Spinning plates: Navigating ethical and governance approval as a professional doctorate candidate By Louise Baldwin and Chris Ward Undertaking research within your own professional setting is often presented as a natural extension of practice, particularly for those working in complex systems like the NHS. Yet for many professional doctorate candidates, the reality quickly reveals itself to be far more demanding, requiring not only methodological confidence but also the ability to navigate layered ethical and governance processes that can feel opaque and, at times, overwhelming.

Spinning plates: Navigating ethical and governance approval as a professional doctorate candidate

By Louise Baldwin and Chris Ward Undertaking research within your own professional setting is often presented as a natural extension of practice, particularly for those working in complex systems like…

Artificial intelligence and the Professional Doctorate: towards reflexive integrity Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming higher education, from how students access information to how academics design learning and assess research. For professional doctorates, which sit uniquely between the academy and the workplace, this transformation brings both exciting opportunities and pressing ethical questions.

Artificial intelligence and the Professional Doctorate: towards reflexive integrity. Dr Nieky van Veggel shares his thoughts on how AI is rapidly transforming higher education, and this transformation brings both exciting opportunities and pressing ethical questions.

The Role of the ProfDoc Director What does it really take to lead a successful Professional Doctorate programme? From supporting supervisors and fostering meaningful peer communities to defining and defending doctoral standards, the ProfDoc Director plays a pivotal role in shaping both academic rigour and professional growth.

What does it really take to lead a successful Professional Doctorate programme? From supporting supervisors and fostering meaningful peer communities to defining and defending doctoral standards, the ProfDoc Director plays a pivotal role in shaping both academic rigour and professional growth.

The looking back series: Dr Pippa Hales What happens when you choose a Professional Doctorate not to leave practice, but to deepen it? This honest reflection explores the discomfort, discipline and transformation of the journey, and how doctoral research can reshape not just your field, but the practitioner you become.

The looking back series: Dr Pippa Hales

What happens when you choose a Professional Doctorate not to leave practice, but to deepen it? This honest reflection explores the discomfort, discipline and transformation of the journey, and how doctoral research can reshape not just your field, but the…

From drafting to doctoral voice: how academic writing becomes transformative How do you move from messy, exploratory drafts to confident, reader-focused academic writing? This post explores how metadiscourse, the subtle signposts that guide structure, stance and argument, transforms not only your text, but your authority as a practitioner-scholar.

How do you move from messy, exploratory drafts to confident, reader-focused academic writing? This @scholarshipinpractice post explores how metadiscourse, the subtle signposts that guide structure, stance and argument, transforms not only your text, but your authority as a practitioner-scholar.

Writing yourself in: the role of professional reflection in a Professional Doctorate thesis One of the defining features of a professional doctorate is that it does not end with the research findings alone. Unlike the traditional PhD, which tends to emphasise disciplinary contribution, the professional doctorate is equally concerned with the researcher’s transformation, how engaging in systematic inquiry changes professional practice, perspective, and identity. For this reason, many examiners and supervisors expect a reflective discussion  in the final thesis, one that explores the practitioner-scholar’s professional development and articulates how their findings contribute to the profession or sector they belong to.

Scholarship in Practice published a new article:

Writing yourself in: the role of professional reflection in a Professional Doctorate thesis

“You’re not alone”: Early lessons from the DProf journey This blog draws on a reflective conversation between two second-year practitioner-scholars, Kate and Katy, who spoke candidly about their first-year experiences on the DProf programme. Their discussion offered valuable insights into the emotional, intellectual and practical shifts that new PGRs often encounter. By blending their voices with supportive theory, this blog aims to reassure, guide and encourage those who are just beginning their own DProf journey.

“You’re not alone”: Early lessons from the DProf journey

This blog draws on a reflective conversation between two second-year practitioner-scholars, Kate and Katy, who spoke candidly about their first-year experiences on the DProf programme. Their discussion offered valuable insights into the…

The looking back series: Dr Graham Cable Completing a professional doctorate invites reflection not only on the research itself, but also on the journey of becoming a different kind of scholar. This post continues an article series where professional doctorate graduates reflect on their journeys. Each article offers a candid look back at the challenges, shifts in identity, and lessons learned along the way, providing insight and encouragement for those currently undertaking or considering a professional doctorate.

The looking back series: Dr Graham Cable looks back at the EdD as a personal and professional catalyst.

Getting “Lived Experience” right in Professional Doctorate research  “Lived experience” is a term that appears frequently in doctoral proposals, especially in practice-based disciplines such as health, education, business, and social care. It sounds intuitive and human-centred, a way to capture voices and reality, and stay connected to practice. Yet, in professional doctorate research, the term 'lived experience' is a slippery one, often used without a clear or supported definition.

Getting “Lived Experience” right in Professional Doctorate research 

“Lived experience” is a term that appears frequently in doctoral proposals, especially in practice-based disciplines such as health, education, business, and social care. It sounds intuitive and human-centred, a way to capture…

The looking back series: Dr Lewis Barrett-Rodger Completing a professional doctorate invites reflection not only on the research itself, but also on the journey of becoming a different kind of scholar. This post continues an article series where professional doctorate graduates reflect on their journeys.

Scholarship in Practice published a new article by Dr Lewis Barrett-Rodger:

Letting Learn: reflections on an EdD in outdoor mathematics education

Congrats Eiko! This is brilliant news!

The Looking Back series: Dr Mike Scott Completing a professional doctorate invites reflection not only on the research itself, but also on the journey of becoming a different kind of scholar. This post continues an article series where professional doctorate graduates reflect on their journeys. Each article offers a candid look back at the challenges, shifts in identity, and lessons learned along the way, providing insight and encouragement for those currently undertaking or considering a professional doctorate.

The Looking Back series: Dr Mike Scott

Completing a professional doctorate invites reflection not only on the research itself, but also on the journey of becoming a different kind of scholar. This post continues an article series where professional doctorate graduates reflect on their journeys.…

@drsalgo.bsky.social wrote a great new contribution to Scholarship in Practice. Definitely worth a read!

Navigating horizons by working through practice and scholarship Beginning a professional doctorate in health or social care often feels like stepping into two worlds at once. On one side lies the familiar territory of practice, with its routines, values, and ethical demands. On the other sits the more abstract terrain of scholarly inquiry, where assumptions are examined, concepts debated, and meaning constructed. The challenge for many practitioner-scholars is learning to live productively at this intersection, navigating between practice and academia while maintaining integrity in both.

New blog post by Dr Sally Goldspink on Scholarship in Practice: Navigating horizons by working through practice and scholarship.

The Looking Back series: An EdD journey of course leadership and identity Completing a professional doctorate invites reflection not only on the research itself, but also on the journey of becoming a different kind of scholar. This post launches a new series where professional doctorate graduates reflect on their journeys. Each article offers a candid look back at the challenges, shifts in identity, and lessons learned along the way, providing insight and encouragement for those currently undertaking or considering a professional doctorate.

The Looking Back series: An EdD journey of course leadership and identity

Completing a professional doctorate invites reflection not only on the research itself, but also on the journey of becoming a different kind of scholar. This post launches a new series where professional doctorate graduates…

🚨 Proud to announce a new platform specifically aimed at professional doctorate student, those who supervise them and the journey from practitioner to scholarly professional.

scholarshipinpractice.com

Get in touch if you are interested in contributing a piece!

#DProf #EdD #DBA #ProfDoc

Looking forward to the ARU GT Network seminar starting in 15 min. This time we are discussing deisgning a GT study, with two excellent PGR speakers sharing their thoughts. It is not too late to join us!

events.teams.microsoft.com/event/392fdb...

2) lnkd.in/eWaHsgpz

Discusses the concept of Professional Advocacy in the UK and asks some critical questions.

We're so excited to launch this excellent site that will serve as a repository for all our educational offerings, along with some great new resources! Join us at: groundedtheory.academy
#groundedtheory #groundedtheoryacademy

ICYMI: The recording of the December 2024 ARU Grounded Theory Network seminar of variations in grounded theory is now available on our YouTube channel.
youtube.com/watch?v=KqSO...

Dr Nieky van Veggel Welcome to my website. This is where I make my musings about my work and interests available to the wider world (whether this is a good thing has yet to be c...

@owlstown.bsky.social Please add my academic website to The Owlstown Academic Gallery.<br/><br/>URL: www.niekyvanveggel.com

Bridging Research and Conversation: My Journey with Grounded Theory Unbound Last week, I had the exciting opportunity to contribute a guest blog for the Grounded Theory Academy—an innovative online platform created by professors Melanie Birks and Jame Mills. The platform is a...

Bridging Research and Conversation: My Journey with Grounded Theory Unbound
lifeofalecturer.ghost.io/bridging-res...

I would agree there. The context of the GT origin matters, and is often ignored or forgotten. GT is a lot less rigid than some people make it out to be, and that limited rigidity allows us to account for the temporality of GT as a methodology and the temporality of the doing of social science

American Inger and Jason sound… American. It is off putting…

Tell me more!

Happy New Year from everyone at the Anglia Ruskin University OneWelfare Research Group! Hope you all have a great 2025. I look forward to many fruitful collaborations!

Dense but good!

Happy reading!

AI and Grounded Theory analysis? Interested to learn more? You can access this pre-print by myself, Melanie Birks Jane Mills and @happeehil.bsky.social have under review.

osf.io/preprints/so...

AI and Grounded Theory analysis? Interested to learn more? You can access this pre-print by myself, Melanie Birks Jane Mills and @happeehil.bsky.social have under review.

osf.io/preprints/so...