Doctoral Education: The Next Focus of Higher Education Reforms Dr. Sybille Reichert (Zürich) Fünfte schweizerische Bologna-Tagung Université de Lausanne,

Doctoral Education: The Next Focus of Higher Education Reforms

Dr. Sybille Reichert (Zürich)

Fünfte schweizerische Bologna-TagungUniversité de Lausanne, 8 March 2006

Structure of Presentation

1. Why launch another reform debate when we haven‘t finished with Bologna yet? Doctoral training debate in the context of Bologna Doctoral training debate in the context of the

Lisbon Agenda & European Research Area

2. Main problems of doctoral education and proposed solutions Quality enhancement in supervision and career

development Integrating structures (graduate schools etc) Skills training to increase professional relevance

3. Opportunities and challenges for Swiss Doctoral Education

The most frequently mentioned aims of the doctoral reforms in Europe

Enhancing quality (supervision, mentoring, support, financial and framework conditions, duration)

Increasing relevance and career attention in view of diversified research-based career paths (UK, Ireland, Sweden)

Linking doctoral training to centers of research excellence (with sufficient critical mass) (Finland, Netherlands)

Increasing interdisciplinary and social integration (doctoral programmes and graduate schools)

Enhancing international attractiveness

Definitions: Doctoral Educ. and Research The core component of doctoral training is the advancement of new

knowledge through original research. It is essentially training by not training for research. (Eurodoc 2005)

Frascati definition of researchers: „professionals engaged in the conception or creation of new knowledge, products, processes, methods and systems, and in the management of the projects concerned.“ (The European Charter for Researchers)

UK definition for the purposes of Research Asessment :„includes work of direct relevance to the needs of commerce and industry, as well as to the public and voluntary sectors; scholarship*; the invention and generation of ideas, images, performances and artefacts including design, where these lead to new or substantially improved insights; and the use of existing knowledge in experimental development to produce new or substantially improved materials, devices, products and processes, including design and construction.

Example of a local institutional definition in the UK of Graduate education: Application of skills and knowledge to generate new knowledge Use of skills and new knowledge to educate others, innovate for

commerce or industry

Why launch another reform debate when we haven‘t even finished with BaMa yet?

1. Doctoral training was integrated into the context of Bologna with the Berlin Communiqué (2003):

„Ministers emphasise the importance of research and research training“ and ask for The promotion of interdisciplinarity An increased role and relevance of research to technological, social

and cultural evolution and to the needs of society. increased mobility at the doctoral and postdoctoral levels increased cooperation in doctoral studies among universities .

2. With the definition of Master level, the transition to the doctoral level and the interrelation of Master and Doctoral level research training had to be addressed.

The European Research Area

Competitiveness of European research: level of investment in R&D, mobilising industry to invest in R&D training researchers with the right competences especially for

industry, concentrating excellence creating a European labour market of researchers common minimum quality standards of research training:

Commission Recommendation on the European Charter for Researchers and on a Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (March 2005).

fostering international and intersectoral mobility to create more opportunities in researchers‘ careers

The problem in Europe is not the number of PhDs…

Doctoral S&E Degrees by World Region

0

5'000

10'000

15'000

20'000

25'000

30'000

S &

E P

h.D

. Deg

rees

50%

55%

60%

65%

70%

75%

80%

U.S

. Cit

izen

s an

d P

erm

Res

USA Europe Asia % US Citizens

All U.S

Europe

Asia

U.S. Citizen

… but the number of researchers and the academic bias, lacking career relevance and prospects of current research training.

Distribution of Researchers over Sectors

International Competition of Research Areas and Research Training Institutions

Increasing mobility of knowledge capital and knowledge based companies

Increasing competition of research universities, for qualified researchers and graduates in the world and within Europe (industry and academia)

More mobile students from the Far East, but also increasing quality of Chinese and Indian Institutions: necessity to select and attract the graduates with the right qualifications and offer globally competitive doctoral positions/ programmes

Increasing opportunities to attract international graduates who might have gone to the US to Europe instead.

Changes in International Graduate Student Applications to U.S. Graduate Schools 2003-2004

-100%

-80%

-60%

-40%

-20%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Per

cent

Cha

nge

Source: CGS Survey of International Graduate Admissions, 2004

Each bar represents one institution

Changes in International Graduate Student Applications to U.S. Graduate Schools 2004-2005

-150%

-100%

-50%

0%

50%

100%

150%

Per

cen

t C

han

ge

Source: CGS Survey of International Graduate Admissions, 2005

Each bar represents one institution

Main problems of doctoral education and proposed solutions

Factors hindering attractiveness of doctorate studies

length of doctorate studies: delayed entry into labour market and professional life delayed individual economic/social returns uncertainty regarding successful completion, attrition rate

specialisation – little attention to career prospects and frequent labour market mismatch

high degree of dependence on supervisor isolation lack of finance and social security personal/family dependencies and effects

Comparative Table of Comparative Table of the the professional professional profileprofile of doctoral of doctoral candidates in Europe - candidates in Europe - 20032003

Proposed Solutions

Improve supervision (clear expectations, additional institutional support and integration into team) and create support structures

Create integrating structures Introduce or enhance the career relevance and

attention to career development Include taught elements and skills training Improve financial situation of doctoral

candidates

UK: Quality Standards Framework for Research Degrees

Academic Supervisory Student Process

Institutional arrangements

Research environment

Selection, admission, enrolment & induction

Supervisory arrangements

Review & progress

Skills development

Feedback mechanisms

Appeals & complaints

www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/hefce/2003/03_23.htm

Supervision Supervisor supplemented by team, additional contact

points, possibility of complaints

Ensure appropriate research expertise: „At least one member of the supervisory team will be currently engaged in research in the relevant discipline(s), so as to ensure that the direction and monitoring of the student's progress is informed by up to date subject knowledge and research developments.“ (UK Code of Good Practice)

Ensure appropirate advisory (pedagogic) ability: „All supervisors need appropriate expertise for their role. They will wish, and institutions will require them, to engage in development of various kinds to equip them to supervise students.[…] Institutions will expect existing supervisors to demonstrate their continuing professional development through participation in a range of activities designed to support their work as supervisors. Supervisors should take the initiative in updating their knowledge and skills, supported by institutional arrangements that define and enable sharing of good practice and provide advice on effective support for different types of student. Mentoring relationships are one example of how support can be provided for supervisors.“ UK Code of Good Practice

Responsibilities and expectations of supervisors and doctoral candidates clearly communicated to both parties through written guidance/ contract and in the induction process

Structures: Graduate Schools, Doctoral Programmes

Long debate in Germany, Nordic Countries (since early 90ies), with new structures being introduced through funding agencies

Mixed aims: support and better integration of research perspectives and

opportunities for exchange Higher degree of selection, transparent recruitment and admission

criteria Link to research profil of institution, method of institutional positioning

Very different models and intransparent nomenclature: Graduiertenkolleg, doctoral programmes vs. PhD programmes (with Master phase integrated), Doctoral and Graduate Schools

Explicit recommendation by CRUS/ HRK/ ÖRK in their common position

Career Development and Skills Training• „New instruments for the career development of researchers

should be introduced and implemented, thus contributing to the improvement of career prospects for researchers in Europe. […] The Commission recommends that Member States endeavour to take, wherever necessary, the crucial steps to ensure that employers or funders of researchers improve the recruitment methods and career evaluation/appraisal systems in order to create a more transparent, open, equal and internationally accepted system of recruitment and career development as a prerequisite for a genuine European labour market for researchers.“ (Com Recomm. 2005)

• Skills training pushed strongly in the UK and Nordic Countries (Sweden) Joint Skills Statement of Research Councils in 2000 UK government -review by Sir Gareth Roberts 2003: „….PhD

students’ training should include at least 2 weeks’ dedicated training a year, principally in transferable skills….“

Example: Personal development at Philips

Leaderships Competences Shows Determination to Achieve Excellent Results Focuses on the Market Finds Better Ways Demands Top Performance Inspires Commitment Develops Self and Others

Functional Competences Knowledge Management Creativity and Innovation Problem Solving Architecture Style Thinking Influence Business Direction Personal Effectiveness

UK Research Councils’ Joint Skills Statement (2000)

Research skills and techniques

Research environment

Research management

Personal effectiveness

Communication skills

Networking and team working

Career management

www.grad.ac.uk/3_2_1.jsp

Example: Imperial College London

Positions, Opportunities and Challenges for Swiss Doctoral Education

Swiss Research Environment

Comparing economic and scientific wealth. national science citation intensity, measured as the ratio of the citations to all papers to the national GDP, shown as a function of the national wealth intensity, or GDP per person, for the 31 nations in the comparator group. GDP and wealth intensity are given in thousands of US dollars at 1995 purchasing-power parity. Sources: Thomson ISI, OECD and the World Bank.

Felix Helvetia

Doctorates per capita (100)

Graduation rate at doctoral level:Number of doctorates per 100 persons at the typical age of graduation

2000-2002

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

Icela

nd

Mexi

co

Turk

ey

Italy

Gre

ece

Hung

ary

Japa

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Cze

ch R

epublic

Irela

nd

Pola

nd

Slo

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Republic

Cana

da

Denm

ark

Kore

a

New

Zeala

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Port

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Spa

in

Belg

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Norw

ay

Aust

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Neth

erlan

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Unite

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Fra

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Unite

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Aust

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Fin

land

Germ

any

Sw

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2000 All doctorates 2002 All doctorates

What about research and research training in relation to innovation performance?

Opportunities & Challenges (1)

High degree of international attractiveness but also high dependence on international attractiveness because of small talent pool: Doctoral education has to maintain and extend a high profile, i.e. Enhanced role of institutions, highlighting relation to international

research strengths Doctoral programmes for common profile, quality control,

selection and supervision supported by committee, some overarching research methodology and optional courses

Controversial issues of critical mass for excellence / centers of excellence / common offer / common infrastructure

Attactiveness to individuals, Framework conditions, integration into wider interdisciplinary horizons, opening a wide range of career possibilities

National research dependent industrial sectors already import more labour force than in other countries - Need for adjustment of skills base in terms of quantity and relevance of competences?

Even career options on the academic markets may raise some questions about relevant research skills.

The CRUS/HRK/ÖRK CP emphasise the diversity of labour market needs that institutions have to take into account in their doctoral offer.

The skills debate is relevant for Switzerland too.

But what kinds of skills training should be associated with doctoral research education, without undermining independent research time and focus?

Opportunities & Challenges (2)

Outlook

Rigourous attention to excellence to maintain and expand the international competitiveness of Swiss research training (top in Europe) and position Switzerland as the best research environment in Europe

Flexibility, flexibility, flexibility, flexibility, flexibility, For the institutional to allow for diversity of profiles For the individual to allow for different aims and

personalities and creative spaces for the unforeseen