Saule Bekova: What do survey data tell us about the experience, well-being, and outcomes of doctoral students?

We are delighted to welcome Dr Saule Bekova to our weekly meeting of CIC and TD School PhD students, but welcome all who are interested… [Teams]

What do survey data tell us about the experience, well-being, and outcomes of doctoral students?

Abstract: Doctoral education plays a key role in preparing researchers for careers across the education, research, industry, and public sectors. But to achieve this, we must first understand the experiences of doctoral students. It is critical if we want to improve not only their outcomes, but also their doctoral journey.

This talk brings together findings from several surveys to explore what we know about the experiences, well-being, and progress of PhD students. What challenges do they face during their candidature? What factors are linked to mental health risks such as depression and anxiety? And what shapes their academic outcomes?

Bio: Dr Saule Bekova is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Graduate Research School at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), specialising in the experiences and outcomes of doctoral students. She obtained her PhD from HSE University Moscow in 2020. Her research focuses on areas such as doctoral student attrition, student well-being, and supervision quality.