The Experience of ‘Defending’ the Doctoral Dissertation: International Comparative Studies of the Final Oral Examination (1) (Routledge Research in Higher Education)

Synopsis

This volume describes, compares, and analyses the experience of ‘defending’ the doctoral dissertation in a final oral examination in universities and traditions in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and beyond.Forming the basis for a comparative study of the different traditions, 11 case study chapters include analysis of the regulatory framework; semi-structured interviews with candidates, examiners, and supervisors; and ethnographic observations of the defence. Cases are drawn from universities in Bulgaria, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, the USA, and China. Further chapters analyse comparatively the findings in the case studies and explore crucial themes such as the nature and purpose of the defence, the composition of examining committees, the role of supervisors, and the idea of the defence as ritual and performance.Providing unprecedented levels of detail into a process often perceived as hidden from academic debate, this book will enrich the experience of both new and existing candidates as well as examiners and supervisors, and will be of further interest to researchers, scholars, and postgraduate students working on the study of higher education, international and comparative education, and assessment in higher education.

Copyright:

2025

Book Details

Book Quality:

Publisher Quality

Book Size:

280 Pages

ISBN-13:

9781040336540

Related ISBNs:

9781003495000, 9781040336502, 9781032796321

Publisher:

Taylor & Francis

Date of Addition:

03/24/25

Copyrighted By:

selection and editorial matter, Michael Byram and Maria Stoicheva

Adult content:

No

Language:

English

Has Image Descriptions:

No

Categories:

Nonfiction, Reference, Education

Submitted By:

Bookshare Staff

Usage Restrictions:

This is a copyrighted book.

Edited by:

Michael Byram

Edited by:

Maria Stoicheva