Professional Management in Doctoral Education: The PRIDE project Lisette Schmidt - University of Vienna (Research Services and Career Development)

1. Professional Management in Doctoral
Education: The PRIDE project
Lisette Schmidt | University of Vienna (Research Services and
Career Development)
UNIMED General Assembly, 22 October 2015

2. Overall aim:
Professionalize administrative staff in the area of doctoral education
Key data:

Life Long Learning Project (funded by European Commission)

Started in October 2013 (till October 2016)

Consortium with 7 HEIs, 2 university networks (UNICA, unimed) and
one private public partnership organization

Project leader: University of Vienna
540332-LLP-1-2013-1-AT-ERASMUS-EIGF „PRIDE“

3. The Consortium:
540332-LLP-1-2013-1-AT-ERASMUS-EIGF „PRIDE“

4. Context - Doctoral Education in Europe
 The purpose of and the expectation towards doctoral education has
changed in the last decades
 Doctoral education has shifted from an individual to an institutional
responsibility
 Recognized need for the professionalization of supervision
 Trend towards structured programmes and doctoral schools with a
clear effective administration and strong leadership
540332-LLP-1-2013-1-AT-ERASMUS-EIGF „PRIDE“

5. Background of PRIDE project
• professional administrative staff plays a key role to face future
challenges in doctoral education
The PRIDE consortium decided to focus on this group who – as we
think – has the potential to make a qualitative difference to doctoral
education and enhance the quality of doctoral education
540332-LLP-1-2013-1-AT-ERASMUS-EIGF „PRIDE“

6. Definition | HEI-Staff in general
Figure 1: Overlap Model created by Christian Schneijderberg

7. Overall aim:
Professionalize administrative staff in the area of doctoral education
Main outcomes:
• data collection and analysis on different roles and responsibilities of
administrative staff in doctoral education as well as expectations
• handbook for the professionalization of administrative staff
• training course for the professionalization of administrative staff
540332-LLP-1-2013-1-AT-ERASMUS-EIGF „PRIDE“

8. What has happened so far?
• Literature review
• Survey 1 and 2 + Analysis
• 4 focus group interviews (vice-rectors, academic directors of
doctoral schools, senior professionals, EUA-CDE steering
committee)
540332-LLP-1-2013-1-AT-ERASMUS-EIGF „PRIDE“

9. What has happened so far? | Survey 2

Sent out to over 500 contacts in Autumn 2014

222 respondents (response rate: 33% )

Answers from 29 countries/regions

135 participants indicated interest in further activities (personal
interviews etc.)

Report on results: http://www.pride-project.eu/InterimResults
540332-LLP-1-2013-1-AT-ERASMUS-EIGF „PRIDE“

10. First Findings
540332-LLP-1-2013-1-AT-ERASMUS-EIGF „PRIDE“

11. First Findings
“What characterizes you
as a professional in
doctoral education,
in your opinion?”
540332-LLP-1-2013-1-AT-ERASMUS-EIGF „PRIDE“

12. First Findings
540332-LLP-1-2013-1-AT-ERASMUS-EIGF „PRIDE“

13. What next?

Analysis of the focus group interviews

Handbook for professionalizing administrative staff

Development of trainings to professionalize administrative staff

Association of professionals in doctoral education

Further dissemination to raise awareness and create a network
540332-LLP-1-2013-1-AT-ERASMUS-EIGF „PRIDE“

14. More information
http://www.pride-project.eu/
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