A Journey of Collaboration and Research Impact - from struggles to strength

Shayesteh Moghadas is a PhD student in the Department of Marketing. Here, she documents the struggles and successes in her PhD journey, and highlights how the struggles can turn into strengths. 

When I began my PhD at the Department of Marketing in Strathclyde Business School, I didn’t realise just how challenging the journey would be. Balancing my thesis, work commitments, health matters, and international collaborations often felt overwhelming. There were many late nights and even tears, moments when I doubted whether I could manage it all. 

What kept me going was my supervisor’s belief in me. He never once said my work wasn’t good enough. Instead, he encouraged me, guided me, and showed me how to think and write like a researcher. His words often made me wipe away my tears and try again. Transitioning from an industry mindset into academia was not easy but with his mentorship I learned that writing is more than an output, it is a process of questioning, refining, and growing. 

That growth gave me the confidence to build on a collaboration that began long before my PhD. In 2015, when I was Vice President of a hospitality college in Malaysia, I led a work-based learning project with the college president, a PhD graduate of the former Strathclyde Hotel School (once one of the most respected hotel schools, now part of the Department of Work, Employment and Organisation). The project gained national recognition, expanded into Thailand, and became the foundation of a long-term academic partnership. 

Years later, that collaboration has come full circle. Together with colleagues in Thailand, I have now published two papers in other areas. In summary: 

· The first paper, published in the International Journal of Management Education, examined the role of work-based learning in tourism and hospitality education. It demonstrated how industry-embedded projects can significantly enhance student employability, bridging the gap between classroom theory and workplace practice. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1472811725001351 

· The second paper, published in the Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism Education, focused on sustainability in education practices. It explored how universities, working alongside industry partners, can equip students with the skills and mindset to integrate sustainability into daily operations, creating real impact beyond the classroom. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1473837625000267 

Looking back, I see that the struggles were part of the growth. Writing taught me resilience; feedback turned setbacks into progress; and collaboration transformed practice into meaningful research. From Scotland to South East Asia and back again, this journey has shown me that the path to publication is never easy, but with encouragement, persistence, and belief, it is always worth it. I am proud to be a Strathclyder, and I’m grateful for the guidance and collaboration that turned struggles into strength. 

About Shayesteh Moghadas

Shayesteh Moghadas is a doctoral researcher in the Department of Marketing at Strathclyde Business School.