Glasgow Caledonian University
PhD Research Project Opportunity
Please note that as this project is not funded by a University studentship, the successful candidate will be
required to source external funding for the research degree fees and living expenses while studying at the
university.
Project Reference Number

2014GSBS010
School/Institute/Research Group

Glasgow School for Business and Society/ Institute for Society and
Social Justice Research
http://www.gcu.ac.uk/issjr/

Research Discipline

Graduate Education, Researcher Development, Organisational
Development
Research Theme

Education
Project Title
The Evolution and Impact of Graduate Schools in Scotland: An international
comparison of the changing doctoral experience
Research Project Summary
Graduate Schools are relatively new phenomena in the UK and Europe, while
long established in countries like Australia, Canada and the USA. With the
importance placed on research training in the UK by Research Councils and
the government, this study explores changing approaches to doctoral
education in different national higher education (HE) contexts. Its specific
focus is the role of Graduate Schools in the doctoral experience and their
impact on institutional provision, disciplinary cultures and pedagogic
practices.
Around the world a number of different models of Graduate Schools have
emerged. These reflect differing policy, institutional and sectoral responses to
changing international markets for doctoral education, new expectations
about the purpose and value of the doctoral qualification and the doctoral
experience, as well as a broader landscape of innovation and experiment,
often in disciplinary-specific contexts, in approaches to pedagogic practice and
knowledge creation.
It is expected therefore that the study will incorporate a substantial
international and comparative element to the main empirical focus on
Scottish higher education. It will investigate both the evolution and the impact
of Graduate Schools through an international comparison of different models
and approaches to doctoral education. Outputs from the study will contribute
understanding, critical analysis and reflection on best practices for using
graduate schools to enhance research capability and innovation within the UK
HEI sector.
There has been little prior research into the effects and use of Graduate
Schools across UK and international HEI’s as structures for creating
research community and effecting change in HEI organisational research
culture. This topic has increased in prominence, given a shrinking funding
base for the UK HEI sector, leading to a need to understand the nature
and extent of the value added by graduate schools.
Supervisory Team
Director of Studies: Professor Bonnie Steves
Second supervisor: Dr Lindsey Carey, Deputy Director, Graduate School
Staff Contact
Third supervisor: Professor David Smith, Co-Director of the Centre for
Research into Life Long Learning, Glasgow Caledonian University
Professor Bonnie Steves, Professor of Mathematical Astronomy & Head of the
Graduate School, Glasgow Caledonian University
b.steves@gcu.ac.uk