Prelude: The Topic Chooses the Researcher

Abstract

As a prelude to the rest of the book, this introductory chapter highlights the main motivation for the creation of Wellbeing in Doctoral Education, as well as the overall book structure. In recent years, wellbeing has been increasingly recognised as an important area in doctoral education. Yet, few resources exist to help those who support doctoral students. Wellbeing in Doctoral Education provides a voice to doctoral students to advocate for an improvement to their own doctoral training environment. The book offers a range of personal and engaging stories that highlight the diverse voices of doctoral students as they explore their own learning journeys. Through these stories, doctoral students advocate for an academic environment where disciplinary knowledge gained during the PhD is developed in concert with the skills necessary to maintain personal wellbeing, purposely reflect on experiences, and build intercultural competence.