UKCGE Vice Chair delivers keynote to world’s biggest’

Gill Clarke, UKCGE Vice Chair delivered a keynote presentation to the World’s biggest and long standing conference on doctoral education’ in Adelaide on Wednesday 9th April 2014 

UKCGE Vice Chair delivers keynote to world’s biggest’

Held every two years in Adelaide, South Australia, the conference Quality in Postgraduate Education’ (QPR) brings together educational researchers, policy makers, university leaders, research students & research degree supervisors for the purpose of better understanding the processes, practices, pedagogies and theoretical frameworks of doctoral education.

UKCGE Vice Chair Gill Clarke delivered a presentation Evolution of the doctorate: a UK perspective on an international qualification. Gills talk addressed several themes relevant to the quality of doctoral degrees which was well received by the conference. Gill raised the question of the PhD as a global brand, the impact of structured programmes on the doctoral experience and its outcomes, including consideration of different subjects and models, and also considered standards and outcomes. The session also touched on some of the policy and guidance frameworks for postgraduate degrees and the sustainability of doctoral education.

Gill said that the 3‑day event was packed with differently-themed parallel sessions with co-ordinated change-over times so it was possible for delegates to pursue a range of interests around doctoral education’.

Gill has also compiled a blog about her experience down under which includes a brief event summary of topics discussed. The council invites any other colleagues who attended the conference in Adelaide to comment on Gills blog which could add further insight for the UKCGE community.