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DIISR ALTC-DDoGS Pathways Project ALTC Coursework Masters Project

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DIISR ALTC-DDoGS Pathways Project ALTC Coursework Masters Project Margaret Kiley CEDAM The Australian National University – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: DIISR ALTC-DDoGS Pathways Project ALTC Coursework Masters Project


1
DIISRALTC-DDoGS Pathways ProjectALTC
Coursework Masters Project
  • Margaret Kiley
  • CEDAM
  • The Australian National University

2
Australian data
  • Increasing variation at the PhD level e.g.
  • Australian median age on graduation is 37
  • At one Go8 median was 33 with 14.7 graduates in
    Hum/ Soc Sci and 49.4 in Sci
  • At an IRU age was 40 with 47.4 in Hum/ Soc Sci
    and only 23.9 in Sci. (Neumann Tan, 2011)
  • Increasing of PhD applicants without Honours
    (research or c/w masters)

3
Postgraduate Student enrolments (DEEWR data)
4
Masters students by gender (DEEWR data)
5
Coursework masters by age (DEEWR data)
6
Interest in research by age (POSSE data)
7
Deans of Graduate Studies
  • when asked what knowledge, skills and aptitudes
    they looked for in a PhD applicant and how the
    applicant could demonstrate this, suggested the
    following

8
Knowledge
Deep disciplinary knowledge (although not necessarily in the discipline of the PhD) Final year exam results
Awareness of epistemological issues to inform research and facilitate disciplinary work and lateral thinking Interview, references and interviews with referees
Intelligence Test e.g. UMAT Exam results
9
Skills (1)
Solve extended problems Significant role experience in completing major research projects Research proposal and exemplars of previous work
Base communication Significant role experience in completing major research projects Research proposal and exemplars of previous work
High level academic writing Significant role experience in completing major research projects Research proposal and exemplars of previous work
Critical analytical writing and reading Significant role experience in completing major research projects Research proposal and exemplars of previous work
Organise ideas/ present argument Significant role experience in completing major research projects Research proposal and exemplars of previous work
Team making Significant role experience in completing major research projects Research proposal and exemplars of previous work
Analyse, synthesise, contextualise solve problems Significant role experience in completing major research projects Research proposal and exemplars of previous work
10
Skills (cont)
Inter-relate and work with experienced researchers Interview, references and interviews with referees
Organisational capacity, time management, project management, ability to complete extended project Interview, references and interviews with referees
Learn from mistakes Interview, references and interviews with referees
Team making Interview, references and interviews with referees
Produce and communicate knowledge Results of relevant courses from Testamur
11
Aptitudes
Persistence, drive Interviews, references and interviews with referees,
Creative Intelligence Interviews, references and interviews with referees,
Imagination Interviews, references and interviews with referees,
Critical and analytical writing and reading Interviews, references and interviews with referees,
Capacity to learn to be independent Interviews, references and interviews with referees,
Self motivated Interviews, references and interviews with referees,
Capacity to work hard Interviews, references and interviews with referees,
12
DDoGS thinking and current context
  • Increased enrolments in coursework masters
    (decrease in research masters)
  • At the same time, pressure to train and graduate
    researchers
  • Honours under pressure as an undergraduate award
  • What are pathways to doctoral entry?

13
ALTC-DDoGS Project
  • Funding 10,000 from ALTC for one year
  • To answer
  • What are the various pathways that potential
    candidates take to, through, out of, and from
    their doctoral program?
  • What is the exit point and qualification if they
    want to leave a PhD program without completing?

14
ALTC I have done a coursework masters project
  • Funding 200,000 from ALTC for 2 years to
  • Gain a better understanding of the research
    education components of coursework masters
    programs
  • Identify what sorts of coursework masters
    programs provide an effective, supportable entry
    to a research program in Australia

15
Sample
Masters Project Additional for DDoGS Project
Go8 UNSW Monash
IRU JCU Flinders
ATN QUT UniSA
Other ECU Wollongong
16
DDoGS Project Activities
  • Overseas models of entry to doctorates
  • Survey of Australian universities re entry
    requirements
  • Sample of Australian universities
  • Interview the Dean of Graduate Studies
  • Collect data from each sample universitys web
    site regarding re relevant information

17
Overseas universities
Canada McGill UBC
USA Michigan State New York University
UK Durham Oxford Brookes
Sweden Gothenburg Lund
Germany Kassel Freiburg
Malaysia University of Malaya Universiti Putra Malaysia
NZ Otago Victoria at Wellington
18
Findings
  • Universities most commonly seek
  • masters degree (e.g. in proposed discipline or by
    research)
  • research experience (e.g. publications emanating
    from research)
  • academic achievement (e.g. honours, awards)
  • research proposal (e.g. statement of
    intentions/interests/goals)
  • language proficiency (e.g. English)

19
Note
  • A number of universities beyond Australia
  • identify only disciplinary specific PhD entry
    requirements (or in addition to general entry
    requirements) and
  • refer to graduate studies entry requirements
    (e.g. that embrace Masters and Professional
    Doctorate as well as PhD by research programs)

20
Australian university survey
  • Twenty (51) seek evidence of
  • academic achievement / ability / writing (e.g.
    honours, higher degree, advanced knowledge)
  • research performance / readiness / potential
    (e.g. research training, professional /work
    experience)

21
Other
  • Eleven (55) provide exit credit towards other
    qualifications but this does not appear to be
    standard practice in seven (35).
  • Six (30) have special consideration for
    non-traditional candidates and further five (25)
    provide targeted equity support. Seven (35) have
    no formal strategies

22
Cont.
  • Twelve (60) have courses, workshops and online
    facilities, with three (15) mandating completion
    of a research methods program concurrently with
    the degree. Four (20) have no specific training
  • Thirteen (65) have online support for part-time
    candidates. Four (20) have no formal support

23
Interviews Deans of Graduate Studies
  • The most frequent finding related to variation
    in
  • Cohort gender, age etc
  • Ways of meeting needs
  • Discipline mix
  • Programs

24
Interviews PhD students
  • Challenges of research methodologies etc
  • Noted honours students or masters by research
    students could have very similar problems
  • Individual capability and drive were big factors
    in overcoming those challenges

25
Interviews Supervisors and Convenors
  • Significance of programs re industry
  • Research training for students
  • Coursework masters as a realistic pathway to the
    PhD
  • Project management skills learned in coursework
    masters
  • The future of higher degree research at
    universities in general (ERA)

26
Discussion
  • Substantial increase in the number of entrants
  • Particular increase in the 20-29 age cohort
  • Older students and female students more likely to
    express interest in research
  • Specific research required about the disciplinary
    nature of the variation in age, gender etc
  • Construction of the coursework masters program
    with the most appropriate training for doctoral
    applicants

27
What might this mean for
  • Funding Policies fee-paying vs RTS
  • Supervisor training and development
  • AQF levels
  • Construction of coursework programs
  • Attracting future researchers from industry

28
Dr Margaret Kiley CEDAMThe Australian National
University Margaret.kiley_at_anu.edu.au ALTC
Masters project http//courseworkmasters.anu.edu.a
u/ ALTC Pathways project http//cedam.anu.edu.au/
people/dr-margaret-kiley/research-and-publications
/ddogs_project
29
DISCLAIMER
  • Support for this project has been provided by
    the Australian Learning and Teaching Council, an
    initiative of the Australian Government
    Department of Education, Employment and Workplace
    Relations.
  • The views expressed in this report do not
    necessarily reflect the views of the Australian
    Learning and Teaching Council Ltd.
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