PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Kathmandu University School of Education (KUSOED) envisages that the proposed PhD in Education, Specialisation in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) Education, program reflects the rigorous research-based, interdisciplinary, and contemporary academic program in the field of teacher education. By its nature, the purpose is to emphasize on capacity building of potential STEAM educators, researchers, and academicians from Nepal and abroad whose research is likely to become a basis for improving practices in their academic professions by utilising the perspectives and practices arising from intersections of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics Education. Given this perspective, the school can enrol qualified post-graduate students in STEAM education from diverse fields of STEM-related (e.g., Mathematics, Mathematics Education, Physics, Economics, Chemistry, Science Education, Engineering, Technology, Health Sciences, Physical Sciences) in the proposed program to address the needs of producing human resources in integrated and multidisciplinary research and practice in education. 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 to enhance the research capacity of our research students and faculty members. It offers rigorous theoretical and practical orientation for practitioners aspiring to become leaders in fields associated with STEAM Education.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES AND ATTRIBUTES

By completing PhD STEAM Education, 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 a 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 an entrepreneurial orientation toward STEAM Education;
• An ability to accomplish independent research/inquiry in education-related issues in general and STEAM education in a particular.

PROGRAM LOGISTICS & REQUIREMENTS

• Duration: Full-time students are expected to complete their research in 3 years (maximum 6 years). Part-time students can submit their work after 4 years (maximum 8 years).
• Eligibility for Enrolment: Minimum of 17 years of schooling with a Master's degree in one of the STEM-related fields (e.g., Mathematics, Mathematics Education, Physics, Chemistry, Science Education, Engineering, Technology, Health Sciences, Physical Sciences) and passing the admission test.
• Application Requirements: Completed application blank, credential copies, curriculum vitae, reference letters, a fully developed 5000-word research proposal (in English), and a 5000-word published or unpublished research paper (in English).
• Thesis Evaluation: The modus operandi of the thesis evaluation follows the specific Research Guidelines for PhD developed by/for Kathmandu University.