A transnational experiment in building a practitioner research community: the Centre for Higher Education Internationalisation at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

Embodying both a practitioner research focus and a transnational network model, CHEI soon established an innovative doctoral programme which provides an opportunity for practitioners working principally in administrative positions in higher education institutions to attain a doctorate.One of the attractive features of the doctoral programme is that it allows candidates to continue to work in their positions in their home institutions while enrolled in the programme. While engagement between faculty, tutors and supervisors takes place through regular online meetings, students also attend two week-long in-person research training seminars each year, one in Brescia and the other in Milan. These intensive and very social events allow candidates to meet face to face with their fellow students, the academic team, and supervisors, and provide an important focal point in the life of the Centre.