TOWARDS IMPROVING THE POSTGRADUATE RESEARCHER EXPERIENCE

Abstract

While poor postgraduate throughput, slow completion, and supervision capacity are areas of concern in South Africa, the nature and quality of the postgraduate researcher experience also deserve attention.Challenges in the postgraduate research environment impact negatively on both the success and well-being of postgraduate researchers.The radical changes to educational provision brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic contribute to the already dispiriting experiences of the many postgraduates who are isolated and disconnected from the university.In this chapter, the argument that research degrees should be seen as spaces for teaching and learning, not just research, is taken up, with the aim of improving postgraduate outcomes.Insights from research on postgraduate education are drawn on in order to propose changes to current practice in research degrees that could contribute to the quality of the postgraduate researchers' experience.Proposed changes include: adopting a comprehensive, long-term and systematic approach to researcher education, implementing more structured learning in research degrees, promoting community, and placing writing at the centre of a "curriculum" that is common to all research students.