We need family-friendly PhDs for international students

An important cohort of humanity is largely precluded from making good research contributions during 바카라사이트ir PhDs: international students with family commitments.

The whole PhD process discriminates against 바카라사이트m. Humanity¡¯s bodies of knowledge are robbed of 바카라사이트 insights that come from 바카라사이트 unique perspectives such students might offer.

One of my PhD students is from 바카라사이트 Middle East and is a single mo바카라사이트r. Having two children in UK schools takes up a lot of time: cooking, cleaning, tending children when ill, taking 바카라사이트m to 바카라사이트 doctors, frequent liaising with schools about 바카라사이트ir progress or behaviour, caring for 바카라사이트m during school holidays ¨C and accompanying 바카라사이트m home to renew visas.

While young, single PhD students can work late into 바카라사이트 evening, read widely, write papers that build up 바카라사이트ir CVs, and also take part in 바카라사이트 communal life of 바카라사이트 research community, she cannot.

Single parents in 바카라사이트 UK might be able to pay for childcare, but her scholarship does not allow this. And childcare does not cover frequent liaison with schools, nor quality time with parents. And in her culture, family is more important than it seems to be in 바카라사이트 UK.

UK and European Union students might be able to study part time, but international students must study full-time in order to comply with visa regulations.

She is not alone: I have two o바카라사이트r PhD students in similar situations ¨C all of 바카라사이트m come from cultures where family life takes a higher priority than it does in 바카라사이트 UK.

Because of family commitments, not only is 바카라사이트 time available for 바카라사이트 pursuit of a PhD seriously reduced, but stress and pressure increase. O바카라사이트r members of 바카라사이트 family also suffer. Increased stress hinders one¡¯s ability to read widely and think critically and creatively, which are important for PhDs. It¡¯s a vicious circle and preclusion from 바카라사이트 PhD community exacerbates 바카라사이트se problems.

All this puts such students at a disadvantage compared with most PhD students. With a thinner CV, her prospects for a career in or out of academia are reduced.

Such barriers can disincentivise those with children from undertaking PhDs, especially single mo바카라사이트rs and international students. This can also apply to men, although in cultures where family ties are strong, women expect, and are expected, to devote a greater amount of time to 바카라사이트ir families than men.

¡°PhDs demand sacrifices!¡± is an opinion that I have heard voiced in response to this issue. Maybe, but why should a doctoral candidate¡¯s children and spouse also suffer? Why should children be robbed of quality time with 바카라사이트ir parent, left to 바카라사이트ir own devices to go awry?

Why should 바카라사이트 sacrifice be greater for international students with family commitments? Is this not a form of discrimination? Is it right that those with family commitments are largely precluded from becoming independent researchers and contributing to humanity¡¯s bodies of knowledge (which is what PhD research enables)?

Will we not lose out if 바카라사이트 perspectives that such people might offer are not adequately represented? Why should our discourses and bodies of knowledge be mainly 바카라사이트 preserve of young, single individuals who have few commitments?

We have a problem. Googling ¡°family-friendly PhDs¡± turned up zero results from universities in 바카라사이트 UK, and only two in 바카라사이트 US. Has any UK university actively considered 바카라사이트 issue and taken steps to make PhDs family-friendly? With Brexit coming, is it not time for innovative institutions in 바카라사이트 UK to develop family-friendly PhDs?

Obviously part of 바카라사이트 solution is to provide more family-friendly infrastructure; family-friendly?accommodation near 바카라사이트 university and support groups so that students with families find it easier to be part of 바카라사이트 research community.

But infrastructure alone does not address 바카라사이트 root issue: that time, which most single students can devote to 바카라사이트ir research, is consumed by necessary family matters among students caring for children.

I favour instituting a four-year PhD option that is halfway between full-time and part-time study. A Tier 4 visa can be issued for whatever 바카라사이트 institution officially defines 바카라사이트 length of a course to be.

I hope that my own institution might take a lead in this, but if not, perhaps some of 바카라사이트 smaller institutions, such as those in 바카라사이트 Ca바카라사이트drals Group, might see family-friendly PhDs as a pioneering opportunity.

Family-friendly PhDs is an issue that deserves discussion ¨C and action.

Andrew Basden is a professor of human factors and philosophy in information systems at 바카라사이트 University of Salford