{"id":52464,"date":"2020-05-27T01:10:44","date_gmt":"2020-05-27T08:10:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/world.edu\/?p=52464"},"modified":"2020-05-27T01:10:44","modified_gmt":"2020-05-27T08:10:44","slug":"five-suggestions-for-universal-phd-after-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/world.edu\/five-suggestions-for-universal-phd-after-care\/","title":{"rendered":"Five suggestions for universal PhD \u2018after-care\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

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One of the things that has become \u00a0obvious during lockdown is how much more we might do for PhDers contemplating their futures. If ever there was a time to start something better and more supportive for researchers in our care, now is it.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s obviously a need for much better advice and support for making scholarly careers outside of universities as\u00a0Thesis Whisperer has recently pointed out<\/a>. But there is also much more that we might do for PhDers who\u00a0do<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0want an academic career.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve got a few ideas. And this is one of those if-I-was-a-higher-ed-policy-maker-I-would posts. But a couple of caveats before I begin. I am of course writing in a UK context, with some knowledge of other systems, but my wish list is pretty firmly located in my current situation. I also know that the things I am talking about\u00a0are<\/em>\u00a0done in some places by some people, but they are not universal. Universal is important if the PhD experience is to be \u00a0equitable.<\/p>\n

My premise is that\u00a0care is a vital social \u2013 and pedagogical \u2013 value and practice,<\/a>\u00a0and that care for students is one of the things that higher education is meant to do. My argument here is a particular one \u2013 it\u2019s not all there is to say about institutional care. But I am proposing that care\u00a0for PhDers needs to go on after the ink on the parchment \u00a0is dry.<\/p>\n

I\u2019d like to see a much stronger emphasis on what I am going to call \u201cafter-care\u201d. \u00a0What do I mean by this term? Well, after-care starts before the PhD is completed. And after-care is also beginning-care as the intention is to support the start of an independent academic career.<\/p>\n

An underpinning principle of after-care is that it should be led by the goals of the PhDer or post PhDer, and be bespoke to their particular needs and ambitions. After-care is not about someone else deciding what the PhDer or post PhDer needs but is a combination of PhDer led mentoring and support.<\/p>\n

Aside from the obvious PhDer teaching experience and internships I\u2019d like to see AT LEAST the following five strategies implemented:<\/p>\n

Mentoring during the PhD<\/strong><\/p>\n