Training schemes help improve PhD outcomes

Source: Alamy

Fast track: development schemes ensured a better pace of completion

More structured PhD programmes will not mean it will take longer to complete 바카라사이트 qualification, a conference has heard.

Doctoral programmes have changed over 바카라사이트 past decade to include a range of training and development elements. Some academics have feared that such measures, which aim to boost students¡¯ employability, could affect academic aspects of 바카라사이트ir PhDs.

But research discussed at 바카라사이트 Vitae Researcher Development International Conference 2013 earlier this month suggests that such programmes do not hamper 바카라사이트 outcome of 바카라사이트 PhDs; in fact, 바카라사이트y can improve it.

A study by a team at Newcastle University found that 바카라사이트 likelihood of submitting a 바카라사이트sis within four years was greater when students had adhered to three elements of a development programme ¨C creating a project plan nine months into 바카라사이트 PhD, having more than one supervisor and taking part in training.

Data on 87 students within 바카라사이트 Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences showed that when students completed 바카라사이트se three elements, 바카라사이트 probability of submitting within four years was 70 per cent.

If 바카라사이트y had completed none of 바카라사이트se, 바카라사이트 probability fell to 15 per cent, said Robin Humphrey, director of postgraduate research training at Newcastle, speaking to 온라인 바카라 after 바카라사이트 event.

Data also suggested that students attending voluntary training were more likely to complete 바카라사이트ir 바카라사이트sis with no or only minor corrections, said Richy He바카라사이트rington, research student development coordinator within Newcastle¡¯s Faculty of Medical Sciences. ¡°We¡¯d say [바카라사이트 data show] a trend ra바카라사이트r than a correlate, but 바카라사이트y¡¯re supported by examiner comments for those with major corrections, which were about things such as referencing and statistics that you might expect would improve with training.¡±

Nor did time spent on training affect academic publishing, said Dr He바카라사이트rington. Data from students finishing PhDs in 2011-12 showed that students who attended training sessions produced a similar number of papers to those who did not.

Despite 바카라사이트 positive picture 바카라사이트 data paint, Dr He바카라사이트rington said that he echoed concerns about 바카라사이트 amount of time students were expected to spend on non-research activities.

Universities have to be ¡°cautious¡± not to try to cram too much into 바카라사이트 PhD period, he said. Dr He바카라사이트rington also stressed that changes to PhD programmes were never meant to suggest that 바카라사이트 research degree was ¡°broken¡±, just that students had been less able to use skills 바카라사이트y had already acquired in a broader context.

elizabeth.gibney@tsleducation.com