Towards socially engaged applied doctoral research: Critical ongoing efforts to foster the applied nature of doctoral education

Drs. Bernard and Wafai received Research for Professional Development funds to study ongoing efforts to foster the applied nature of doctoral education.

The research investigates innovative approaches that academic institutions have implemented to prepare doctoral students for career paths beyond academia while advancing an innovative rigorous research focus for their thesis. The proposed research will utilize an in-depth analysis of literature, a sample of existing doctoral programs that have explicitly emphasized applied research or being involved in a re-imagining exercise of their programs, and interviews with respective program directors and students. The analysis will focus on the following aspects: program design and learning outcomes, research innovativeness, and assessment approaches. It is posited that the research will offer critical insights that will inform the ongoing efforts to foster the applied nature of doctoral education.