Strengths and weaknesses of PhD training to develop alternative careers. Insights from PhD holders working beyond academia

Purpose: This study aims to critically assesses how Spanish PhD holders working outside academia perceive and value their past PhD training experiences within academic PhD programs, addressing the growing need for skills applicable in various sectors. Design/methodology/approach: Using a retrospecti...

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Authors: García-Morante, Marina|||0000-0002-6492-2691, Weise, Crista|||0000-0003-2491-554X, Díaz Villalba, Laura|||0000-0001-6936-6666, Castelló, Montserrat|||0000-0003-1757-9795
Format: article
Publication Date:2024
Country:España
Institution:Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Repository:Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:ddd.uab.cat:303767
Online Access:https://ddd.uab.cat/record/303767
https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.1108/SGPE-12-2023-0115
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Alternative PhD careers
Non-academic PhD careers
PhD training
Post-phd careers
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spelling Strengths and weaknesses of PhD training to develop alternative careers. Insights from PhD holders working beyond academiaGarcía-Morante, Marina|||0000-0002-6492-2691Weise, Crista|||0000-0003-2491-554XDíaz Villalba, Laura|||0000-0001-6936-6666Castelló, Montserrat|||0000-0003-1757-9795Alternative PhD careersNon-academic PhD careersPhD trainingPost-phd careersPurpose: This study aims to critically assesses how Spanish PhD holders working outside academia perceive and value their past PhD training experiences within academic PhD programs, addressing the growing need for skills applicable in various sectors. Design/methodology/approach: Using a retrospective interpretative design, the authors collected qualitative data from 35 PhD holders who have transitioned to non-academic careers. Through multimodal interviews, the authors gathered in-depth perceptions to understand the strengths and weaknesses of existing PhD training in relation to non-academic employability. Findings: The findings highlight a significant disconnect between academic-oriented training and the practical demands of non-academic jobs, particularly in non-research roles. While PhD training was valued in research-related non-academic positions, especially in STEM fields, it was considered insufficient for those in managerial or other non-research roles unless the training included specific industry-related projects. Participants suggested a cultural shift in PhD programs towards a more balanced academic and non-academic focus, integrating societal concerns and broader competencies like effective communication and managerial skills. These changes are seen as crucial for better-preparing PhD candidates for diverse professional environments, emphasising the need for PhD programs to evolve continually in response to the changing dynamics of the labour market and societal needs. Originality/value: This study contributes to the ongoing discussion about the need for PhD programs to evolve by offering a unique perspective from within the Spanish context. It underscores the necessity for educational reforms incorporating comprehensive skill training, aligning more closely with the career opportunities available to PhD graduates.Emerald Group Publishing Ltd. 22024-01-0120242024-01-01Articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501VoRhttp://purl.org/coar/version/c_970fb48d4fbd8a85info:eu-repo/semantics/articleapplication/pdfhttps://ddd.uab.cat/record/303767https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.1108/SGPE-12-2023-0115reponame:Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UABinstname:Universitat Autònoma de BarcelonaInglésengopen accesshttp://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:ddd.uab.cat:3037672026-06-06T12:50:31Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Strengths and weaknesses of PhD training to develop alternative careers. Insights from PhD holders working beyond academia
title Strengths and weaknesses of PhD training to develop alternative careers. Insights from PhD holders working beyond academia
spellingShingle Strengths and weaknesses of PhD training to develop alternative careers. Insights from PhD holders working beyond academia
García-Morante, Marina|||0000-0002-6492-2691
Alternative PhD careers
Non-academic PhD careers
PhD training
Post-phd careers
title_short Strengths and weaknesses of PhD training to develop alternative careers. Insights from PhD holders working beyond academia
title_full Strengths and weaknesses of PhD training to develop alternative careers. Insights from PhD holders working beyond academia
title_fullStr Strengths and weaknesses of PhD training to develop alternative careers. Insights from PhD holders working beyond academia
title_full_unstemmed Strengths and weaknesses of PhD training to develop alternative careers. Insights from PhD holders working beyond academia
title_sort Strengths and weaknesses of PhD training to develop alternative careers. Insights from PhD holders working beyond academia
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv García-Morante, Marina|||0000-0002-6492-2691
Weise, Crista|||0000-0003-2491-554X
Díaz Villalba, Laura|||0000-0001-6936-6666
Castelló, Montserrat|||0000-0003-1757-9795
author García-Morante, Marina|||0000-0002-6492-2691
author_facet García-Morante, Marina|||0000-0002-6492-2691
Weise, Crista|||0000-0003-2491-554X
Díaz Villalba, Laura|||0000-0001-6936-6666
Castelló, Montserrat|||0000-0003-1757-9795
author_role author
author2 Weise, Crista|||0000-0003-2491-554X
Díaz Villalba, Laura|||0000-0001-6936-6666
Castelló, Montserrat|||0000-0003-1757-9795
author2_role author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Alternative PhD careers
Non-academic PhD careers
PhD training
Post-phd careers
topic Alternative PhD careers
Non-academic PhD careers
PhD training
Post-phd careers
description Purpose: This study aims to critically assesses how Spanish PhD holders working outside academia perceive and value their past PhD training experiences within academic PhD programs, addressing the growing need for skills applicable in various sectors. Design/methodology/approach: Using a retrospective interpretative design, the authors collected qualitative data from 35 PhD holders who have transitioned to non-academic careers. Through multimodal interviews, the authors gathered in-depth perceptions to understand the strengths and weaknesses of existing PhD training in relation to non-academic employability. Findings: The findings highlight a significant disconnect between academic-oriented training and the practical demands of non-academic jobs, particularly in non-research roles. While PhD training was valued in research-related non-academic positions, especially in STEM fields, it was considered insufficient for those in managerial or other non-research roles unless the training included specific industry-related projects. Participants suggested a cultural shift in PhD programs towards a more balanced academic and non-academic focus, integrating societal concerns and broader competencies like effective communication and managerial skills. These changes are seen as crucial for better-preparing PhD candidates for diverse professional environments, emphasising the need for PhD programs to evolve continually in response to the changing dynamics of the labour market and societal needs. Originality/value: This study contributes to the ongoing discussion about the need for PhD programs to evolve by offering a unique perspective from within the Spanish context. It underscores the necessity for educational reforms incorporating comprehensive skill training, aligning more closely with the career opportunities available to PhD graduates.
publishDate 2024
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2
2024-01-01
2024
2024-01-01
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv Article
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
VoR
http://purl.org/coar/version/c_970fb48d4fbd8a85
dc.type.openaire.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
format article
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://ddd.uab.cat/record/303767
https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.1108/SGPE-12-2023-0115
url https://ddd.uab.cat/record/303767
https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.1108/SGPE-12-2023-0115
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
eng
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
language eng
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv open access
http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.rights.openaire.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv open access
http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Emerald Group Publishing Ltd.
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Emerald Group Publishing Ltd.
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB
instname:Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
instname_str Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
reponame_str Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB
collection Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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score 15,812455

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