How Might the (Social Sciences) PhD Play a Role in Addressing Global Challenges?

Abstract

Increasingly, the PhD is perceived as needing change. Yet, a review of efforts at such ‘reform’ suggests limited impact. This realization led me to seek a novel way to rethink the PhD. So, I addressed what to me is particularly challenging—what practice(s) could actually realize a re-visioned PhD. I created a structured thought experiment to tackle a global challenge, the climate crisis, which I did alone and then with others. Being a social scientist, I started with the factors influencing effective response to this crisis, as representative of efforts at social/societal change more broadly. After reflecting on the outcomes of the exercise which proved productive, I argue that if we, as researchers, want to reform the PhD, we would benefit from thinking more broadly about the nature of social science research, in fact, conceive of the PhD and our own work as encompassing solution-oriented inquiry. We would also expand and deepen our interactions with those beyond our own disciplinary colleagues: not just researchers in other disciplines, but those in other labour sectors and civil society—this whether the research/PhD goal is to address the climate crisis, other sustainability issues, or other meaningful goals.

Appendix 1. Structured Thought Experiment

Key Ideas About Societal Change as Background

See earlier text on two themes.

Situating the Context, the Role Play

Your Rector/Vice-Rector has announced that the mission of the university is to lead the way in finding ‘solutions’ to climate crisis. She/he offers resources (HR, funding) for those taking up the challenge—particularly for those in the social sciences. So, you, a social scientist, get together with colleagues to think about what might be done to create a PhD programme that addresses climate change comprehensively, for example societal need, academic research contribution, PhD graduate employment.

Your role: You are (a) Head of Department, (b) Department Research Director, or (c) PhD Programme Director.

Your task: Design a social science PhD programme in which students engage in research that addresses the climate crisis in some way, contributes to academic research, and graduates are highly skilled solution-oriented researchers and motivated knowledge workers.

Defining the Possible Programme Focus and Partners

You have 5–7 minutes for each step below to address this goal: What would your programme look like?

• 1. Given your specialization, brainstorm aspects of CC your programme could address (C.1 below).

• 2. Then, brainstorm a list of potential stakeholders (C.2):

  • (a) Internal (across the university—who/what that you might want to pull in)

  • (b) Local/regional external (mission related to public good) partners for your initiative, that is create a mutually beneficial conjunction of individuals, resources and efforts

• 3. In light of 1 and 2, narrow down your focus (C.3) to which aspect(s) of CC you want to focus on.

Imagining a Possible Programme

• 1. How would you and your partners be involved (C.1)?

• 2. Brainstorm a list of the kinds of things you could imagine making up the programme (C.2).

• 3. Ignoring potential constraints, what constellation of these (C.3) would best meet your goal?

Creating a Rough Timeline

• 1. Map out the timeline for the programme elements in light of the goal: students engage in research that addresses the societal challenges of CC in some way (and contributes to academic research); the goal is that they graduate as highly skilled and motivated non-academic knowledge workers.

Establishing ‘Needed’ Resources

• 1. Now, consider the resources you could draw on, for example Vice-Rector’s leadership and incentives.

• 2. You might first brainstorm a list and then divide into ‘for sure’ and ‘less sure’ possibilities.

Assessing Constraints

• 1. Now, consider the constraints.

• 2. You might want to do a SWOT analysis or a GAP analysis or a combination of the two,

• (a) SWOT: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats

• (b) GAP: current state, future state, gap, to do

Finalizing Your Vision

• 1. Return to your plan and see if there is anything that needs adjusting in light of the resources and constraints.

Returning to Reality

• 1. Review all your notes and make a list of the things you could begin to do now.