PhD Industry Partnerships

Who would have known that my two unpaid undergraduate Social Work placements more than thirty years ago were in preparation for a PhD Industry partnership.  Apparently industry internships for Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students is a thing across Universities.

This is what my University, Charles Darwin, says about them:

"A higher degree by research (HDR) internship is defined as a position with a research end-user where a student has undertaken research and development (R&D) related to their HDR course. The Office of Research and Innovation team aims to help you complete an eligible HDR industry internship. The industry could be any potential research end-user, including businesses, governments, government business enterprises, non-government organisations, not-for-profit groups and community organisations."

Originally my Industry partner was the amazing Mental Health organisation, Speak and Share. Unfortunately that couldn't continue through no fault of the partner. My new Industry Partner is hopefully an Independent Book Seller and I can offer facilitation of book clubs and write articles and reviews for them based on a particular author associated to the philosophical base of my thesis.

Given that I live on Norfolk Island in the South Pacific and the bookseller is on the Western side of Australia, it will be a digital internship. 

PhDs can be as creative as you choose to make them, including with whom and how you achieve the internship. Whereas once isolation was a barrier to HDR, it no longer is. I was even asked if I would consider doing my internship with the Brene Brown Education and Research Group. I declined because I live in hope that she will be chosen as one of my PhD assessors and I don't want to squash that dream by having done an internship with them. 

If you are thinking of doing HDR or you are a potential Industry partner that could benefit from having a HDR student attached to you, contact Charles Darwin University. Similarly, Undergraduate Social Work students are always seeking placements with industry partners associated with the helping sector.

👵🏼 Megan Bayliss

👩🏼‍🎓 PhD candidate, Political, social and cultural resistance to status quo intellectuals.

 Postscript: Very happy to confirm that my potential Industry Partner, Typeface Books in Perth, has said yes. The University and Typeface Books are going to now talk contract. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼