Hi all debatants!
I have followed the debate with interest, and reply to all rather than to
one person. To find a common definition of what a PhD and other degrees are
- whether it be in design or other disciplines - can be useful. It helps
recruiters of academically trained personnel around the world, and may
provide a quality guarantee for students. The real world is as usual far
from perfect. I want to relate some personal experiences.
While I was a doctoral student at Columbia U. in NY, USA the question
arose: "What do we do with the ABDs? The answer was: Give them a M.Phil.
degree on completion of all exams/course work exept the defence of the
dissertation......So I got a degree I had not even applied for along the
way!
In 1977 I was recruiting junior business faculty to SUNY (NY state U.). One
of the applicants had a bona fide MBA from a very good school, and a "PhD"
from Nova U. - a degree that could at that time best be characterized by
"Mail order + 4 months residence". Since he had good business practice and
a good MBA I called him in for an interview and asked why he called himself
"Dr." and flaunted a degree from a not recognized institution. He said the
doctorate was important for his image in the consulting business, but did
understand that it did not much merit him for an academic position......
I have recruited many academicians during my career. These early lessons
told me two practical things:
1. The cost of hiring the wrong person is too large not to do a thorough
evaluation job.
2. A degree is anything from ????? to ???? Therefore:
- look at the description, the courses completed and grades, the
requirements, the teaching staff, and most important: the reputation of the
institution.
- Take references, especially references not listed by the applicant......
- Read their masters and/or doctoral thesis and other publshed stuff
- interview the person focusing on your question marks after reading the
documents and taking references.
When advising students on where to continue their studies, I ask them to
investigate carefully:
- the reputation of the institution
- the reputation of the department
- the quality of the faculty and their publications - any person you fancy
as your thesis advisor?
- and several not so important points on my checklist
The truth is that a PhD is rewarded by a small group of certified people in
a certified institution. Whatever that group deems to be a doctoral thesis
is a doctoral thesis. Do you trust all the thousands of doctoral committees
around the world? I don't! Some demand much - others not so much....
So, let us look for a minimum definition that would give our programs and
institutions trustworthy image among students, peers and the community the
education is aimed at.
Brynjulf Tellefsen
Institute of Knowledge Management
Norwegian School of Management
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