This has become a cliché when talking about this course, but I wish I had taken this course a year ago. It provided me with the guidance and direction that I have been searching for. After a quite frustrating week, everything slowly fell into place in the last two days. Can’t wait to get home and continue with my research.
- Nicoletta Baroutsi, Swedish Defense University
On the train back to Germany, I had lots of time to reflect on the TBRP PhD course and how to improve my proposal as a result of it. After the week long course in Aalborg, I feel much confident in my choice to do theory-building and grounded theory and better equipped to make decisions in my research. And as Andy Lowe said at the end, over the next few weeks and months, I know I will have additional moments of clarity. It was a week very well spent!
- Catarina von Maydell, Viadrina & German Graduate School
What I really liked about this course was the varied teaching formats: a good mix of traditional lectures, discussions, hands-on group assignments and finally the opportunity to discuss our projects and challenges one-on-one with the faculty. This is a rare opportunity and a nice change from the usual paper sessions of the other PhD courses I have attended. The course has certainly strengthened my theoretical sensitivity and provided me with new ways of thinking about my research. I think that many of the ideas that we discussed during the week will continue to emerge and re-emerge, as I move forward with my own work.
- Anne Mette Møller, University of Copenhagen
Five days were really full of classes, group activities and discussions. I liked practical exercises the most, but in general this course was a surprise for me. Probably the same feelings, when you are coming to a library to get a particular book, but ending up with a bunch of others. I would have never thought that I would actually need this knowledge, but I do. This course has broadened my view on how to approach a research project, how to think about theory and methods. It was quite interesting to see four teachers in the same room, who have different opinions on a class topic. There was an “orthodox”, who is strict about his method, there was a pragmatist, who uses just some parts of it and there were people in between. The message was clear: you are a researcher, you can and you must enjoy an opportunity to choose your way yourself. Get your autonomy. I believe each participant has gained a unique set of knowledge from this course.
- Alina V. Vladimirova, Institute of Oriental Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences
Theorizing in a PhD research is requisite, but developing skills on theory building is insufficiently taught. The program has given me a hand-holding and methodical way to theorize. Developing of theoretical insights is considered novel and progressive in research. With the skills gained and the continued support I look forward to using my skills as a junior faculty.
- Martin Kang’ethe Gachukia, Jomo Kenyatta University
The course provided me me with understanding of GT methods and techniques, including how to develop typologies, I would like to consider in my PhD. I believe I am getting to understand and learn about the process of theorizing from qualitative or quantitative data. I received hands-on experience working on assignments, which were tailored for the purpose of supporting the research throughout the process of confusion to practical knowledge.
- Behnam Boujarzadeh, Aalborg University
The course was excellently coordinated and delivered. It sets your mind on fire, confusion sets in and eventually new theory emerges as the cloud of confusion settles. The course took me through a different way of conducting research and gaining academic autonomy.
- Caleb Adelowo, Obafemi Awolowo University