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Dear All
The issues being discussed around the current PhD 'model' in Australia/New Zealand are very important, especially at a time where 'outputs' are the major currency for Universities and researchers to showcase their productivity (and attract subsequent funding).
In this regard, the current set-up in Australasia is light years behind the 'Scandanavian' model and is due for change.
Our research group has been following the 'Scandanavian' model for the past decade in that my Doctoral students are strongly encouraged to publish the results of their experiments 'as they go' rather than wait to finish the entire thesis and then think about writing up several papers. This approach has several major advantages including:
1) the research is rapidly published and does not date;
2) the candidate already has several publications to her/his name when they apply for post-doc or other positions;
3) the lab, the university and the funding agency get the kudos from the publication in a reasonable time-frame;
4) it very hard for any external examiner to 'reject' a thesis that has already undergone peer-review and is published!
Having said that, in addition to a written (but much shorter) thesis, the 'Scandanavian' model also call for a comprehensive viva exam in which external examiners question the candidate at some length about aspects of their thesis. This usually takes several hours and, in the opinion of this writer, is the true test of whether the candidate 'really knows their stuff.'
A potential limitation is adopting the 'Scandanavian' model 'down-under' is that often (always in the case of this writer) we use external (overseas) referees to examine a PhD thesis and so the costs associated with mounting a viva examination in Australia or New Zealand are, so I am told by my University, 'too high to consider'. While this is a problem with the current set-up, I am sure it could easily be circumnavigated by some imaginative accounting or putting the onus on the candidates supervisors to raise the funds necessary to fly in at least one external.
Anyway, just some thoughts, but the time has come to overhaul the current outdated system and move forward with the times.
JOHN
The issues being discussed around the current PhD 'model' in Australia/New Zealand are very important, especially at a time where 'outputs' are the major currency for Universities and researchers to showcase their productivity (and attract subsequent funding).
In this regard, the current set-up in Australasia is light years behind the 'Scandanavian' model and is due for change.
Our research group has been following the 'Scandanavian' model for the past decade in that my Doctoral students are strongly encouraged to publish the results of their experiments 'as they go' rather than wait to finish the entire thesis and then think about writing up several papers. This approach has several major advantages including:
1) the research is rapidly published and does not date;
2) the candidate already has several publications to her/his name when they apply for post-doc or other positions;
3) the lab, the university and the funding agency get the kudos from the publication in a reasonable time-frame;
4) it very hard for any external examiner to 'reject' a thesis that has already undergone peer-review and is published!
Having said that, in addition to a written (but much shorter) thesis, the 'Scandanavian' model also call for a comprehensive viva exam in which external examiners question the candidate at some length about aspects of their thesis. This usually takes several hours and, in the opinion of this writer, is the true test of whether the candidate 'really knows their stuff.'
A potential limitation is adopting the 'Scandanavian' model 'down-under' is that often (always in the case of this writer) we use external (overseas) referees to examine a PhD thesis and so the costs associated with mounting a viva examination in Australia or New Zealand are, so I am told by my University, 'too high to consider'. While this is a problem with the current set-up, I am sure it could easily be circumnavigated by some imaginative accounting or putting the onus on the candidates supervisors to raise the funds necessary to fly in at least one external.
Anyway, just some thoughts, but the time has come to overhaul the current outdated system and move forward with the times.
JOHN
Professor and Head
Exercise Metabolism Group
School of Medical Sciences
Building 223.2.52
RMIT University
PO Box 71
Bundoora
Victoria 3083
AUSTRALIA
Phone: +61-3-9925 7353
Fax: +61-3-9467 8181
e-mail: john.hawley@...
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