Is the structured doctorate here to stay?
Is the structured doctorate here to stay?
Professor Mick Fuller, in his penultimate year as Chair of the UK Council for Graduate Education said;
“I challenged you at the very beginning of the conference with the question, ‘Is the structured doctorate here to stay?’ And I would conclude after the conversations and presentations we have all witnessed here in Dublin that yes, in some form or another, the structured doctorate is here to stay. Particularly as we are seeing funding models driving more structured pathways.
The postgraduate landscape continues to be complex with big differences between subject areas, as well as part time and full time modes of study. It is a credit to our universities who provide structure in different ways for each of those constituents. For example, we have seen some interesting comparisons of professional doctorates that are structured from the beginning and also in more traditional PhD routes.
The important challenge for us now is to monitor practice and continue to learn from each other, especially in the so called two tier system. However I would argue that this challenge is healthy for the sector because, if it drives change and challenges us to think in a more comprehensive way, then that is good. As we are all slightly different, developing in slightly different ways with slightly different students. Practice should also be documented centrally and co-ordinated through relevant university policies or else practice will always remain ad-hoc and scattered in its approach.
The conference has been a real vial of thought for me listening to all the different presentations and engaging with new and existing colleagues from the sector so thank you. I hope you continue to engage with UKCGE as we widen out our involvement with the sector through working groups and specialist networks.”
Colleagues from UKCGE member institutions can watch Professor Fuller’s closing plenary as well as other keynote sessions from the conference on the Resources page of the UKCGE website.
Next year the Council’s Annual Conference will take place in Glasgow. Updates, regarding the conference, will be communicated through the website and The Postgraduate newletter.
Image: a shot of the roofterrace BBQ at this years UKCGE Annual Conference
