowing and knowing, within and without the ivory tower of academia. In this in-between space the doctoral candidate takes the role of a novice and apprentice unlearning the student/unknowing past and learning to become a professional in academia. This project utilises the borderlands theory to understand the experiences of doctoral students as they undergo the process of becoming and intellectual identity formation. Whilst ‘journey’ and other metaphors that have been used to understand doctoral student experiences capture the process of becoming as a progression through the liminal stages – proposal, literature review, context, writing, reading etc. These stages presuppose temporality of being leading to stasis/completion. I argue that such conceptualisation of doctoral studies, although useful, depict one side of the story and provide a limited, monolithic, and homogenising understanding of the spatial configurations of doctoral space and intellectual identity formation. The dominant discourses of doctoral conceived and perceived space, liminal stages and understanding of doctoral student experiences, mask the more latent and intimate liminal stages of intellectual identity formation. Drawing from borderlands theory, I firstly argue for a holistic approach to understanding the spatiality of doctorate studies. Secondly, I argue that liminality is an everyday process integral to human existence where one is always in a state of ideological transition. An important state of liminality is the awareness of ‘Self’ in perpetual motion, caught between two worlds dominated/dominator and two ideologies of oppression/resistance. If this side of liminality is not made visible, institutional spaces, such as the doctorate, privileged with the power to disseminate and position onto-epistemologies as universal can be used to reproduce and reinforce exclusionary onto-epistemologies that subsequently impact intellectual identity formation. Using Lefebvre’s (1991) rhythmanalysis method, I use student experiences not as mere data for analysis, but as an act of envisioning, reinventing and coknowledge production to propose borderlands as a new metaphor to study doctoral spatial realities and the experiences of the students that traverse through it.

scholarly journals Preparing Doctoral Students for the Professoriate through a Formal Preparatory Course

10.28945/4174 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 033-067
Author(s):  
Mohammed S Alkathiri ◽  
Myrna R Olson
Keyword(s):  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Doctoral Programs ◽  
Doctoral Student ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Student Experiences ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Graduate Preparation ◽  
Multiple Data ◽  
The Impact

Aim/Purpose: This study aimed to investigate doctoral student preparation for the professoriate through a formal course entitled “The Professoriate.” Background: Many studies addressed the need for improved graduate preparation, however, the study of doctoral student experiences in preparation courses, designed as part of the doctoral academic programs, has received less attention. Methodology: Eleven doctoral students (one withdrew from the study) were enrolled in a formal course that was designed to prepare them for the professoriate. The study was conducted using an ethnographic case study approach with multiple data collection methods that included observation, interviews, member checking, and examination of related documents. Contribution: Acquainted with critical realist ontology, the researchers argued that it was necessary to investigate the concerns and preparation of doctoral students in order to better clarify the complex experiences that underlie their practices of making meaning and maintaining balance and well-being in the professoriate. Findings: Three prominent themes emerged that pointed out the experience of doctoral students with regard to their preparation for the professoriate: (1) Perceived concerns with regard to working in the professoriate; (2) Students’ preparatory practices and preparatory opportunities available to them; and (3) Students’ perspectives about “The Professoriate” course and its value. Recommendations for Practitioners: The findings highlighted that educators in doctoral programs need to address and evaluate students’ concerns and preparatory activities in order to make adjustments for students that enhance their success in the program as well as in the professoriate in future. Recommendation for Researchers: The findings suggest further research into the formal preparatory opportunities available for students within doctoral programs and the barriers affecting students’ ability to participate in informal preparatory activities. Impact on Society: The findings supported the importance of providing formal preparatory courses as part of doctoral programs. Formal courses within doctoral programs allow students to devote their time for preparation which will help them to better understand the professoriate and plan for their careers. Future Research: Future research may continue the study of formal opportunities to prepare for the professoriate that are available for doctoral students from different disciplines, the experiences of doctoral students taking part in such opportunities, and the impact on doctoral student readiness for the professoriate.

Non-Cognitive Factor Relationships to Hybrid Doctoral Student Self-Efficacy

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Jessica Dalby Egbert ◽  
Frank Gomez ◽  
Wenling Li ◽  
Sandra L. Pennington
Keyword(s):  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Cognitive Theory ◽  
Doctoral Student ◽  
Task Value ◽  
Cognitive Factor ◽  
Student Experiences ◽  
Campus Experiences

Statistical analysis of data gathered from 139 healthcare doctoral students revealed three key findings regarding non-cognitive factor relationships to hybrid doctoral student self-efficacy between online (web-based) and on-campus course components. First, student experiences significantly differed between online and on-campus course components for task value and faculty and peer support. For these factors, on-campus experiences were perceived significantly more positively than online experiences. Secondly, both online and on-campus experiences with task value, faculty and peer support, and boredom and frustration were correlated with self-efficacy: when students experienced high levels of either task value or faculty and peer support, self-efficacy increased; however, when students experienced high levels of boredom and frustration, self-efficacy decreased. Finally, only online task value positively predicted self-efficacy. These findings demonstrated the significant impact of non-cognitive factors on student success and carry implications for successful hybrid teaching and learning. Social cognitive theory provided the framework for the quantitative, non-experimental design.

University doctoral student: dissertation, preparation for defense, personal organization

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Semen Reznik
Keyword(s):  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Doctoral Student ◽  
Doctoral Dissertation ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Higher Educational Institutions ◽  
Scientific Creativity ◽  
Doctoral Studies ◽  
Distinctive Features ◽  
Content System ◽  
The University

The practical manual discusses the content, system and technologies of training in doctoral studies of higher educational institutions. Special attention is paid to the distinctive features of the dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Sciences and the analysis of the requirements for a doctoral dissertation. The issues of methodology of scientific creativity at the level corresponding to the doctoral dissertation are highlighted, recommendations on writing, design and defense of the dissertation are presented. Considerable attention is paid to the issues of personal organization and planning of the activities of doctoral students and all those who seek to write and defend a doctoral dissertation. For doctoral students and applicants for the degree of Doctor of Sciences, scientific consultants of doctoral students, heads of departments of the university responsible for the training of scientific and pedagogical personnel.

scholarly journals Supervisor Roles for the Doctoral Student’s Development into Independent Researcher

Pedagogika ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 125 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-20
Author(s):  
Giedrė Tamoliūnė ◽  
Margarita Teresevičienė
Keyword(s):  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Doctoral Student ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Doctoral Studies ◽  
Doctoral Study ◽  
Research Results ◽  
New Ideas ◽  
Study Process ◽  
The University ◽  
Depth Interviews

Doctoral education is one of the primary resources for the development and implementation of new knowledge and innovation across the Europe. Therefore, the implementation of doctoral studies and preparation and training of junior academics and researchers are seen as one of  the main aims and missions of the University. Doctoral studies differ from other study levels in principle as they accentuate students’ distinguished autonomy and independency when the scientific supervisor is mentor and assistant more than a knowledge provider and student is taking more responsibility to become an independent researcher. This article presents short theoretical overview of different roles of scientific supervisor and results of in-depth interviews with doctoral students that reveal experiences of collaboration with supervisors as well as their roles that appear during the doctoral study process. Research results revealed that when collaborating with doctoral students, supervisors get involved mainly in activities that are directly related to preparation of doctoral thesis, i.e. provide consultations on research topic development, encourage students to be critical about their own work and search for new insights or perspectives, and generate new ideas together with doctoral student. However, according to the research results, supervisor’s roles in other organisational issues are less relevant, especially when talking about enculturation, where supervisor is expected to help doctoral student to integrate into local and public academic society, join international associations or research groups or have consultations with experts from the research field.

scholarly journals Kształcenie w szkołach doktorskich a opłaty

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 35-44
Author(s):  
Przemysław Brzuszczak ◽  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Academic Performance ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Doctoral Education ◽  
Doctoral Student ◽  
Prima Facie ◽  
Recruitment Process ◽  
Doctoral Studies ◽  
Legislative Amendments

This article discusses the issue of fees that may be charged to doctoral students at doctoral schools. In compliance with Article 198 par. 8 of the Act – the Law on Higher Education and Science: “Doctoral education shall not be subject to fees.” This regulation may be prima facie interpreted as excluding the possibility of charging any fees to doctoral students at doctoral schools. However, this is an oversimplification. Whereas, indeed, any activities directly related to the education of doctoral students should be free of charge, doubts arise with regard to other types of fees enumerated in Article 79 of the referred Act. And so, in literature there is a consensus that three admissible types of fees potentially paid by doctoral students are those referred to in Article 79 par. 2 points 1–2 and 6 that is those charged for conducting the recruitment process (point 1), carrying out the verification of learning outcomes (point 2), using student dormitories and canteens (point 6). The interpretation of the regulations concerning fees in the entities running doctoral schools should not have an extensive or implicit character. Thus, in this context the objective scope of these regulations seems to be relatively narrow. In the practice of doctoral schools’ functioning, a certain problem, although potentially probably small, may prove to be the legislator’s waiver as of 1 October 2019 (as opposed to the fees charged at the hitherto doctoral studies) of fees due to repeating by a doctoral student of classes due to unsatisfactory academic performance and while issuing copies of certain documents. A lack of relevant provisions at a statutory level excludes charging fees in a situation when a doctoral student achieves unsatisfactory grades from taken classes or repeatedly loses such documents as, for instance, a doctoral student’s ID card, a student book, diplomas and copies thereof, supplements to diplomas. Therefore, the author postulates de lege ferenda relevant legislative amendments.

The Importance of Tough-Love Mentoring to Doctoral Student Success: Instruments to Measure the Doctoral Student/Proteges’ Perspective

10.28945/4630 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 485-516
Author(s):  
Laura Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Graduation Rates ◽  
Validation Study ◽  
Doctoral Student ◽  
Doctoral Program ◽  
The United States ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
Program Administrators ◽  
High Standards

Aim/Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine tough-love mentoring theory (TLM) as a potential way to address the problem of low graduation rates among doctoral students. Background: In order to address this purpose, the researcher presents the following: a) a validation study for assessment tools pertaining to TLM and b) a validation study of TLM theory and its two sub-theories: mentor integrity and trustworthiness sub-theory (MIT) and the mentor high standards sub-theory (MHS). Methodology: The researcher tested the validity of the mentor integrity and trustworthiness scale from the protégés’ perspective (MIT-P), the mentor high standards scale from the protégés’ perspective (MHS-P) and the protégés’ perceptions of their own independence (PPI) scale. The sample consisted of 31 doctoral protégés recruited with multi-phase sampling at four education-related doctoral programs in the eastern part of the United States. Contribution: The study provides evidence to support TLM as a strategy to address the problem of low graduation rates among doctoral students. In addition, the study contributes validation of assessment tools that can be used to measure doctoral protégés’ perceptions of their mentors. Findings: For each scale, the data show acceptable levels of internal consistency and evidence of content validity. The data are consistent with the TLM theory and its two sub-theories. The unique contribution of the current study is that it draws from the protégés’ perspective. Recommendations for Practitioners: The researcher presents a) strategies protégés can use to find trustworthy mentors with high standards and b) strategies program administrators can use for professional development of doctoral mentors. The researcher also provides the Right Angle Research Alignment (RARA) table to help protégés organize and manage the research methods section of their dissertation. Recommendation for Researchers: It is recommended that researchers use experimental methods to test TLM theory and the sub-theories, MIT and MHS. Impact on Society: This theory may be useful in business and in the arts and in other teaching relationships such as coaching and tutoring. The researcher encourages scholars to test TLM theory in these other contexts. Future Research: Further research questions that arise from this study are as follows: How can protégés find mentors who have high standards and who are trustworthy? What can doctoral program administrators do to help mentors develop high standards and trustworthiness?

The Fractured “I”: An Autoethnographic Account of a Part-Time Doctoral Student’s Experience With Scholarly Identity Formation

2020 ◽  
pp. 107780042091889
Author(s):  
Erin Leach
Keyword(s):  
Identity Formation ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Doctoral Socialization ◽  
Scholarly Identity ◽  
Part Time ◽  
The University ◽  
Affective Dimensions ◽  
Poetry Collection

This autoethnographic poetry collection provides an entry into the socialization of part-time doctoral students by centering the lived experience of the author, a part-time doctoral student employed full-time at the university where she studies. In the writing of this poetry collection, the author sought to enter into conversation with the doctoral socialization literature and to uncover the various parts of her fractured identity. Through an examination of her own fractured identity, the author engages with the places where scholarly identity formation is stalled in part-time doctoral students especially in comparison with their full-time peers and considers affective dimensions of the work of scholarly identity formation.

Rola aplikacji dydaktycznych w nauczaniu zdalnym

e-mentor ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-36
Author(s):  
Lidia Pokrzycka ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Relations ◽  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Teaching Methods ◽  
English Language ◽  
Doctoral Studies ◽  
Internet Applications ◽  
E Learning ◽  
Ict Tools ◽  
Free Mode ◽  
Journalism Students

In times of the coronavirus pandemic, distance learning has become mandatory for higher education. That requires using a variety of teaching methods, both synchronous and asynchronous, and their common feature is the use of ICT tools. The aim of the article is to present applications used for making the remote lectures more attractive and engaging for journalism students of graduate and doctoral studies and foreigners from the English-language Doctoral School of Social Sciences of UMCS. The author also reflects on students' appreciation of such solutions initially during blended learning and then e-learning classes. That is based on the survey conducted among 30 doctoral students who carried out their lectures using internet applications. The study confirmed that the applications motivate students to work systematically and additionally to use them during their apprenticeships or while working in various companies with marketing, advertising, or public relations profile. Students also appreciate asynchronous classes and the fact that the use of applications allows them to repeat the most important pieces of information in a stress-free mode. Graphical applications make even tricky topics easier to remember while enabling students to illustrate the theory with practical elements.

The role of conferences in doctoral student socialization

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aliya Kuzhabekova ◽  
Aizhan Temerbayeva
Keyword(s):  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Professional Socialization ◽  
Doctoral Student ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Conference Attendance ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Student Socialization ◽  
Doctoral Student Socialization

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the role scholarly conferences play in professional socialization of doctoral students.Design/methodology/approachUsing data from 20 interviews on conference experiences of student attendees of a North American conference in social sciences, as well as on the conference experiences of students from various disciplines at a private research intensive university in the USA, the authors explored how research identity of doctoral students change over time as result of participation in conferences, how the process of socialization is shaped by advisers and peers and how the experiences vary depending on the characteristics of the participants.FindingsThe authors found that conferences play an important role in socialization, and the effect from conference attendance increases with the number of conferences attended. The study also showed that students undergo several stages in the process of their socialization, throughout which they develop greater agency and independence as scholars, as well as a more positive image of themselves as researchers, and become more strategic in their behavior. The results also point to the key role of adviser and peers in the process of socialization, whereby the former can provide direction and orientation, while the latter may offer support and opportunities for mutual learning or future collaboration. The authors also found a notable difference in the support provided by advisers between teaching and research-oriented universities.Originality/valueThe paper applies doctoral student socialization theory to the analysis of informal doctoral experiences outside the program of study.

scholarly journals The Agile Approach with Doctoral Dissertation Supervision

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars Göran Wallgren Tengberg
Keyword(s):  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Doctoral Dissertation ◽  
Doctoral Degrees ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
Doctoral Studies ◽  
Supervision Process ◽  
Agile Approach ◽  
Time Required ◽  
Teaching Learning

<p class="apa">Several research findings conclude that many doctoral students fail to complete their studies within the allowable time frame, in part because of problems related to the research and supervision process. Surveys show that most doctoral students are generally satisfied with their dissertation supervision. However, these surveys also reveal some students think their supervisors meet with them too infrequently, lack interest in their dissertation topics, and provide insufficient practical assistance. Furthermore, many countries will soon witness a large turnover in the labour market as people near retirement. Because this is also the case at many universities and colleges, the expectation is that there will be many teaching and research vacancies. Therefore, many new doctoral students who plan to enter academia after earning their doctoral degrees are needed. In responding to these complaints, this conceptual paper examines the use of the agile approach–which has achieved recognition and approval in software development–in the doctoral dissertation process. In the teaching/learning sphere, the agile approach can be used in iterative meetings between doctoral student and supervisor for dissertation planning, direction, and evaluation. The focus of the iterations, the so-called Sprints, is on communication and feedback throughout the entire process. The paper is based in theories on teaching/learning and on the author’s personal experience with the agile approach. Use of the agile approach, which can decrease the time required for doctoral studies, may thus increase the number of graduates with doctoral degrees. The paper makes suggestions for practical implementation of the agile approach.</p>

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