Happenstance learning theory posits that unexpected events can have lasting positive impacts on individual learning and development. In this reflection, a U.S. doctoral student shares how an unexpected opportunity occurred to participate in a cultural immersion experience in Ghana, West Africa. Along with learning outcomes that resulted,…

In this article, I describe how a curriculum of dislocation produces subjectivities offered in discourses that centre "First World"/Eurocentric/developed subject positions through nation state frameworks. I knit stories of colonialism and imperialism with my lived experiences as a former student in the postcolonial context of Colombia…

We investigate the process of becoming an expert in mathematics education through the narratives of Mario, a PhD student in mathematics education, and those of Anna, his young mentor. The narratives examine the initial interactions with mathematics education (specifically, the writing of a conference paper) and explore the motives, interests, and…

This article provides a glimpse into the use of arts-based methods within a narrative inquiry into learning in an early years degree. Drawing on writing as inquiry [Richardson, L., and E. A. St. Pierre. 2005. "Writing: A Method of Inquiry." In "The Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research," edited by N. K. Denzin, and Y. K.…

This study investigates the relationships between students' satisfaction with their doctoral program and motivational and socio-environmental factors. In this study, doctoral students' satisfaction with their program is measured by their learning experiences such as quality of theoretical knowledge, research methodology, and competency. The…

This study focuses on doctoral students' professionalisation as future academics across academic disciplines, using a Hong Kong research-oriented university as a case study. Doctoral students acquire the norms, knowledge/skills, and values required for the academic profession through their learning experiences. The study aims to explore how…

It is both important and challenging to assess transfer of skills learned through coursework and related organizational and societal contributions. The author describes an action research study to determine the effectiveness of a doctoral course in program evaluation. Using Kirkpatrick's (Kirkpatrick & Kirkpatrick, 2006) four-level evaluation…

Personal statements are an important component of applications for counselor education and psychology doctoral programs. However, a paucity of empirical information exists about what types of content are viewed favorably and how this content influences admissions decisions. In the current study, 97 faculty members from clinical psychology,…

This research critically analyzes the introduction of the Express Entry system in Canada, requiring foreign nationals to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) and wait for an invitation before being allowed to apply for permanent residence. Drawing on available empirical data, I argue that this reform jeopardized international students' chance to…

In the current context of doctoral education students are required to develop a range of complex academic literacy skills to accomplish optimal performance in their academic communities of practice. This has led to increase the interest in research on doctoral writing. However, research on how supervisors contribute to doctoral writing has not…

This paper presents a study of two international doctoral students' perspectives on preparing to formally present the thesis proposal, which we conceptualise as a threshold in the PhD journey. They participated in a thesis writing group (TWG) that aimed to support international doctoral students to develop aspects of their scholarship in the early…

The experience of researching as a Maori student within academia will often raise questions about how and whether the student's research privileges Maori world views and articulates culturally specific epistemologies. This study offers some theorising, from the perspectives of a Maori doctoral student and her Maori supervisor (the authors of this…

Assessment lies at the centre of PhD degree quality standards, with quality assurance relying on independent external examiners. This study investigates the role of the viva and the selection of external examiners from within the accounting and finance discipline across UK institutions. A questionnaire survey and follow-up interviews with…

Purpose: For several decades, human and financial resources have been the focus of academic institutions in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields of study because of low matriculation and graduation involving diverse student populations. However, there is a paucity of research about pathways to doctoral-level education and…

This paper describes the redesign of a community college executive leadership doctoral program that seeks to develop senior-level leaders. The paper provides how the redesign was intentionally aligned with the CPED principles and specifically the sixth principle. The paper sought data from students, faculty and other documents to gain an insight…