Kathmandu University School of Education (KUSOED) envisages that the proposed PhD in Education (specialisation in Adult Learning) program will be rigorous, research-based, interdisciplinary, and contemporary, reflecting the field of adult education. By its nature, the PhD in Education (Specialisation in Adult Learning) program emphasises capacity building for potential adult educators, researchers, and academicians from Nepal and abroad, whose research is likely to serve as a basis for improving practices in their academic professions. Given this perspective, the School shall enrol qualified postgraduate students in Adult Learning from diverse fields, including curriculum and instruction, continuing education, teachers' professional development, professional studies, and community education. This applies insofar as the School has the relevant faculty members and/or can outsource from among international partner institutions. Moreover, global experts in the field can be invited for short-term visits to enhance the research capacity of the School's students and faculty members.

The program will be interdisciplinary, aiming to utilise perspectives and practices arising from the intersection of curriculum and instruction, continuing education, teachers' professional development, professional studies, and community education. This program is intended for passionate individuals or professionals, including teachers and teacher educators, who seek the skills and credentials to advance their practice-driven careers. It offers rigorous theoretical and practical orientation for practitioners aspiring to become leaders in fields associated with adult learning. The School envisages that multiple epistemic frameworks will enable research students to be creative and innovative in their research productivity, thereby serving as platforms for them to explore wider avenues in adult learning.

Program Objective and Attributes 

By completing a PhD in Education (specialisation: Adult Learning) program, research students are expected to demonstrate 

• An ability to identify research issue(s) and to develop viable research design as per the ethos of paradigm(s), methodologies, and methods employed in their research;
• A sound understanding of the significant areas, focus, and contours of local, regional, and international research in their respective research area;
• A capacity for critical assessment of relevant scholarly literature in their field of study;
• An ability to accomplish defined scholarly research within a specific research program
• An ability to develop, implement, and evaluate educational programs for the concerned community of practice;
• Well-developed flexible problem-solving abilities (skills, knowledge, and attitudes) appropriate to the area of study;
• An ability to develop the ethos of life-long learning in their personal and professional contexts.
• An ability to develop entrepreneurial orientation through Adult Learning.
• An ability to accomplish independent research/inquiry in non/education related issues in general and Adult Learning in particular.

Duration

Generally, research students are expected to complete their research in 3 years as a full-time study. The part-time students can submit their research study after 4 years. The maximum study duration for full-time students is 6 years, and for part-time students is 8 years.

Enrolment

Only four students will be enrolled in the first cohort.