Parenting in Academia: Unequal Pathways to Collaboration for Doctoral Students in South Korea

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Parenting in Academia: Unequal Pathways to Collaboration for Doctoral Students in South Korea
Language: English
Authors: Hye Yeon Park (ORCID 0009-0002-5918-5524), Heewon Moon (ORCID 0009-0002-1574-8321)
Source: Higher Education Quarterly. 2025 79(3).
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 14
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Doctoral Students, Parents, Student Participation, Gender Differences, STEM Education, International Cooperation, Cultural Awareness
Geographic Terms: South Korea
DOI: 10.1111/hequ.70041
ISSN: 0951-5224
1468-2273
Abstract: This study explores the challenges faced by parenting doctoral students, focusing on their research collaboration experiences, collaborative competency, and barriers to develop collaborative competency in comparison to their non-parenting counterparts. The research employs data collected through an online survey of doctoral students at a leading research university in South Korea in 2024. The results reveal that female parenting students report lower participation in international collaborations and face greater barriers in developing global competencies compared to male and non-parenting students. However, parenting students, particularly females, exhibit higher levels of self-perceived collaborative skills and attitudes. Notably, these differences are more pronounced in non-STEM fields, with no significant sex or parenting effects observed in STEM fields. The study highlights the need for higher education institutions to ensure that research collaboration opportunities are equally accessible to all students regardless of parenting status, sex, or discipline. The findings are timely given the global concern over declining fertility rates and their potential impact on the academia.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1478653
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:This study explores the challenges faced by parenting doctoral students, focusing on their research collaboration experiences, collaborative competency, and barriers to develop collaborative competency in comparison to their non-parenting counterparts. The research employs data collected through an online survey of doctoral students at a leading research university in South Korea in 2024. The results reveal that female parenting students report lower participation in international collaborations and face greater barriers in developing global competencies compared to male and non-parenting students. However, parenting students, particularly females, exhibit higher levels of self-perceived collaborative skills and attitudes. Notably, these differences are more pronounced in non-STEM fields, with no significant sex or parenting effects observed in STEM fields. The study highlights the need for higher education institutions to ensure that research collaboration opportunities are equally accessible to all students regardless of parenting status, sex, or discipline. The findings are timely given the global concern over declining fertility rates and their potential impact on the academia.
ISSN:0951-5224
1468-2273
DOI:10.1111/hequ.70041