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Doctoral students' perceptions of core competencies and curriculum benefits by career choice: a study at a research university in Korea.

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Title: Doctoral students' perceptions of core competencies and curriculum benefits by career choice: a study at a research university in Korea.
Authors: Lee, Eunhye (AUTHOR), Jung, Jisun (AUTHOR), Shin, Jung Cheol (AUTHOR)
Source: Studies in Higher Education. Aug2026, Vol. 51 Issue 8, p1827-1842. 16p.
Subjects: Core competencies, Educational benefits, STEM education, Doctoral students, Vocational guidance, University research, Koreans
Geographic Terms: South Korea
Abstract: This study examined doctoral students' perceptions of core competencies and curriculum benefits in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields and compared them according to their career choices. The research questions were as follows: What competencies do doctoral students perceive they develop through their doctoral studies in relation to their career choices? To what extent do doctoral students perceive that their curricula contribute to the development of core competencies? Survey data were collected from 778 doctoral students in the STEM fields at a research-intensive university in South Korea. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to cluster the perceived core competencies, followed by descriptive statistics and mean comparisons such as t-tests. The EFA identified three core competencies: research performing, research managing and professional identity and role developing competencies. Doctoral students pursuing academic careers had a higher perception of their curricula developing their core competencies than those who chose non-academic careers. Curricula were perceived to provide less support for competency development among doctoral students, especially in professional identity and role development, compared to its perceived importance. This emphasises a misalignment between conventional research-focused doctoral training and the diverse career paths prevalent today. These results hold significance for meeting the learning requirements of doctoral students pursuing a broader spectrum of career opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Studies in Higher Education is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: Doctoral students' perceptions of core competencies and curriculum benefits by career choice: a study at a research university in Korea.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Studies+in+Higher+Education%22">Studies in Higher Education</searchLink>. Aug2026, Vol. 51 Issue 8, p1827-1842. 16p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Core+competencies%22">Core competencies</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+benefits%22">Educational benefits</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22STEM+education%22">STEM education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Doctoral+students%22">Doctoral students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Vocational+guidance%22">Vocational guidance</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22University+research%22">University research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Koreans%22">Koreans</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22South+Korea%22">South Korea</searchLink>
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  Label: Abstract
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  Data: This study examined doctoral students' perceptions of core competencies and curriculum benefits in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields and compared them according to their career choices. The research questions were as follows: What competencies do doctoral students perceive they develop through their doctoral studies in relation to their career choices? To what extent do doctoral students perceive that their curricula contribute to the development of core competencies? Survey data were collected from 778 doctoral students in the STEM fields at a research-intensive university in South Korea. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to cluster the perceived core competencies, followed by descriptive statistics and mean comparisons such as t-tests. The EFA identified three core competencies: research performing, research managing and professional identity and role developing competencies. Doctoral students pursuing academic careers had a higher perception of their curricula developing their core competencies than those who chose non-academic careers. Curricula were perceived to provide less support for competency development among doctoral students, especially in professional identity and role development, compared to its perceived importance. This emphasises a misalignment between conventional research-focused doctoral training and the diverse career paths prevalent today. These results hold significance for meeting the learning requirements of doctoral students pursuing a broader spectrum of career opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Studies in Higher Education is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/03075079.2025.2544985
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 16
        StartPage: 1827
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      – SubjectFull: Core competencies
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational benefits
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: STEM education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Doctoral students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Vocational guidance
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      – SubjectFull: University research
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      – SubjectFull: Koreans
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      – SubjectFull: South Korea
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: Doctoral students' perceptions of core competencies and curriculum benefits by career choice: a study at a research university in Korea.
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            NameFull: Lee, Eunhye
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            NameFull: Jung, Jisun
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            – D: 01
              M: 08
              Text: Aug2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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              Value: 51
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