News

We are delighted that the Mitigation and Adjustment for Doctoral Education (MADE) project (www.warwick.ac.uk/MADE) hosted by the DEAR Centre (www.warwick.ac.uk/DEAR) has been featured in Times Higher Education (THE), highlighting our research on the challenges PGRs face in accessing reasonable adjustments and mitigating circumstances.

The THE article discusses key recommendations from the project, including sharing discussion areas with candidates in advance, offering online or written viva formats, standardising the practice of holding mock vivas and pre-viva briefings, and ensuring regular breaks during the examination. These changes aim to make the process more inclusive, especially for students with disabilities or anxiety.

The project, led by Dr James Burford, highlights the current variability across institutions and advocates for clear, transparent practices. While some academics fear that too much structure might dilute the viva's rigor, others see these reforms as necessary steps toward fairness and accessibility in doctoral assessment.

Read the full article here: www.timeshighereducation.com/news/give-phd-students-discussion-points-viva-uk-examinersLink opens in a new window

Access the final project report: https://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/187406/1/eq-271124-wrap-change--final_made_report_27_nov_2024.pdfLink opens in a new window 

Read the project briefing: https://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/187912/Link opens in a new window 

This feature helps to amplify discussions around doctoral education, equity, and policy change. Thank you to all who contributed to the MADE project!