We are pleased to announce a Call for Papers for a Special Issue of Research in Post-Compulsory Education devoted to critical perspectives on the topic of The Role of Practice in Doctoral Degrees. Doctorates that include significant elements of practice are long established in the arts, engineering, psychology, education and health professions. A substantial element of such degrees may occur in work situations, reflecting their relationship to creativity, problem-solving and change agendas. Professional doctorates and industrial PhDs fall into this category and there is also a `practice-turn’ for PhDs.
There are questions to be asked about what is meant by practice and also if there should be strong distinctions made between practice and theory which can create an unhelpful dualism. Rather than attempting to differentiate between forms of doctorate, could we instead conceive of a broad continuum of research-oriented work capable of encompassing a range of approaches?
Themes include:
Pedagogical practices
The pedagogical implications for those running doctoral programmes have brought about developments in curricula, with more attention paid to developing practical, real-time recommendations for practice as well as further research. Through the focus of learning, doctorates have enabled practitioners to enhance, innovate and increase their professionalism. Some questions relate to how far doctorates consider the individual practitioner’s professional behaviours, attitudes, etc., and to what extent supervisors/advisers guide candidates towards practice-oriented outcomes through the choice of research methodologies and other pathways to impact?
Knowledge matters and practice theory
Disciplines are now often considered stronger with the application of cross- or inter-disciplinary research. Some studies have shown how a transdisciplinary lens on the world can open our eyes to multiple realities. Practices exist and evolve in historical and social contexts and include power dynamics and practical space, time, resource restrictions and opportunities. Practice-focussed doctorates have become a purposeful and effective way of developing self and aspects of a professional area through research, with the ability to stimulate significant meaning.
Administrative and managerial practices, protocols and policies
Issues about regulations, modularisation, nomenclature, examinations and above all ‘equivalence’ abound. The question of equivalence is important to ensure that practice is not considered an easy route to doctoral status. The format and purpose of a doctorate is an area of debate. Should we re-consider the relationship of artefacts of practice, for example, works of art, and the need for them to be underpinned and clarified by written commentaries?
Cultural dimensions and international perspectives
Culture has long been a recognised variable in doctoral research. The variety of cultural contexts and perspectives provide new and novel ways of conceptualising and incorporating doctoral research and practice. Issues around competition, globalisation, resourcing, inequality and transformation are often encountered when considering culture in the practice-turn
Contributions from all countries will be welcomed, whether comparative in focus or not. The 7th International Conference on Professional and Practice Based Doctorate, York, 30–31 March 2020 includes the above topic and themes. All contributors, whether from the conference, or not are encouraged to highlight the implications of their work for policy, practice and further research.
The deadline for articles is 15 September 2020, although contributors are encouraged to submit before this deadline if possible. The Editors will be pleased to discuss proposals informally. Submitted papers must follow the Journal guidelines http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/authors/style/reference/tf_ChicagoAD.pdf and be sent as an email attachment to Pauline Armsby, [email protected]