100% Open AccessImmediate free access makes

articles easy to find and cite. Indexing in key databases assures

quality and integrity.

Constructive feedbackRigorous and helpful peer

review guides you to improve your manuscript.

“Pay what you can”Our ‘Freedom Article Publishing

Charges’ allow you to select the article publishing charge contribution you can afford.

Authors love usSurvey results show that our

authors rate us 9.4/10 for their overall satisfaction with the

publishing experience.

We are delighted that you are interested in publishing with us. These author submission guidelines should give you all the information you need for a quick and easy submission process.

Submit your Manuscript

About the JournalISSN: 2331-1983 Editor-in-chief: Peter Fosl • Editorial Board humanities@cogentoa.com

Cogent Arts & Humanities is a fully peer-reviewed, open access journal with a mission to help researchers reach a truly global audience, interact with experts in their field, and discover new connections across diverse fields of research.

Manuscripts submitted to the journal should be scholarly research, should have relevance to the subject remit of the journal, and should present the work with suitable clarity.

Our academic editors take an objective and constructive approach to peer review. Manuscripts are not rejected purely on the grounds of perceived importance or impact on the research community, but each manuscript will be evaluated on its own scholarly merits and research integrity.

Indexed in: Web of Science Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), British Humanities Index, Humanities Source Ultimate (EBSCO), Arts & Humanities full text (ProQuest), British

Humanities Index (ProQuest), British Library, Cabell’s International, Cengage, Finnish Publication Forum, Norwegian Register for Scientific Journals, Series and Publishers, Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL), DTU Library, Ulrich’s, Google Scholar, CrossRef and Taylor & Francis Online.

Journal SectionsYou will be asked to select the thematic section that is most appropriate for your article. Cogent Arts & Humanities considers original research, review articles and critical essays in any of the following branches of arts and humanities research:

• Cultural Studies

• Digital Humanities

• Film Studies

• History

• Linguistics

• Literature & Criticism

• Media Studies

• Philosophy

• Religious Studies

• Visual & Performing Arts

About the Author

Include a short summary (150 words) detailing either your own or your group’s main research activities, including how the research reported in this paper relates to wider projects or issues. You can also add one supporting photograph, including details of who is in the photograph.

References

References must be relevant and up-to-date. Cogent Arts & Humanities uses the American Psychological Association reference style. All references are converted to APA style during the production process.

Cover Image

An image can be supplied to create a cover page for your article, or you can select a figure from the article. Please obtain relevant permissions to reproduce the image if you don’t own the copyright.

Abstracts

Abstracts should be 100–200 words and must be supplied with all manuscripts. We accept video abstracts as an addition to the written abstract which will be uploaded alongside your article. Read our guidelines on how to film a video abstract.

Author Affiliation

Include full names, affiliations, postal addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses for all authors on the manuscript cover page. The author’s affiliation should be the affiliation where the research was conducted.

Public Interest Statement

Include a 150 word summary suitable for a non-specialist reader, explaining anything that will be of interest to the general public and has wider societal relevance.Read our guide on how to write the perfect public interest statement

Funder Information

Please include details of any funders of your research, including grant numbers, when submitting your manuscript. This should be supplied for each author.

Classifications & Keywords

We encourage authors to identify connections within and across different subject areas by selecting relevant classifications during submission and including specific keywords in their manuscript.

Figures

Figure resolution: 1200 dpi for line art, 600 dpi for grayscale, 300 dpi for color graphics.

Figures can be placed within text or submitted as separate files. They should be numbered in the order in which they appear in the paper.

On Acceptance

On Acceptance

On Submission

On Acceptance

On Acceptance

On Submission

On Submission

On Submission

On Acceptance

Manuscript preparationThe journal’s format-free submissions policy means that articles can be submitted in any standard format, including Word, rich text format (rtf), open document format (odt), LaTex and PDF. Articles can also be submitted as single or multiple files.

Optional Required

FORMAT - FREE

S U B MISSION

Submit your Manuscript

Competing Interests

Authors will be asked to declare any relevant competing interests of a personal, professional or financial nature.

Units of Measurements

Units of measurement must adhere to SI units and should not be italicized.

Read our guidance on mathematical symbols and equations.

Supplementary Material

Include datasets, illustrations, images, animations, and movie or sound files with your manuscript. Supplemental material can be referenced in the text of the article and will be fully citeable with a digital object identifier (DOI).

Language

Manuscripts must be written in English. British or American spelling and punctuation is accepted, but should be consistent throughout.

Professional English language editing and translational services are available at Taylor & Francis Editing Services.

Licensing

Articles are published under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, tweak and build upon your work as long as they credit you for the original creation.

NIH-Funded Authors

NIH-funded articles will be deposited in PubMedCentral (PMC) immediately after acceptance in .pdf and .xml formats to ensure compliance with the NIH “Public Access Policy”

Publication Timelines

The final version of the article will appear within three weeks, once copyediting, typesetting and proofing have been completed.

OA Mandates

Cogent OA complies with open access mandates from major funders and institutions, including RCUK, the Wellcome Trust, NIH and most others.

An extensive list of open access mandates can be found on the ROARMAP website.

Copyright Material

You must obtain permission, and pay associated fees, if necessary, to use any third party copyright material – both direct reproduction and ‘derivative’ reproduction. The rights holder of this material must grant you permission to publish their material under CC-BY license or with the appropriate copyright notice.

Submit your Manuscript

Page 1 of 11

DIGITAL HUMANITIES | RESEARCH ARTICLE

Assisted self-mentorship of a boundaryless research careerEmmie Smit and Henriette van den Berg

Cogent Arts & Humanities (2016), 3: 1185239

Submit your Manuscript

Smit & van den Berg, Cogent Arts & Humanities (2016), 3: 1185239http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23311983.2016.1185239

DIGITAL HUMANITIES | RESEARCH ARTICLE

Assisted self-mentorship of a boundaryless research careerEmmie Smit1* and Henriette van den Berg1

Abstract: Purpose: The UFS’ Postgraduate School (PGS) aspires to enhance dynamic postgraduate education and career development, and to facilitate the development of twenty-first century doctorateness of doctorandi. International best practices work well for traditional doctorandi; however, non-traditional doctorandi need non-traditional interventions. The PGS accepted the challenge to develop a tailor-made extension of the existing programme. This paper is intended for doctorandi and postgraduate support units in this era of exponential growth in postgraduate enrol-ments and limited growth in academic staff appointments. Design/methodology/approach: In the first Action Research (AR)-cycle the PGS responded to negotiated requirements, and developed an e-mentoring programme that included compo-nents of group- and peer-mentoring. Then, the doctorandi identified an additional requirement. This led to the second AR-cycle and illustrated the value of AR’s par-ticipation and co-constructing. Theories, concepts and constructs of Developmental Action Inquiry, Action Research and Developmental Psychology support the design. Findings: The result was a self-mentoring programme that encompasses lifelong career ownership skills; research and scholarship; doctoral education; academic practice and development; as well as the discovery of literature that supports and furthers the passion of the PGS. Originality/value: The self-mentoring programme is generic and transferable, and only very basic MS Word and Internet access is needed.

Subjects: Action Research & Teacher Research; Computer Science; Higher Education

Keywords: action research; postgraduate; researcher development; online mentoring; metaphor; self-mentoring

*Corresponding author: Emmie Smit, Postgraduate School, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa E-mail: emmiesmit.sa@gmail.com

Reviewing editor:Lincoln Geraghty, University of Portsmouth, UK

Additional information is available at the end of the article

ABOUT THE AUTHOREmmie Smit’s research circles around her passion to make sense of phenomena and to address challenges by developing innovative interventions. She holds a PhD in Higher Education Studies; an MA in Drama and Theatre Arts; an MA in Urban and Regional Planning; and a postgraduate diploma in Arts & Culture Management. She was a postdoctoral fellow in Higher Education Studies at Aarhus University (Denmark) and currently is appointed at the Postgraduate School of the University of the Free State (South Africa).

PUBLIC INTEREST STATEMENTThis article narrates an intervention of the University of the Free State’s Postgraduate School (PGS) that enhances dynamic postgraduate education and career development, and facilitates the development of 21st century doctorateness of doctorandi. International best practices work well for traditional doctorandi; however, non-traditional doctorandi need non-traditional interventions. The PGS developed a tailor-made self-mentoring programme that encompasses lifelong career ownership skills; research and scholarship; doctoral education; academic practice and development.

Received: 22 October 2015Accepted: 28 April 2016

© 2016 The Author(s). This open access article is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 license.

Page 2 of 11

Submit your Manuscript

Page 4 of 11

Smit & van den Berg, Cogent Arts & Humanities (2016), 3: 1185239http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23311983.2016.1185239

These possibilities, convenience and accessibility of virtual research capacity development free the practitioner from many limitations, but require proactive lifestyle interventions. In my experi-ence, research is more than a practice or an occupation; it is a lifestyle of discovery and adaptation.

3. The process

3.1. The institutionLike other role players in the global HE sector, the University of the Free State, the PGS and HE prac-titioners are passionate about enhancing the functionality of learning environments by addressing the challenges of all stakeholders, and are committed to deliver the highest value while staying true to the unique values and core functions of the HEI and the community.

In support of the University of the Free State’s (2009) Academic turnaround strategy, the UFS’ PGS was launched on 20 May 2011. The School’s strategic plan embraces five overarching principles, namely to target the postgraduate students who need it most; to engage the emerging researcher

Figure 1. Out of Water by Isolde Krams is in the permanent collection of the Oliewenhuis Art Museum in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Figure 2. Walking Fish by Thomas Kubayi is in the permanent collection of the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Submit your Manuscript

Page 10 of 11

Smit & van den Berg, Cogent Arts & Humanities (2016), 3: 1185239http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23311983.2016.1185239

concerns, and re-imagining and modifying action plans, the researchers answer the question of How do I improve what I am doing? (Cooperrider, Barrett, & Ludema, 2000).

The simple model illustrates the research process discussed in this paper (Figure 3). Each cycle has five phases, namely, identifying the issue; planning of action; act by collecting data; observe by ana-lysing data; and reflect to adapt future actions (McNiff & Whitehead, 2005).

Participating individuals used action reflection cycles to express concerns about their own practice in postgraduate education and researcher development. These cycles of self-reflective practice in-clude imagining possibilities in developing and implementing action plans, acting and gathering data, evaluating the outcomes, and modifying concerns, ideas and action. The explanations and experiences turned out to be life affirming, energising, and valuing the principles of the PGS and the participating individuals. Through the online and peer-mentoring processes the participants will generate new knowledge when observing and reflecting on their own and other participant’s prac-tices (Whitehead & McNiff, 2006).

5. ConclusionMany hours of discussions and reflections on the existing status quo of the non-traditional doctor-andi’s challenges to access developmental opportunities preceded and occurred throughout the research process. Many smaller interactive cycles were part of each of the two main cycles. This ena-bled identifying, planning, implementing, observing and reflecting of the establishment of the mul-timedia hub, the resource centre, the database of existing opportunities, and the strategising and trial of the mentorship programme. Without the participation of staff members who are also doctor-andi, the outcomes of this phase would not have been so rich and rewarding.

The ever-changing landscape of academe necessitates the continuous crossing of thresholds to doctorateness as it emerges. Doctorateness is the threshold to being an independent all-round aca-demic. It includes both the condition and the action required to meet the condition (Trafford & Leshem, 2009). The process focuses on four areas, namely, postgraduate education, research devel-opment, career management and student experience.

Further research will involve the implementation of the full programme and will include at least one additional cycle. Another option is to explore assisted self-mentorship of a boundaryless re-search entrepreneur, who will seek not to be employed by a HEI. The metaphor of the flying fish who will free itself from employment by HEIs (Figure 4) will illustrate the research entrepreneur. The outcomes of this project can easily be duplicated and/or adapted by other institutions. The participa-tion in the project had no known ethical ramifications for any of the participants.

FundingThe authors received no direct funding for this research.

Author detailsEmmie Smit1

E-mail: emmiesmit.sa@gmail.comORCID ID: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8094-7207Henriette van den Berg1

E-mail: vdberghs@ufs.ac.za1 Postgraduate School, University of the Free State,

Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Citation informationCite this article as: Assisted self-mentorship of a boundaryless research career, Emmie Smit & Henriette van den Berg, Cogent Arts & Humanities (2016), 3: 1185239.

Cover imageSource: Emmie Smit.

ReferencesArthur, M. B. (1994). The boundaryless career: A new

perspective for organizational inquiry. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 15, 295–306. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/(ISSN)1099-1379

Bass, L. R., & Faircloth, S. C. (2011). Female faculty of color: Successful strategies in academia. In G. Jean-Marie & B. Lloyd-Jones (Eds.), Women of color in higher education: Changing directions and new perspectives (pp. 219–239). Bingley: Emerald.

Broder-Singer, R. (2011). Why mentoring matters in an increasingly complex business world. Miami School of Business Administration Magazine. Retrieved from http://bus.miami.edu/magazine/spring2012/fall_2011.pdf

Buller, J. (2011). Promoting research while advancing instruction. Academic Leader, 27. Retrieved from http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/academic-leadership/promoting-research-while-advancing-instruction-part-3/#sthash.Q45k1NJO.dpuf

Cloke, P., Philo, C., & Sadler, D. (1991). Approaching human geography. London: Paul Chapman.

Submit your Manuscript

Editorial PolicyAll published articles are freely available online immediately to anyone, anywhere, with no subscription or access fees. The journal will only consider manuscripts that have not previously been published and that are not under consideration for publication or in press elsewhere. Cogent Arts & Humanities uses CrossCheck™ software to screen papers for unoriginal material.

All manuscript submissions are subject to initial appraisal by an Editor and, if considered suitable, to single-blind peer review by independent, anonymous expert referees.

For manuscripts that replicate research or present similar results to previously published research, authors should provide a rationale for their work and existing literature should be referenced and discussed appropriately.

AUTHORSHIP

Cogent Arts & Humanities requires that all individuals who meet authorship criteria are included as authors on an article. Contributions from individuals who do not qualify for authorship should be acknowledged in the ‘Acknowledgments’ section.

Please include all authors’ full names, affiliations and email addresses on the title page. All authors are strongly encouraged to include an ORCID identifier and, where available, social media handles (Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn). One author will need to be identified as the corresponding author,

with their email address normally displayed in the article PDF and the online article. Authors’ affiliations are the affiliations where the research was conducted. If any of the named co-authors moves affiliation during the peer-review process, the new affiliation can be given as a footnote. Please note that no changes to affiliation can be made after your paper is accepted. Read more on authorship.

COMPETING INTEREST POLICY

Cogent OA has a transparent publications policy, requiring authors to declare any relevant competing interests of a personal, professional or financial nature at the time of submission. All authors should disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias their work.

Competing interests may be made available to reviewers and will appear in the published article at the discretion of the Editors or Publisher. The intention of this policy is not to prevent authors with these relationships from publishing their work, but rather to adopt transparency for readers to be able to make objective judgments on the conclusions drawn.

For more information about what constitutes a competing interest, read more here.

CONTACTS

Editorial: Emily Cooper Marketing: Daria Montella

“The review process was timely, the suggested revisions were astute, and the proofreading was professional and constructive.”PHILIP MYERS

“After our article was accepted for publication, the editing and production process were quick and the article was in circulation.”ROBERT SILVERMAN

“After the publication I had received great attention from the academic circles. I feel very satisfied to have published with you.”SUAD SAKALLI GUMUS