Empowering the Moroccan Doctoral Researchers: The Need for Pre/In-Service Training on Research Software in Academic Research

Abstract

As digital tools continue to shape how we teach, learn and grow professionally, research itself is also evolving. Yet, many doctoral students still struggle to engage fully with the software that could support their work. This paper explores how Moroccan doctoral researchers relate to Research-Related Software (RRS), such as reference managers, data analysis tools, and plagiarism checkers, and whether they believe pre- and in-service training could make a difference. A quantitative survey was distributed to 50 doctoral candidates from over six Moroccan universities. The findings show that while most students have heard of RRS, they rarely use them—and those who use them the least are the ones who most want structured training. The desire for training also increases as students advance in their doctoral journey. These insights point to a clear gap in how research and research-related tools are introduced in doctoral programs. The paper suggests that integrating hands-on training in RRS into doctoral curricula—especially early on—could improve students' confidence, motivation, and ability to produce high-quality, independent research.