A new study has just been published in Higher Education Research & Development, authored by Karla Brücknerová, Jakub Vlček, Jana Navrátilová, Barbora Nekardová, Tomáš Lintner, Boglárka Belovecová, and Kristýna Šejnohová.

Drawing on qualitative interviews with 17 doctoral supervisors and 21 doctoral students across Czech universities, the study explores taboo topics in doctoral supervision—issues that are widely recognised but difficult to discuss openly.

The findings identify four interconnected areas of silence: institutional dependence on doctoral researchers, doubts about applicants’ preparedness and motivation, poor supervision practices, and challenges related to feedback, support, and academic expectations.

The study highlights that silence in doctoral supervision is not simply a matter of interpersonal communication. It is also shaped by broader structural and institutional pressures that make open and honest conversations difficult.

Read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2026.2739887