Kathmandu University School of Education (KUSOED) envisages that the proposed PhD in Education (specialisation in Adult Learning) program reflects a rigorous, research-based, interdisciplinary, and contemporary academic program in the field of adult education. By its nature, the purpose of the PhD in Education (Specialisation in Adult Learning) program is to emphasise capacity building of potential adult educators, researchers, and academicians from Nepal and abroad whose research is likely to become a basis for improving practices in their academic professions. Given this perspective, the School shall enrol qualified post-graduate students in Adult Learning from diverse fields of curriculum and instruction, continuing education, teachers' professional development, professional studies and community education in the proposed program, to name but a few. Insofar as the School has the relevant faculty members and/or it can outsource from among the international partner institutions. More so, international experts in the field can also be invited for short-term visits so as to enhance the research capacity of our students and faculty members.

The program will be interdisciplinary in nature as it aims 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, not limited to teachers and teacher educators, who seek the skills and credentials for advancing their practice-driven careers. It offers rigorous theoretical and practical orientation for practitioners aspiring to become leaders in fields associated with adult learning. We envisage that multiple epistemic frameworks 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.

Orientations of transformative learning, knowledge constitutive Interests - technical, practical and emancipatory, Freire’s idea of conscientization, Brookfield’s idea of critical reflective practice, Eastern Wisdom Traditions - Anubhava, Yatha Bhuta, and Shruti; Pratityasamutpada (co-dependent arising), Elders as guiding light, being and becoming, etc will further support scholars to deepen their knowledge and wisdom.

Program Objectives 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 major 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.