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Why should our discipline engage in formal research? During the last ten years the interest in higher degree research in art and design has mushroomed. The red bars on the graph show the growth over a twenty year period of Ph.D completions in Art & Design. The framework of higher degrees offers the potential for exploring practice in depth from an informed perspective. It also is capable of generating a level of critical awareness beyond that of Masters level study, and in a much more open and rigorous way than professional practice perhaps might encourage, even at the highest levels. The same arguments apply as before in terms of the communication of innovation to help advance our disicpline and develop new ways of working. Our credibility is enhanced by research and exciting opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration are opened up as a direct result.

 

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