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Strategic factors for implementing a multiple career path construction doctoral program: a mixed methods study

Date

2022

Authors

Tummalapudi, Manideep, author
Birmingham, Daniel, advisor
Harper, Christofer M., advisor
Gupta, Kalpana, committee member
Killingsworth, John, committee member

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Abstract

According to the recent literature, a notable percentage of STEM doctoral graduates prefer employment in non-academic career paths such as industry due to diminishing opportunities in academia. However, the doctoral education in the U.S. is designed to prepare graduates to become researchers and teachers for careers in academia. There is limited training available to Ph.D. students related to their training for non-academic career paths. Construction Ph.D. programs are designated as STEM programs and are no exception to this changing career preferences of Ph.D. graduates. Given the changing career landscape of doctoral graduates, it is important for construction Ph.D. programs to prepare doctoral students for success in diverse career paths (academia and industry). A large share of the current research in doctoral education primarily focusses on engineering disciplines, and very limited knowledge is available related to preparation of construction focused Ph.D. graduates effectively for multiple career paths. The broad research objective of this study is to develop strategic factors for construction Ph.D. programs to prepare students for diverse career paths. To achieve the research objective, the study explored the factors that influence construction Ph.D. students career choices through social cognitive career theory theoretical lens, competencies required by construction Ph.D. students for careers in academia and industry, various ways construction Ph.D. programs can prepare students for diverse career paths, and benefits of preparing construction Ph.D. students for various career paths. The study adopted a mixed methods approach, where 38 qualitative interviews were conducted and a quantitative survey was developed and administered (329 responses) with construction Ph.D. students, construction Ph.D. graduates working in the industry, construction faculty, and construction industry professionals. Results indicate that construction-focused Ph.D. students are equally interested in industry-related career choices alongside academia. Factors such as interest in teaching and research, passion for student mentoring and engagement, flexibility in working hours, support from an advisor, unawareness about non-academic opportunities, and satisfaction obtained from teaching influence construction Ph.D. students towards academic careers. Factors such as better salaries, ability to make a difference and advance construction industry, disinterest in academic culture, lack of enough academic jobs, no support from an advisor, and competitive academic funding climate influence construction Ph.D. students towards non-academic (industry) careers. Written and oral communication, problem solving skills, and critical independent thinking competencies are critical to employability success of construction Ph.D. students in both academic and industry career paths. Opportunities to complete industry internships, performing research relevant to construction industry's challenges by balancing both theory and practice, support from advisor related to either of the career choices, networking with both academic and industry professionals are important strategies to prepare construction Ph.D. student for diverse career paths. Preparing construction Ph.D. students for diverse career paths not only improves employability of Ph.D. students but also enhances university-industry research collaborations and improves the ability of construction industry to constantly innovate, adopt technology, and gain access to university research relevant to their needs.

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