New Report Released: Industry Placement in PhD Training – A National Study of Student and Advisor Experiences

How can Australia better prepare PhD graduates for careers across academia, industry, and government?

As industry demand for research-trained professionals continues to grow, industry placements are playing an increasingly critical role in bridging doctoral education and the innovation economy. Yet, until now, insight into what enables successful placements for students, advisors, and host organisations alike, has remained fragmented and incomplete.

We’re pleased to share the release of Industry Placement in PhD Training – A National Study of Student and Advisor Experiences conducted through the ARC Training Centre for Information Resilience (CIRES) with endorsement from the Australian Government Department of Education.

Drawing on perspectives from PhD students and academic advisors across Australia, the report examines:

• Participation pathways & placement models
• Student & advisor expectations & experiences
• Benefits for research translation, professional skills, & career development
• Challenges relating to workload, supervision, funding, & administration
• Evidence-based recommendations for universities, industry partners, & policymakers

The findings show that industry placements are a valuable component of doctoral training, helping students apply research in real-world contexts, build professional networks, and develop industry-ready capabilities. At the same time, the report identifies opportunities to strengthen support, alignment, and institutional processes to maximise outcomes for students, universities, and industry partners alike.

Thank you to our report authors: Prof. Shazia Sadiq, Prof. Marta Indulska, Dr. Xianxian Jiang, & Dr. Javad Pool.

Read the full report here.