Dwi Martini - PhD Journey
I am Dwi, a second-year PhD student from Indonesia, an awardee of a scholarship provided by the Indonesian Endowment Fund for Education. Before undertaking this PhD program, I worked as a lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Mataram, Indonesia.
The availability of the world’s preeminent professor in the field of Intellectual Property (IP) law is the key motivation for my decision to pursue a PhD in law at the University of Sheffield. The primary focus of my research is IP law, particularly the interaction and contradiction of modern and traditional IP in the setting of Indonesia. This topic is significantly pertinent to the current situation of this country, as it is recognised as one of the most diversified countries in terms of biological and cultural resources which are commonly included in patented products. My research aimed to map Indonesia’s challenges and opportunities to enhance the national welfare through a comprehensive arrangement of these subject matters in the national legal system.
In terms of the departmental support system, a combination of responsive, professional, and friendly communication styles facilitates my adjustment to the new academic environment and makes me more at ease when sharing learning barriers and issues with the supervisory team. Despite the inevitable challenges along the route, the approachable academic and admission staff makes this journey more enjoyable.
The modules offered in this program such as Research Ethics, Legal Research methodology and doctoral training in criminology and law are designed to enhance students’ critical thinking abilities. Students are encouraged to be actively involved in discussions in each workshop and seminar. In addition, I find the supplementary modules which include English language and thesis writing to be of great assistance in preparing my research proposal and dissertation. With the availability of these resources, I am confident that I will be able complete the degree in the allotted time and with the desired outcome, which will contribute considerably to my academic career in the future.
My advice for future PhD candidates is “if others can accomplish it, so do you”. Regardless of the numerous academic and non-academic difficulties, the university offers a variety of support services for its international students who probably came from significantly different academic and social cultures, ranging from peer group sharing sessions to professional guidance, and from academic to community-based involvement.