The Knowledge Nugget

Pursuing a PhD degree is a challenging process. PhD students can sometimes feel overwhelmed with the process. Professor Alex Duffy, currently the Head of Department of Design Manufacture and Engineering Management, who has successfully supervised more than 16 PhD graduates, clearly understand this situation. This paper is written with the aim to provide a guideline for his students, in order to assist them accomplish their journey successfully, by collecting the main concept he normally educates his learners when pursuing the degree. This paper represents Professor Alex Duffy's supervision style in the context of Engineering Design Research. It starts by giving an explanation about the PhD process. Professor Duffy uses a specific analogy to make new students understand the process and the experience easily. He believes that it takes more than intelligence to survive. Hence his supervision style is directed to develop his student's character apart from intelligence. The paper continues with an overview of some of the tools that he utilises; such as a Progress Record Sheet and a Knowledge Map.