International doctoral research and contributions to knowledge

Internationally mobile doctoral students are of huge significance to the globalised university, yet doctoral knowledge is seldom constructed as important to the academy. When constructed as a coherent or whole body of knowledge, doctoral research can be seen as powerful knowledge and can be used by scientific and community organisations to solve research problems. However, there remain some barriers to fully integrating international doctoral research into the academic community, and these include institutional structures and narrow systems of knowledge which continue to exclude and marginalise alternative ways of thinking. This chapter highlights the significant value of international doctoral research and the opportunities it offers for academics to broaden their international perspectives on their own research and disciplines.