Graduate Education and the Evolving genre of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Electronic writing spaces are transforming graduate education—enhancing mentoring and the shape of dissertation content. In this article, we review international efforts to develop the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD). We examine the need to amplify access to current scholarship, the need for training materials and centralized metadata, and the need to develop multi-language search interfaces. We explore ways traditional print dissertations are being remediated by electronic writing. We analyze challenges to implementing ETD initiatives, including concerns about preservation, attitudes toward intellectual property, and the training challenges involved in deploying technology to present new research using media and interactive perspectives. We conclude that universities need to develop and support ETD initiatives to provide broader access to their research and to provide students with the training and tools they need to present their knowledge more effectively in a digital world.