Tara Brabazon podcast

Navigating interim reports and milestones for part-time PhD candidates is essential for progress and engagement. Setting precise goals and using milestones guide students effectively towards successful completion within a reasonable timeframe.

Tara, a PhD student and supervisor, discusses achieving international standards in the final thesis report, including communication, writing, and academic integrity. She also talks about preparing for the final thesis examination and providing emotional support during the process.

Tara discusses the challenges of the mid-candidature review in a PhD, emphasizing the need for clear goals and academic integrity. Strategies such as setting word length goals and seeking solutions are key, along with effective supervision and support.

Exploring the pivotal milestone of confirmation of candidature for PhD students, emphasizing the importance of producing a proposal and giving an oral presentation. Importance of academic protocols, originality, and preparation by supervisors. Navigating expectations, setting clear goals, and completing the program within three years.

Flinders University is introducing milestones in 2017. Tara introduces a quick series on each of the milestones. This first session asks why milestones are necessary, and their value to learning, teaching, students and supervisors.

Mick, Steve and Tara are entering the final drafting stages of Mick's thesis. They have decided to work on two book proposals - one academic and one trade - while the drafting is taking place. The unexpected benefit of this scheme is that Mick is not only producing two books for his post-thesis future, but also reflecting on the entire thesis, while still enrolled as a candidate.

Steve, Tara and Sunny enter the final stage of her thesis. Steve and Tara introduce a strategy to keep this final difficult stage fresh for Sunny while also enabling her - remarkable - future career.

Tara and Steve talk about the victory of Donald Trump. They explore the nature of 'the elites' and 'the establishment,' with attention to whiteness, femininity, heteronormativity and class. More significantly, what do we learn about the nature of education, teaching, learning and reading from this 'victory'? And what do 'we' do next?

The podcast discusses strategies for completing a PhD with health and humor intact, emphasizing the importance of efficient planning, setting boundaries, and managing emotions. It explores unconventional stress-relief techniques like recording chats with friends over tequila and writing chapters with red wine, along with guidance on starting strong, writing consistently, and maintaining self-belief.

Tara talks with Professor David McGillivray about leisure and leisure studies, work and higher education, media and dissemination. David is the Professor of Event and Digital Cultures at the University of the West of Scotland. His innovative work is also creating powerful and innovative opportunities for doctoral students in thinking about the trajectory and potential of their research.