Applications are invited for a three year funded PhD scholarship in the School of Education at the University of Aberdeen. This fully funded PhD is aimed at exploring the educational and other influences on young people’s career choices with respect to forestry.
There has been, in recent years, worldwide concern raised over the fall in the numbers of students undertaking forestry courses in universities. While there may be some evidence to suggest that young people are now, on the one hand, more attracted by careers that offer higher salaries there is also some evidence that young people may develop an interest through being influenced by their own experiences in outdoor and forest settings.
This PhD, therefore, aims to investigate the conceptions that young people, teachers and career guidance professional have about forestry. How these perceptions compare with the changing nature of forestry requirements for the 21stcentury, and the experiences that young people have which are influential in setting them on a career path into forestry and forestry related professions.
Applicants should hold or expect to obtain a good honours degree (2.1 or above) and/or a Masters level qualification in relevant disciplines including but not limited to education or a relevant social sciences discipline, environmental sciences or sociology.
The PhD will commence in October 2016 and the successful candidate will be based at the School of Education at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland.
The funding associated with this project covers the equivalent of three years, full-time UK/EU tuition fees, plus a stipend (at Research Council UK levels) for three years*.
The project is a collaboration between the University of Aberdeen and the University of the Highlands and Islands, Inverness College and is funded by Scottish Forestry Commission (Scotland and GB) and the Scottish Forestry Trust.
Informal enquiries about this PhD may be made to Dr Donald Gray: [email protected]
For further details and information about this scholarship and how to apply go to http://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-taught/apply.php
Closing date for applications: 5th August 2016
