TY  - JOUR
AB  - Purpose Doctoral students are expected to undertake work-based skills training within their doctoral studies in areas such as problem solving, leadership and team working. The purpose of this paper is to explore student expectations of doctoral training within a UK Higher Education context.Design/methodology/approach The data for the study were gathered via two focus groups conducted among doctoral students from different faculties in a post-92 UK University. Participants were selected using a snowball sampling approach.Findings The findings suggest that the expectations of doctoral students are contingent upon their year of study, study mode, perceived fit between training goals and available training, peer recommendations, word-of-mouth (WoM) and the scholarly support they received from their supervisors.Practical implications The study suggests a better understanding of students’ segmentation can help Higher Education Institutions deliver training that meets the expectations of doctoral students in a way that result in zero or a positive disconfirmation.Originality/value This paper develops and deepens the understanding of the doctoral students’ expectations of work-based skills training and highlights the need for universities to adapt their doctoral training according to the expectations of different student segments.
VL  - 9
IS  - 3
SN  - 2042-3896
DO  - 10.1108/HESWBL-01-2018-0008
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1108/HESWBL-01-2018-0008
AU  - Candy Jenny
AU  - Rodrigo Padmali
AU  - Turnbull Sarah
PY  - 2019
Y1  - 2019/01/01
TI  - Exploring doctoral students’ expectations of work-based skills training
T2  - Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning
PB  - Emerald Publishing Limited
SP  - 403
EP  - 417
Y2  - 2024/04/25
ER  -