Beyond the Academy

BEYOND THE ACADEMY
PROFESSIONAL AGENCY AND LEARNING IN VIRTUAL CONTEXTS

Beyond the Academy is a research study funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). In collaboration with our partner organization, Hikma Strategies, ALIVE Lab is investigating critical questions about professional agency and community. Through qualitative and quantitative methods, we are gathering insights from professional learners who know firsthand what it means to teach, be taught, and co-create knowledge: PhD students and graduates.

The lines of our professional landscape are being redrawn by the Great Resignation, the booming EdTech industry, and widespread discussions about the future of higher education. The goal of our research is to inform and improve the programs that organizations like Hikma Strategies offer to create effective learning experiences and co-creative spaces for emerging professionals across the knowledge ecosystem. This study has the potential to benefit learners, educators, and employers by exploring better practices to create dynamic learning experiences that engage diverse learners through cohorts and communities of practice.

RESEARCH DESIGN

We’ve designed this study to incorporate two lines of inquiry that work in parallel to explore our research questions. Our approach has been approved by the UBC Ethics Board (BREB H21-02669).

A quantitative survey for PhD graduates about their experiences of professional agency and community during their degree programs. [Complete].
Qualitative interviews with consenting participants from Hikma’s 2021 pilot course, Entrepreneurship for PhDs to understand their experiences of learning and community through the program and in their broader professional contexts. [Complete]

How do we create learning communities that offer participants the agency to thrive?

What role does community play in the way that we think and learn?

RESEARCH TEAM

Jillianne Code, PhD

Principal Investigator

UBC

Andrea Webb, PhD

Co-Investigator

UBC

Erica Machulak, PhD

Co-Investigator

Hikma Strategies

Kieran Forde, PhD Candidate

Research Assistant

UBC

Sophia van Hees, PhD

Creative Director

Hikma Strategies

PROJECT FINDINGS

The Beyond the Academy: Professional Agency and Learning in Virtual Contexts research project explored how early-career researchers, including recent PhD graduates and postdoctoral fellows, develop professional agency through participation in a virtual community of practice. The findings highlight the following key insights:

Professional Agency Development
Participants demonstrated growth in their ability to make intentional career choices, identify transferable skills, and navigate transitions beyond academia. Increased self-efficacy, decision confidence, and adaptability were central to their development of professional agency (Code et al., 2024, in review).
Impact of Virtual Communities of Practice
Engagement in Hikma Collective’s Entrepreneurship for PhDs course fostered a sense of belonging, collaboration, and peer support. Participants valued the opportunity to share resources, discuss challenges, and build professional networks, which contributed to their career readiness (Forde, 2022).
Career Perception and Transition
Participants reported a greater awareness of non-academic career options and an enhanced ability to articulate the relevance of their academic skills in diverse professional contexts. This shift in perception helped them explore and pursue meaningful career pathways (Webb & Machulak, 2023).
Learning-Centered Course Design
The study underscored the effectiveness of learning-centered course design in virtual settings. Clear career-focused learning objectives, coupled with collaborative and practical approaches, supported participants in applying newly acquired knowledge and skills to real-world contexts (Machulak, 2023).
Broader Impact on Well-Being and Confidence
The project’s emphasis on fostering agency and community provided participants with tools to manage uncertainty and build resilience during career transitions, enhancing their overall sense of well-being (Forde, 2022; Webb & Machulak, 2023).

These findings demonstrate the importance of integrating professional development opportunities into academic training and the value of virtual communities in empowering individuals to navigate complex career landscapes effectively. The research contributes to both theoretical understanding and practical strategies for supporting early-career researchers in diverse professional trajectories.

WATCH THE RECORDING OF OUR VIRTUAL DIALOGUE

In this recording, the research team presents the “origin story” for this project, an overview of the qualitative and quantitative methods used, and some early takeaways.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE RECORDING