The Serious Business of Part-time Candidature

Presented by Professor Terry Evans, Deakin University

It is necessary to recognise that part-time research candidature is important business for candidates, universities and the nation. At a time when governments are encouraging the academy to work ever more closely with industry and commerce, an often overlooked collaborative element is the people who undertake part-time doctorates and, therefore, often have important roles in the workplace and a significant involvement in universities. This presentation provides a brief overview of the characteristics of part-time candidates derived from an ARC-funded national study of doctoral candidature in which CAPA was an industry partner. It shows the types of work that they undertake and the benefits that accrue during candidature, both for the candidates and for their workplaces. An appreciation of the importance of part-time candidates for the future of Australia will be provided.

Terry Evans is a Professor of Education at Deakin University, Geelong and was Associate Dean of Education (Research and Doctoral Studies) for thirteen years. He is Chief Investigator on two Australian Research Council Projects: Research capacity-building: the development of the Australian PhD programs in national and emerging global contexts (with M Pearson & P Macauley); Australian doctoral graduates’ publication, professional and community outcomes (with P Macauley), and an AusAID Australian Development Research Grant entitled Identifying strategies to sustain professional learning communities for teachers in remote primary schools in Papua New Guinea (with E Honan, S Muspratt, A Kukari & P Paraide). Terry has published widely on doctoral education, in particular he has co-edited (with C Denholm) Doctorates Downunder: Keys to successful doctoral study in Australia and New Zealand (Melbourne, ACER, 2006), Supervising doctorates downunder: Keys to effective supervision in Australia and New Zealand (Melbourne, ACER, 2007) and Beyond Doctorates Downunder: maximising the impact of your Australian or New Zealand doctorate (Melbourne, ACER, 2009).