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6th International Conference on Developments in Doctoral Education & Training
Doctoral research is expected to deliver an ever-increasing number of outcomes. Apart from the high standard of the work produced, the research community must ensure that doctoral degrees meet the needs of government and funding organisations, along with employers and society in general.
This conference, which will include international contributors, will provide tools to help you adapt in a rapidly changing environment. It’s organised around three broad areas: evolution, evaluation and the experiences of the research community.
It addresses many different doctoral outcomes, ranging from employability (i.e., how can the doctorate prepare candidates both for academic research and the job market in general?) and the examination of doctorates. There will be opportunities to network, gather examples of best practice and reflect on how we can collectively shape the future of the doctorate — in the UK and beyond.
Discussion topics will include:
- How do we measure the success of our doctoral provision?
- How does collaboration work in contemporary supervision?
- How has the ‘doctoral experience’ changed in light of increasing demands for skills development and training?
- What is the future of doctoral assessment?
- What’s next for the doctorate?
Conference background
This is UKCGE’s 6th International Conference on the Development of Doctoral Education and Training. The event offers a major platform to discuss doctoral education and training in an international context, with an opportunity to share experiences and network with colleagues old and new.
The themes for this conference were prompted by a recent UK report which observed:
“…high quality postgraduate research is not static. Postgraduate research must evolve to ensure it continues to meet the needs of government, funders, research organisations, employers across the whole economy, society, and the researchers and innovators themselves.” (“A New Deal for Postgraduate Research: Response to the Call for Input”, UKRI, 2023, p. 5).
Realising that these issues are not restricted to UK postgraduate education, we have broadened the scope of the programme to provide diverse perspectives and to encourage opportunities for global collaboration.
Conference Themes
- Measuring the success of doctoral provision
- Innovations in doctoral programme design
- Doctoral examinations and assessment
- Communities of practice in doctoral supervision
- Evolution of doctoral training and development
- Enhancing doctoral employability
Keynote Speakers
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Professor Sue Rigby
Vice-Chancellor | Bath Spa University- Thu 21 Mar, 09.40
- Towards a Career Path for Doctoral Students
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Professor Jeff Casello
Associate Vice President Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs | University of Waterloo- Thu 21 Mar, 16.20
- Doctoral Degrees in Canada – Challenges, Opportunities and New Directions
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Professor Rebecca Ford
Dean of Griffith Graduate Research School | Griffith University- Fri 22 Mar, 10.45
- The Future of the Doctorate in Australia: Shifting Sands with Demands
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Sandro Eich
Doctoral Candidate | University of St Andrews- Thu 21 Mar, 12.30
- The Experiences of Doctoral Candidates
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Sarah Kearns
Doctoral Candidate | Curtin University- Thu 21 Mar, 12.30
- The Experiences of Doctoral Candidates
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Fa Wang
Doctoral Candidate | University of Plymouth- Thu 21 Mar, 12.30
- The Experiences of Doctoral Candidates
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Sarah Warbis
Doctoral Candidate | University of Bath- Thu 21 Mar, 12.30
- The Experiences of Doctoral Candidates
Conference Programme
Download as PDFRegistration — with refreshments
Welcome & Conference Briefing
Keynote Presentation — Towards a Career Path for Doctoral Students
Professor Sue Rigby
Vice-Chancellor | Bath Spa University
Changeover
Option 2 — Upgrading Doctoral Training and PGR Careers: Lessons from Social Sciences, University of Sheffield
Dr Elisabeth Garratt & Dr Michael Martin | University of Sheffield
Oral Presentation
Primary theme: Evolution of doctoral training and development
Secondary theme: Enhancing doctoral employability
Option 3 — Innovations in Doctoral Programme Designs and Practices: Collegial Creativity & Doctoral Supervision
Prof Pamela Burnard & Prof Tatjana Dragovic | University of Cambridge
Dr Kieran Sheehan | University of Cumbria
Oral Presentation
Primary theme: Innovations in doctoral programme design
Secondary theme: Communities of practice in doctoral supervision
Refreshment Break
Option 1 — CDT/DTCs in Interdisciplinarity and Industry Collaboration
Symposium
The symposium will include the following presentations, with additional time at the end for discussion.
Option 2 — Supporting Supervisory Practice outside academia
Prof Julie Sheldon | Liverpool John Moores University
Prof Janet de Wilde | Queen Mary University London
Workshop
Primary theme: Communities of practice in doctoral supervision
Option 3 — Examining Doctoralness in Professional Doctorates
Dr David Adams & Prof Kate Maguire | Middlesex University
Workshop
Primary theme: Doctoral examinations and assessment
Secondary theme: Innovations in doctoral programme design
Changeover
Keynote Panel Discussion — The Experiences of Doctoral Candidates
Sandro Eich | University of St. Andrews
Sarah Kearns | Curtin University
Fa Wang | University of Plymouth
Sarah Warbis | University of Bath
Lunch
- Including a working lunch discussion session for the Postgraduate Practitioners Network (from 13:30)
Option 1 — Mind the gap: how can we assess transferable skills in doctoral education?
Dr Catherine Hasted | University of Cambridge
Oral Presentation
Primary theme: Doctoral examinations and assessment
Secondary theme: Enhancing doctoral employability
Option 2 — Improving early career experience and outcomes: from postgraduate through to research leadership
Prof Annette Fillery-Travis | AFT Associates
Oral Presentation
Primary theme: Evolution of doctoral training and development
Secondary theme: Enhancing doctoral employability
Option 3 — 20:20 Presentations
Each presentation will use 20 slides, with each slide being shown for no longer than 20 seconds. There will be opportunity for questions/discussion at the end of the session.
Featuring the following presentations.
Changeover
Option 1 — Supporting PhD Students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder for Success
Assoc Prof Amanda Hutchinson & Sally-Anne Boding | University of South Australia
Primary theme: Evolution of doctoral training and development
Option 2 — Incorporating Universal Design into the viva process to facilitate an equitable viva experience.
Dr Barbara Sandland, Dr Andrea MacLeod & Neil Hall | University of Birmingham
Oral Presentation
Primary theme: Doctoral examinations and assessment
Option 3 — Developing Transferable Skills Through Integrative Think Tanks
Dr Theresa Smith, Dr Susie Douglas & Dr Philippe Trinh | University of Bath
Oral Presentation
Primary theme: Innovations in doctoral programme design
Secondary theme: Enhancing doctoral employability
Refreshment Break
Option 2 — Enabling interdisciplinary doctoral education through digital cross-institutional collaboration
Nicola Simonetti, Sandro Eich & Florence Felsheim | University of St Andrews
Oral Presentation
Primary theme: Evolution of doctoral training and development
Doctoral graduates’ experiences of PhD engagement and outcomes
Sarah Kearns | Curtin University
Oral Presentation
Primary theme: Enhancing doctoral employability
Secondary theme: Evolution of doctoral training and development
Changeover
Keynote Presentation — Doctoral Degrees in Canada – Challenges, Opportunities and New Directions
Professor Jeff Casello
Associate Vice President Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs | University of Waterloo
Close of Day 1
Pre-Dinner Drinks
Conference Dinner
Day 2 registration—with refreshments
Option 1 — Generative AI and Research Practice: a cross-disciplinary training approach for PGRs and supervisors
Dr Jane Wellens, Gary McNally, Prof Jon Fairburn & Dr Jim Pugh | Staffordshire University
Workshop
Primary theme: Evolution of doctoral training and development
Secondary theme: Innovations in doctoral programme design
Option 2 — Is the Final Examination Fit for Purpose?
Symposium
The symposium will include the following presentations, with additional time at the end for discussion.
Placements
Symposium
The symposium will include the following presentations, with additional time at the end for discussion.
Changeover
Option 1 — The Integration of Digital Solutions for Doctoral Examinations
Evelyn Lin | University of Nottingham Ningbo China
Oral Presentation
Primary theme: Doctoral examinations and assessment
Option 2 — Wayfinding: crafting innovative doctoral training practices
Dr Alison Green | University of the Arts London/Central Saint Martins
Dr Joanne ‘Bob’ Whalley | University of the Arts London
Oral Presentation
Primary theme: Innovations in doctoral programme design
Secondary theme: Evolution of doctoral training and development
Option 3 — Research Graduate ‘Success’ in a Post-COVID World
Dr Sharon Saunders & Dr Ruth Kamrowski | Griffith University
Oral Presentation
Primary theme: Measuring the success of doctoral provision
Secondary theme: Enhancing doctoral employability
Refreshment Break
Keynote Presentation — The Future of the Doctorate in Australia: Shifting Sands with Demands
Professor Rebecca Ford
Dean of Griffith Graduate Research School | Griffith University
Changeover
Option 1 — What’s next? Questions for the future of researcher development
Dr Annette Mahon | University of Cambridge
Workshop
Primary theme: Evolution of doctoral
Option 2 — Community Building
Symposium
The symposium will include the following presentations, with additional time at the end for discussion.
Option 3 — Round Table Discussion
Each discussion will last for 30minutes and the be repeated, allowing delegates to attend two different discussions.
Featuring the following discussions:
Lunch
Option 1 — Supporting postgraduate researchers and those who develop them in an evolving landscape
Dr James Farror | Cardiff University
Oli Schofield | University of Bath
Dr Paul Spencer | University of Bristol
Gabby Davies | University of Exeter
Workshop
Primary theme: Evolution of doctoral training and development
Secondary theme: Innovations in doctoral programme design
Option 2 — “Getting on with strangers”: collaborations, expectations, and doctoral relations
Dr Clive Palmer & Dr Andrew Sprake | University of Central Lancashire
Dr Chris Hughes | Edge Hill Uni-versity
Symposium
Primary theme: Innovations in doctoral programme design
Secondary theme: Evolution of doctoral training and development
Option 3 — How Does the Doctorate Change Professional Identity?
Symposium
The symposium will include the following presentations, with additional time at the end for discussion.
Refreshment Break
Option 2 — Local Communities of Practice and Doctoral Supervision
Dr Sophie Pickford | University of Cambridge
Oral Presentation
Primary theme: Communities of practice in doctoral supervision
Option 3 — Beyond Academia: Tailoring Continual Professional Development for Diverse Doctoral Aspirations
Gary McNally | Staffordshire University
Workshop
Primary theme: Enhancing doctoral employability
Secondary theme: Evolution of doctoral training and development
Please note that this session will continue until 16:00
Changeover
Option 2 — Perceived Employability of International Doctoral Students in the UK: A Bronfenbrenner Perspective
Fa Wang | University of Plymouth
Oral Presentation
Primary theme: Enhancing doctoral employability
Changeover
Plenary Session — Closing Conference Summary
Close & Departure
Inclusivity at UKCGE events
Everyone involved in the conference should be able to enjoy it and benefit from attending, whether they are an organiser, supporter, presenter or audience member. Those who are most affected by prejudice, micro-aggressions or abuse of power are often those who face other systemic barriers relating to their race, ethnicity, class, sexuality, gender or (mental) health.
Ahead of the conference, we are asking everyone involved to think about how to promote inclusivity, and to play their role in actioning change. We want a conference which is safer, more accessible, more inclusive, and convivial, not just for those who already experience these spaces as comfortable or welcoming, but for everyone. We all have a role to play in challenging and changing the environment around supporting access for all. Participation in the conference is conditional on behaving in accordance with UKCGE Equality, Diversity and Inclusion ethos in ways that are fair, collegiate, caring, equitable, inclusive, respectful, non-exploitative and anti-discriminatory.
Accommodation
A special rate for conference delegates has been arranged at the Apex hotel. To make a booking please click here.
Waiting List
Please note that the conference is now fully booked and we are now operating a waiting list in case of cancellations. Please add your name to the waiting list and you will be contacted via Eventbrite should a place become available.