Ventura, F., Stevens, A., Wolfensberger, P., Cardoso, A. F., Christiansen, M., Ilić, B., Härkänen, M. and Luiking, M-L., 2025. PhD Virtual Connect: Exploring the Development of a Community of Practice in Nursing Doctoral Education. Journal of Advanced Nursing. (In Press)
Full text available as:
![]() |
PDF
Ventura_etal_2025_PhD-Virtual-Connect_Redacted.pdf - Accepted Version Restricted to Repository staff only until 9 July 2026. Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial. 205kB |
Copyright to original material in this document is with the original owner(s). Access to this content through BURO is granted on condition that you use it only for research, scholarly or other non-commercial purposes. If you wish to use it for any other purposes, you must contact BU via BURO@bournemouth.ac.uk. Any third party copyright material in this document remains the property of its respective owner(s). BU grants no licence for further use of that third party material. |
DOI: 10.1111/jan.70065
Abstract
Background: Virtual scholarly events play an increasing role in doctoral education, particularly in nursing. The PhD Virtual Connect-event has been held annually for the past decade, evolving as a platform for engagement, knowledge exchange and professional development. However, its potential as a structured virtual Community of Practice remains underexplored. Aim: This study explores the experiences of PhD students participating in the 9th and 10th editions (2023 and 2024) of the Sigma Theta Tau European Region's PhD Virtual Connect, examining how they perceive its alignment with Community of Practice principles and its role in doctoral nursing education. Method: A qualitative, open-ended survey was administered to the event participants who presented their studies across both editions, with responses being analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, followed by a comparative discussion of findings. Results: A total of 36 participants answered the survey. The analysis identified four key themes: developing a scholarly identity, reciprocity in feedback, structuring engagement and broadening research perspectives. Participants highlighted the event's role in strengthening academic confidence and fostering a sense of belonging. A shift towards peer-driven feedback and structured engagement in 2024 reflected increasing demand for organised discussions and thematic breakout sessions. These findings support the event's function as a dynamic Community of Practice, where participants co-construct knowledge, refine collaborative processes and navigate interdisciplinary learning. Conclusion: The PhD Virtual Connect fosters scholarly engagement, mentorship and interdisciplinary exchange as an evolving virtual Community of Practice. While it sustains meaningful academic interaction, addressing digital inequities, enhancing interactive elements and formalising mentorship structures will be key to ensuring long-term inclusivity and engagement. Future research should examine the long-term impact of the virtual Community of Practice on academic career trajectories and professional networking in doctoral education. Patient or Public Contribution: No Patient or Public Contribution. This study focused on PhD nursing students' experiences in a virtual scholarly event, involving only academic participants. As it was not a healthcare intervention or service-related study, patient or public involvement was not applicable.
Item Type: | Article |
---|---|
ISSN: | 0309-2402 |
Uncontrolled Keywords: | Community of Practice; PhD education; education; e‐learning; nursing |
Group: | Faculty of Health & Social Sciences |
ID Code: | 41225 |
Deposited By: | Symplectic RT2 |
Deposited On: | 30 Jul 2025 12:06 |
Last Modified: | 30 Jul 2025 12:06 |
Downloads
Downloads per month over past year
Repository Staff Only - |