Researching across languages and cultures: a study with doctoral students and supervisors at a Portuguese University

Abstract

Researching across languages and cultures is a theme increasingly studied in diversified contexts due to the internationalisation of higher education. At the level of doctoral studies, this impacts on the process of doing and supervising a PhD. In Portugal, research concerning this issue is scarce and this paper intends to discuss the meanings and implications of researching in the intersection between different languages and cultures in the context of doctoral education at the Department of Education and Psychology of the University of Aveiro, Portugal, in the perspective of both (national and international) students and supervisors. Results from thematic analysis indicate substantial implications concerning: (i) the supervision process; (ii) researchers’ personal and professional development; and (iii) knowledge production and dissemination. In the light of the results, some discussion axes concerning doctoral education will be put forward.