International comparison of doctoral research training practices

• Applicant: Dr. Marc Torka
• Subject Area: Empirical Social Research
• Term: from 2018 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 397986847

Doctoral training is being reformed worldwide. New organizational frameworks for structured doctorates aim to accelerate, improve, harmonize and make the PhD process more transparent and predictable. Higher education research predicts that these new organizational frameworks will fundamentally transform the practice of doctoral training. The findings of a study on the German doctoral training system, however, contradict this assumption (DFG project: MA 2093 / 4-1). At the level of supervisory relationships there has been no significant change. These relationships are still characterized by epistemic and social uncertainties inherent in the creation of new knowledge and independent researchers, which limit the influence of new organizational structures. As this research has, until now, been limited to the German case, the question cannot be answered as to whether inherent structures of doctoral training practices or rather particular features of the German doctoral training system explain the persistence of these traits. Thus, the follow-up project aims to compare the doctoral training practices of the same research fields (social sciences and physics) in the varying institutional contexts of the German Chair, US Graduate School and Australian Lecturer systems. Inherent structures of doctoral training can be generalized if these practices are similar under the different conditions. Conversely, impacts of institutional frameworks can be demonstrated if these practices vary. The follow-up project will specify the relation between external regulatory structures and structures inherent to doctoral training, expand the international comparison of doctoral training to the level of practices, and contribute to empirically substantiating doctoral training policies.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: Australia, USA
• Hosts: Professorin Dr. Maresi Nerad; Professor Dr. Simon Tormey