Finding connections through the doctoral journey

More than 40 doctoral students and supervisors from Te Kura o Te Mātauranga Institute of Education came together at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University last week for a two-day Doctoral Hui, creating space to share ideas, develop research skills and connect with the wider doctoral community.

The annual hui provided an opportunity for students to step away from their individual research, connect with their peers and supervisors, and develop practical skills to support them through different stages of their doctoral journey.

That sense of connection is particularly important to doctoral student Kim Manukonga, who is studying part-time and at a distance.

She says having dedicated time to connect with other students has been one of the most valuable parts of the hui.

“It’s great to get immersion and connection from this hui. It’s a good time to tune in and listen to other people’s thoughts and experiences.”

Ms Manukonga’s PhD explores the application of paddling in Waka Ama to interprofessional practice in education, drawing on her experiences as both a paddler and an interprofessional educator.

Now in her third year of doctoral studies and past confirmation, she is beginning the research phase of her work with Waka Ama paddlers.

Being part of the doctoral community helps Ms Manukonga feel connected to something bigger.

“It’s nice not to feel like I’m out there alone doing this"

For Institute of Education Doctoral Coordinators, Dr Jared Carpendale, Dr Amanda Denston, Associate Professor Elaine Khoo, and Dr Geny Leach, creating that sense of connection is a key purpose of the hui, especially as candidates study a range of topics within diverse contexts.

“Being able to come together for a couple of days supports connection and community.”

The hui is also designed to support researcher development, research culture, and scholarly leadership while contributing to an active, supportive, fair, inclusive, and respectful research culture for doctoral candidates, supervisors, and the wider Institute community.

International doctoral student Max Liu is in her third year and preparing to submit her thesis. Her doctoral journey has become closely connected with her own personal journey in Aotearoa New Zealand.

“Doctoral journey is my life journey. I’ve learnt who I am and more.”

Having attended the Doctoral Hui in the past two years, Ms Liu says the experience has helped her feel increasingly comfortable and connected to the Massey community.

“Values, community and relationship.”

The hui also recognises that doctoral students are at different stages of their research and require different kinds of support.

Across the two days, students took part in sessions covering topics including GenAI in educational research, Te Tiriti and research ethics, Indigenous methodologies, data analysis, critical writing, and communicating research.

Practical workshops were tailored to different stages and pathways through doctoral study, including preparing for confirmation, analysing data, developing research writing, and sharing research with wider audiences.

The Doctoral Coordinators explained that the breadth of the programme reflects the different needs of doctoral students.

“Parallel workshops are practical focused and intended to support PhD students across different stages of PhD study, different PhD pathways and different needs.”

Alongside the formal programme, time was set aside for students to connect with supervisors and fellow doctoral researchers over kai and informal kōrero.

Ms Manukonga says that opportunity to connect is an important part of the doctoral experience.

“The community is good for showing you guidance, structure and systems. You can bring your problems and get guidance, and you don’t feel alone.”

The Doctoral Coordinators explain that the hui aims to leave students feeling inspired, connected and reinvigorated for their PhD studies, while helping them become independent and original researchers, effective communicators and collaborators, and culturally and ethically engaged scholars.

“Ultimately, the hui is about recognising that a doctoral journey may be an individual research project, but students do not have to undertake it alone.”