Residential programme in Lampeter is a resounding success

Students studying UWTSD’s Doctorate in Professional Practice have hailed the residential programme held on the University’s Lampeter campus a resounding success. 

The programme is delivered online and the residential element of the programmes, held annually, provides an opportunity for students to meet each other, share ideas around their research and form a community of support.

Laura James, Programme Manager for the programme said:

“Each year, we hold a Residential for all students on Part 1 of the programme on our Lampeter campus. Feedback from our students is that they embrace this opportunity and leave the residential feeling a sense of belonging and part of an important research community.

“A characteristic of the professional doctorate is that it is practitioner-driven in that it is grounded in complex workplace problems and students gain a theoretical understanding and interpretation - often from different and opposing perspectives - of why the problems have arisen in the workplace and how they might best be addressed to find suitable and contextual solutions.”

Hannah Coghill, a current student on the programme said:

“It’s great to have the opportunity to meet individuals from different expertise and different streams. I think that’s a huge asset to the course in general. We’ve got a variety of different expertise and we’re able to challenge one another’s thinking and really dig a little bit deeper, which is fantastic!”

The Doctorate in Professional Practice (DProf) combines professional practice and research. Part 1 takes students through a structured programme of modules which prepares them for their research thesis in Part 2 of the programme. All theory is closely integrated with students’ professional career development which means that they bring a wealth of knowledge and experience from various fields.

Hannah continues:

“My DProf journey has been so exciting ultimately because it’s able to relate to my professional practice, what I’m doing day in, day out. It’s had a real impact on my professional journey. So, what I learned through the course itself, I’m able to take back and grow as a practitioner.”

Brad Roberts from Utah in the USA commented:

“I’m here to study more about experience design. My professional practice is in retail entrepreneurship and one of the things that I love about this programme is that it allows me the autonomy to study deeply things that I’m passionate about; things that are meaningful to culture and society.

“There’s an immediate friendship, there’s a kinship with the professors as well as the fellow students here.The DProf really marries academics and professionalism in a new and exciting way, that I think is going to be meaningful for my career. I can see it’s changing lives for everyone here.”

Students come from a wide range professional settings and the programme provides the opportunity for students to contextualise work-place issues during Part 1 of the programme before conducting in-depth research into a topic related to their professional practice in Part 2 of the programme for the award of a doctorate.

Laura James continues:

“This is an excellent programme for those who wish to study for a doctorate which relates directly to their workplace practice. Not only does it provide the student with a sought-after qualification but it also assists individuals to improve their own practices or productivity.”

Further Information

Eleri Beynon

Head of Corporate Communications and PR  
Corporate Communications and PR  
Email:  eleri.beynon@uwtsd.ac.uk  
Phone: 07968 249335