A ‘doctoral compass’: strategic reflection, self-assessment and recalibration for navigating the ‘twin’ doctoral journey

This conceptual paper contributes to a broader perspective on doctoral experience via synthesis of several crucial concepts during the journey. The first part discusses core challenges customarily confronting scholars due distinct PhD genre leading introducing main base. Metacognition, being central knowledge creation, is explored through stages competence development and against competing notions often faced by scholars: Imposter Syndrome Dunning-Kruger Effect. Drawing upon these metacognitive concepts, implications crossing lengthy, non-linear trajectories in high-performance academic culture are further explored. While recognising associated challenges, this also highlights range available tools, resources, skillsets useful for transitional period, learning progression eventual completion. has, therefore, interwoven unified key with view proposing framework self-management strategy. holistic framework, form scaffolding navigating experience, likened ‘compass’ trekking both research landscape landscape. In absence ‘map’, employing one’s personal can empower manage potentially complex – identifying essential praxes scaffold entire process iterative cycles reflection, calibration recalibration strategic reflection evaluation progression.