scholarly journals PhD courses and the intersectoral experience: a comprehensive survey

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Kosvyra ◽  
Dimitris Filos ◽  
Nicola Mountford ◽  
Tara Cusack ◽  
Minna Isomursu ◽  
...  

It has been found that most PhD graduates (>85%) do not achieve a long-term academic career and thus there is a growing need to re-imagine PhD education that incentivizes doctoral students to engage with research consumers, not only within their discipline, but also, across other disciplines and sectors to have real social impact for an improved society. The aim of this work is to identify intersectoral/interdisciplinary courses that are considered to broaden student career outside and inside academia. For this purpose, a survey was designed to identify modules which lead to the improvement of students' skills while an analysis of their attributes was also performed. Two target groups have been considered: (a) young researchers and (b) program directors each of which can provide different information regarding the courses of interest. 52 students and 11 directors from 5 European Universities, participated in the study. An absence of such courses in the standard PhD program was observed, while any intersectoral/interdisciplinary activities were conducted outside the PhD program, and organized by collaboration of academia and other organizations. The survey findings reveal the need to restructure the PhD programs.

Author(s):  
Tara Cusack ◽  
◽  
Nicola Mountford ◽  
Minna Isomursu ◽  
Guido Giunti Garcia ◽  
...  

Typically, less than half of doctoral graduates will be employed in academia immediately after graduation, with less than 10%-15% achieving a long-term academic career. This leaves 85-90% of PhD graduates seeking employment outside the academic setting, for example in industry and government. The objective of the CHAMELEONS study (CHampioning A Multi-sectoral Education and Learning Experience to Open New pathways for doctoral Students) is to develop innovative educational interventions that shape more adaptable, entrepreneurial, and employable graduates, ready to meet the challenges of the future. Stakeholders from the connected health industry, clinical care, charities, patients, patient representatives, government, recent doctoral graduates, and academics were invited to participate in a “World Café” participatory method for collecting qualitative data. Owing to the COVID-19 health situation this took place via Zoom. Analysis of the results revealed 4 key learning objectives for doctoral graduates to: 1. Develop networking and communication skills. 2. Understand user centred research design. 3. Market research capacity and research skills. 4. Build an understanding of themselves and others. This led to the development of three bespoke doctoral modules: 1. Forging relationships: Building and Sustaining your Doctoral Network; 2. Managing the Project: Keeping on Track with an Eye to the future; Module 3: Starting your Career: Future Proofing your Career and Getting a Job. These modules are available to doctoral students across five European Universities.


10.28945/4250 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 277-305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ebony O McGee ◽  
Dara E Naphan-Kingery ◽  
Faheemah N Mustafaa ◽  
Stacey Houston ◽  
Portia Botchway ◽  
...  

Aim/Purpose: We sought to understand factors that dissuade engineering and computing doctoral students in the United States from pursuing a career in the professoriate. Background: Many PhD students start the doctoral process excited about the possibility of becoming a professor. After a few years of doctoral education, however, many become less interested in academic careers or even come to loathe the idea of a faculty position. Methodology: Participants in a larger study (N = 744) completed a comprehensive survey about their educational experiences and career aspirations. This study focused on a subset of these respondents (n = 147), who indicated they did not want to pursue faculty positions and explained their reasoning with a brief open-ended response. We coded these open-ended responses. Contribution: We found a general lack of interest in the professoriate and disgust over the associated pressure-filled norms and culture; this aversion is the article’s focus. Respondents were critical of institutional norms that emphasize research (e.g., stress related to grant writing, publishing, and promotion as junior faculty) and described their own experiences as PhD students. Findings: Findings support rethinking the outdated faculty model and interchanging it with healthier and more holistic approaches. Recommendations for Practitioners: These approaches might include advocating for and emphasizing the contributions of research, teaching, and professional excellence as well as removing the secrecy and toxicity of tenure and promotion that discourage individuals from becoming the next generation of engineering and computing educators and knowledge makers. Recommendation for Researchers: Future researchers should explore in greater depth the extent to which junior faculty’s experiences in the professoriate influence doctoral students’ and postdoctoral scholars’ attitudes toward working in academia. To the extent that this is the case, researchers should then explore ways of improving faculty experiences, in addition to improving doctoral students’ experiences that are unrelated to their socialization. Impact on Society: Having a deeper understanding of the reasons why some doctoral engineering and computing students are uninterested in the professoriate is critical for removing barriers toward becoming faculty. Future Research: Researchers should explore the factors that would improve doctoral students’ perceptions of the professoriate, and better understand how they might disproportionately affect members of historically underrepresented groups.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 463-478
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Crais ◽  
Melody Harrison Savage

Purpose The shortage of doctor of philosophy (PhD)–level applicants to fill academic and research positions in communication sciences and disorders (CSD) programs calls for a detailed examination of current CSD PhD educational practices and the generation of creative solutions. The intended purposes of the article are to encourage CSD faculty to examine their own PhD program practices and consider the perspectives of recent CSD PhD graduates in determining the need for possible modifications. Method The article describes the results of a survey of 240 CSD PhD graduates and their perceptions of the challenges and facilitators to completing a PhD degree; the quality of their preparation in research, teaching, and job readiness; and ways to improve PhD education. Results Two primary themes emerged from the data highlighting the need for “matchmaking.” The first time point of needed matchmaking is prior to entry among students, mentors, and expectations as well as between aspects of the program that can lead to students' success and graduation. The second important matchmaking need is between the actual PhD preparation and the realities of the graduates' career expectations, and those placed on graduates by their employers. Conclusions Within both themes, graduate's perspectives and suggestions to help guide future doctoral preparation are highlighted. The graduates' recommendations could be used by CSD PhD program faculty to enhance the quality of their program and the likelihood of student success and completion. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.11991480


2021 ◽  
pp. 089484532110172
Author(s):  
Ruth Noppeney ◽  
Anna M. Stertz ◽  
Bettina S. Wiese

Obtaining a doctorate offers various career options. This study takes a person-centered approach to identify interest profiles. Career goals (professorate, entrepreneur, etc.) were assessed at two time points (1-year interval) in a sample of doctoral students and doctorate holders from the STEM fields in German-speaking areas ( NT 1 = 2,077). Latent profile analysis revealed that a four-profile solution provided the best data fit: At T1, 33.0% of the participants aimed for a management position in industry, 16.9% pursued an academic career, 30.1% were interested in activities without leadership responsibilities, and 20.1% had a relatively flat career-goal profile. Latent transition analysis indicated that most changes occurred for those classified into the flat profile, while strong interest in a management career was very stable over time. Additionally, the attainment of the doctorate seemed to be a good predictor for profile membership: Doctorate holders were more likely to be clearly dedicated to an academic career.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 7906
Author(s):  
Nikola Medová ◽  
Lucie Macková ◽  
Jaromir Harmacek

This paper focuses on the dynamic of the recent upheaval in the tourism and hospitality sector due to the COVID-19 epidemic in Greece and Santorini island. It uses the case study of a country one-fourth of whose GDP consists of tourism. We compare the available statistical data showing the change in variables in the previous years with 2020 and look into the new challenges and opportunities posed by the drop in the numbers of visitors and flights. We focus mainly on the economic and social impact on the destination and possible future scenarios for further development in the area. Data show a significant effect of the pandemic on multiple variables, such as the long-term trend of the importance of tourism sector in GDP in Greece, the number of flights and visitors to Greece and Santorini island, and the contribution of tourism and travel to GDP. Based on the available data, we also construct three foresight scenarios that describe the possible futures for Santorini island in terms of the pandemic evolution. These scenarios may help various stakeholders and policymakers to be better prepared for different developments that may appear.


2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 361-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siobhan O’Sullivan ◽  
Yvette Watt ◽  
Fiona Probyn-Rapsey

AbstractDeveloping an academic career can be exciting, rewarding and stimulating. It can also be challenging, disheartening, and highly insecure. Results from a survey of Animal Studies (AS) scholars identifies reasons why pursuing a career in AS might generate additional challenges, over and above those experienced by academics generally. For example, 44 percent of respondents stated that in their view, undertaking research in AS “creates challenges for an academic career.” This is compared to just 16 percent who thought that it is an advantage. Yet despite the challenges, there is much that is positive about AS. Participants described being in “dialogue with clever colleagues,” viewed their work as “totally engaging,” and reported feeling “morally useful.” This in turn affords AS scholars an authenticity that may be of long-term benefit in the competitive and constantly transforming world of higher education.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 80
Author(s):  
Vivi Elvina Panjaitan

ABSTRACTNumbers of management, storage, and preservation of research data problems had been the rationales why national scientific repository (RIN) system was implemented. To measure its success, the present study evaluated, analyzed problems, and provided recommendations using descriptive exploratory qualitative research methods with interviews as the primary data. In terms of the effectiveness, the results showed that the RIN system objectives provided a nationally integrated interoperability research data management system, ensuring long-term archiving and access had been achieved whereas the awareness of researchers to share data and sustainability plans had not been achieved. Based on its efficiency, PDDI LIPI had pursued many activities and strategies. In accordance with its adequacy, the existence of RIN system was able to answer the existing research data problems while the problem of continuity of input of research data and the sustainability of research had not been achieved. In regard to its equalization, RIN system was intended to all professions that carried out research, in which the socialization activities and technical guidance to researchers in relevant institutions were conducted. In coping with its responsiveness, all target groups still could not experience it because the follow-up activity of the target groups after knowing RIN system was still minimum. Hence, it was advised that the target group from both internal LIPI, external LIPI, and PDDI LIPI acted as the implementors. The present study concluded that the implementation of RIN system had not been optimally implemented and still needed improvements. ABSTRAKPermasalahan pengelolaan, penyimpanan, pelestarian data penelitian mendorong dilakukannya implementasi kebijakan sistem RIN. Untuk mengukur keberhasilannya, penulis mengevaluasi, menganalisis permasalahan dan memberikan rekomendasi dengan menggunakan metode penelitan kualitatif deskriptif melalui data primer yaitu wawancara dan data sekunder. Dari efektivitasnya diperoleh hasil bahwa tujuan sistem RIN menyediakan sistem interoperabilitas pengelolaan data penelitian terintegrasi secara nasional, menjamin pengarsipan dan pengaksesan jangka panjang telah tercapai sedangkan kesadaran peneliti untuk berbagi data dan rencana keberlanjutan belum tercapai. Berdasarkan efisiensinya, PDDI LIPI telah mengupayakan banyak kegiatan dan strategi. Berdasarkan kecukupannya, keberadaan sistem RIN mampu menjawab permasalahan data penelitian yang dihadapi sedangkan permasalahan kontinuitas penginputan data penelitian, keberlanjutan penelitian belum tercapai. Berdasarkan pemerataannya, sistem RIN ditujukan kepada seluruh profesi yang melaksanakan penelitian, bukan sekelompok golongan namun kegiatan sosialisasi dan bimbingan teknis lebih banyak kepada peneliti di instansi yang memiliki badan penelitian pengembangan serta perguruan tinggi. Berdasarkan responsivitasnya, belum dapat dirasakan oleh seluruh target sasaran dikarenakan tindaklanjut dari para target sasaran setelah mengenal sistem RIN masih rendah. Maka perlu rekomendasi kepada target sasaran baik dari internal LIPI, eksternal LIPI maupun PDDI LIPI sebagai implementor. Oleh karena itu dapat disimpulkan bahwa implementasi kebijakan sistem RIN belum berjalan dengan optimal dan masih perlu ditingkatkan.


Plant Disease ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 103 (4) ◽  
pp. 601-618 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Gulya ◽  
Robert Harveson ◽  
Febina Mathew ◽  
Charles Block ◽  
Sue Thompson ◽  
...  

Between 2002 and 2015, a comprehensive survey of sunflower fields across seven Midwestern U.S. states was conducted 12 times and continues to be conducted every other year. The surveyors collected data on yield, agronomic management factors, disease, insect, weed, and bird damage. All surveyors were volunteers and came from universities (extension and research staff), USDA-ARS, and seed and chemical companies. In the 12 years the survey was conducted, data from 2,267 fields were collected. The results are presented annually at the National Sunflower Association Research Forum and are used to set sunflower research priorities. While 10 diseases are surveyed annually, we focus this article on the importance, findings, implications, and impacts of the five most important: downy mildew, Phomopsis stem canker, rust, Rhizopus head rot, and Sclerotinia head rot. This survey is unique among field crops in both scope and scale, and this manuscript discusses salient and clandestine benefits of intense and long-term disease surveys.


2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith Grant-Davie ◽  
Breeanne Matheson ◽  
Eric James Stephens

2021 ◽  
pp. 096372142110538
Author(s):  
Wendy Johnson

Increasingly, we are required, encouraged, and/or motivated to track our behavior, presumably to improve our life “quality.” But health and life-satisfaction trends are not cooperating: Empirical evidence for success is sorely lacking. Intelligence has been tracked for more than 100 years; perhaps this example offers some hints about tracking’s overall social impact. I suggest that Huxley’s Brave New World offers a relevant long-term extrapolation and that popular recent tracking activities will accelerate “progress” in that dystopian direction.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document