Research project This project focuses on the far-reaching impact that projectification has on academia and higher education and aims to increase the understanding of how projectification influences the didactic of doctoral studies.
Projectification, in terms of the increasing use of projects, has for a long time been a force of change in our society. Within academia, this has had an impact mainly in terms of the ways in which research is financed and organized. Understanding how this change affects the way in which we perceive and conduct doctoral education is an important piece of the puzzle in the work of constantly improving the conditions for both doctoral students and supervisors.
The project has received SEK 1 250 000 from Umeå School of Education over three years.
During the last thirty years, projectification (the increased use of projects) has become a predominant trend in most areas of society. While this trend historically was identified as a response to the complexities of industrial product development, the gradual diffusion into non-industry organizations has raised concerns and critique, particularly as it made inroads into public organizations. This research project focuses on the impact that projectification has had on academia and higher education, where the aim is to increase the understanding of how projectification influences the didactic of doctoral studies. Through a qualitative study with three key actor groups (doctoral students, supervisors, and directors of doctoral studies), the study will delve into how projectification impacts the understanding of three domains of purpose: qualification, socialization, and subjectification. Through this, essential knowledge is gained regarding the challenges and opportunities emerging from this trend – knowledge to be used to improve the support for both supervisors and doctoral students.
