A Graphic Approach to Re-Imagining the Doctoral Dissertation

In the past five years, I have posted several blogs to track the conversation about emerging forms of the doctoral dissertation that go beyond the long-form monograph [Manuscript Based, Mar 2023], [Examples MBD, May 2022], [Future of Dissertation, May 2020], and [Innovative Dissertations, Mar 2017].

Canadian Association for Graduate Studies has a great site on Rethinking PhD Profiles [CAGS, URL] that tracks across disciplines from 2016 - 2019. In the 2022 CAGS Task Force Report on Excellence in Graduate Programs [URL], a key recommendation is that Graduate Schools/Programs "allow and promote flexibility in the nature of the dissertation". CAGS (2022) highlights that "interdisciplinary research pushes hard on the norms of what constitutes a traditional dissertation and defence, and highlights flexibility as key to an excellent program" (p. 5), especially in light of the diverse careers that increasingly diverse doctoral students aim to pursue. 

The latest contribution to this discussion comes from Cailynn Klingbeil in University Affairs, "Research re-imagined: As academics experiment with the graphic novel form, their research is reaching – and influencing – new audiences" (May 3, 2023).  In this essay, Klingbeil graphically illustrates the many innovative examples of knowledge engagement emerging from doctoral research in the English department at the University of Calgary, from interdisciplinary research on human biology at the University of Alberta, and from stories of Holocaust survivors at the University of Victoria, to name a few.

A current resource at my own university focuses on the Non-traditional thesis, Faculty of Graduate Studies. This site describes a non-traditional thesis as one that encompasses a wide variety of research endeavours, from Applied, to Creative, Digital, Entrepreneurial, Experiential, Innovative, Integrated, to Practical. Non-traditional theses can include diverse outcomes / outputs.

As we move forward, I invite colleagues to interrogate the use of "alternate" and "non-traditional" as if these diverse forms of expression from doctoral research are somehow "other". 

Expanding the Dissertation - Acknowledging Multiple Research Endeavours, Forms, Representations and Outputs

In earlier blog posts, I have shared examples of the Manuscript-based dissertation and shared examples from the Exploring the future of the doctoral dissertation session - from a noir detective novel to a graphic dissertation. A new resource at my own university focuses on the Non-traditional thesis, Faculty of Graduate Studies. This site describes a non-traditional thesis as one that encompasses a wide variety of research endeavours, from Applied, to Creative, Digital, Entrepreneurial, Experiential, Innovative, Integrated, to Practical. Non-traditional theses can include diverse outcomes / outputs.

In this blog post, which I am interested in expanding as I encounter new expressions, I share multiple forms and diverse representations of the doctoral dissertation.

The first, Dance Your PhD, is by Senarath Yapa, in which his dissertation is a mini-musical about superconductivity, told through the medium and performance of swing dance.

Online Learning Communities as Subversive Activity

Online Learning Communities as Subversive Activity: 
Countering Isolation & Silos in Graduate Supervision [YouTube]

It was fun to prepare this webinar about quality graduate supervision and an online course that colleagues and I have been collaborating on for years. 

Key to student thriving in graduate school is mentorship from an effective graduate supervisor. Graduate supervision is a complex and demanding mentoring, advising, and teaching role and responsibility. Effective supervisors can be the difference between masters and doctoral students completing their degrees or leaving the program. Unfortunately, too many professors are on their own when developing supervision skills on the job. Timely and flexible access to online faculty development on graduate supervision helps faculty to navigate the many complex issues and situations that can arise while mentoring diverse graduate students and increase their agility in responding to changes, such as the pandemic pivot to online supervision. Michele is leading a research team that designed and offered the Quality Graduate Supervision MOOC to academic researchers from across faculties and departments at six Canadian universities. The MOOC offers an online community of practice for graduate supervision that enables faculty to transcend isolated disciplinary silos to interact and learn with diverse colleagues across faculties and institutions via tailored learning conversations, peer engagements and goal setting activities. Michele will describe how supervision pedagogy can be enhanced and transformed when faculty have opportunities to engage with diverse peers and rich resources in transdisciplinary online communities of practice focused on effective graduate supervision.

The CIHE Speaker Series supports the dissemination of higher education research and scholarship, and brings together a community of higher education experts, practitioners, and graduate students throughout the academic year. 

 CIHE Speaker Series events are free and open to the public [URL].