Reflections on change in doctoral education: an Australian case study

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to reflect on the development of Australian doctoral education after the program commenced, initially at the University of Melbourne, following the end of the Second World War.

Design/methodology/approach

While utilizing the rich literature on doctoral education in Australia, the paper adopts a chronological approach to key issues that have had particular impact on the Australian doctorate since the mid-1980s.

Findings

Three major reports have had particular impact on the Australian PhD which was based on the Oxbridge model of supervisor/candidate with little or no coursework.

Originality/value

This reflection brings together a number of threads in Australia’s PhD program based on a wide range of historical and contemporary literature.

Citation

Kiley, M. (2017), "Reflections on change in doctoral education: an Australian case study", Studies in Graduate and Postdoctoral Education, Vol. 8 No. 2, pp. 78-87. https://doi.org/10.1108/SGPE-D-17-00036