A review of the Faculty of Arts Doctor of Philosophy ‘tagged degree’ programs was conducted in accordance with Monash University’s Graduate Research Course Review Policy and Procedures. The review was chaired by Dr Patrick West of Deakin University. The review panel included Professor Peta Tait of La Trobe University and Professor Peter Betts of Monash University’s Faculty of Science. The review was held on Wednesday 1st and Tuesday 2nd August on the Clayton Campus of Monash.
Pagination
1-10Language
EnglishNotes
Confidential. Commercial in confidence.Research statement
COMMERCIAL IN CONFIDENCE
Doctoral degrees such as the PhD are the subject of extensive critical assessment at present, as evidenced by texts like Sidonie Smith’s Manifesto for the Humanities: Transforming Doctoral Education in Good Enough Times (2015). The value in intellectual, scholarly and recruitment terms of so-called ‘tagged’ PhD degrees, which are mainly though not exclusively for PhDs in the creative arts, is being analysed by academics, managers and other university leaders.
In 2018 I was appointed to chair a two-day Graduate Research Course Review of the PhD ‘tagged degrees’ programme (mainly creative-arts based) in the Faculty of Arts at Monash University. The review panel included Professor Peta Tait (La Trobe) and Professor Peter Betts (Monash).
The panel made recommendations on the basis of close engagement with key research issues around the concept of ‘tagged’ PhD degree programmes.
The main research-focused recommendations were:
1.)tThe panel recommends that the discipline areas develop a more detailed profile of their cohort of graduates and the effectiveness of candidature based on applicant professional background/disciplinary diversity in order to provide an evidence-based framework for recruitment;
2.)tThe panel recommends that the Faculty investigate the feasibility of HDR supervisors being a collaborating researcher under ERA 1904 NTRO in a major professional production team because this may be additional to standard supervision responsibilities. For example, the supervisor be listed as associate director or as dramaturg on a theatre production or editor on a creative writing project;
3.)tThe panel recommends that the Faculty make full use of the research environment with creative arts students in tagged degrees for the capacity to enhance the ERA Impact achievement.
This case study of ‘tagged’ PhD degrees at Monash will assist further research into such degrees in and beyond the creative arts.Publication classification
AN Other book, or book not attributed to Deakin UniversityPublisher
Academic Reviews, Arts, Monash UniversityPlace of publication
Melbourne, Vic.
