A project perspective on doctoral studies – a student point of view

• Published in: International journal of educational management Vol. 31; no. 7; pp. 908 - 921
• Main Author: Backlund, Fredrik
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bradford Emerald Publishing Limited 01.01.2017; Emerald Group Publishing Limited
• Subjects: Colleges & universities; Concept Mapping; Dissertations & theses; Doctoral Programs; Doctoral Students; Educational administration; Efficiency; Foreign Countries; Goal setting; Graduate students; Graduate studies; Higher education; Interviews; Kvalitetsteknik; Objectives; Peer tutoring; Product development; Program Administration; Project management; Qualitative Research; Quality Technology and Management; Reflection; Research Projects; Roles; Student Attitudes; Student Experience; Student Projects; Studies; Supervision; Supervisors; Teaching Methods; Transcripts (Written Records); Universities; Sweden; Project; Doctoral studies; Higher education; PhD studies; Project management
• ISSN: 0951-354X; 1758-6518; 1758-6518
• DOI: 10.1108/IJEM-04-2016-0075

Purpose Many doctoral students never obtain a doctoral degree, and many do not finish their studies in time. To promote aspects of effectiveness and efficiency in doctoral studies, the purpose of this paper is to explore a project perspective, more specifically how doctoral students experience their studies in terms of key dimensions of projects. Design/methodology/approach Written reflections concerning a project perspective in doctoral studies, based on 18 students at a Swedish university, have been categorised and analysed by the means of the qualitative research software NVivo. Findings Main findings are reflections on the project manager role including both the supervisor and the doctoral student, and different views on project control parameters and the concepts goal-seeking and goal-orientation. A more comprehensive picture of project planning is presented, compared with the Individual Study Plan, including different project methods and tools that can be suitable in a doctoral project. Research limitations/implications The study is based on a limited number of doctoral students; however, the aim has been to give examples of project perspectives. The findings could be valuable for increased understanding of doctoral studies and of the project management field in general. Practical implications The study can induce awareness among doctoral students and supervisors of a project perspective in doctoral studies, promoting aspects of efficiency and effectiveness. Originality/value Compared to previous research, this study explicitly tries to understand how doctoral students make sense of their doctoral studies from a project perspective.