Exploring doctoral students’ expectations of work-based skills training
Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning
ISSN: 2042-3896
Article publication date: 22 January 2019
Issue publication date: 23 July 2019
Abstract
Purpose
Doctoral students are expected to undertake work-based skills training within their doctoral studies in areas such as problem solving, leadership and team working. The purpose of this paper is to explore student expectations of doctoral training within a UK Higher Education context.
Design/methodology/approach
The data for the study were gathered via two focus groups conducted among doctoral students from different faculties in a post-92 UK University. Participants were selected using a snowball sampling approach.
Findings
The findings suggest that the expectations of doctoral students are contingent upon their year of study, study mode, perceived fit between training goals and available training, peer recommendations, word-of-mouth (WoM) and the scholarly support they received from their supervisors.
Practical implications
The study suggests a better understanding of students’ segmentation can help Higher Education Institutions deliver training that meets the expectations of doctoral students in a way that result in zero or a positive disconfirmation.
Originality/value
This paper develops and deepens the understanding of the doctoral students’ expectations of work-based skills training and highlights the need for universities to adapt their doctoral training according to the expectations of different student segments.
Keywords
Citation
Candy, J., Rodrigo, P. and Turnbull, S. (2019), "Exploring doctoral students’ expectations of work-based skills training", Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning, Vol. 9 No. 3, pp. 403-417. https://doi.org/10.1108/HESWBL-01-2018-0008
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited