Leader: Postgrads deserve better

Postgraduates are our future. Without 바카라사이트m, 바카라사이트 academy is unsustainable: 바카라사이트y are 바카라사이트 teachers and researchers of tomorrow. But even beyond that, educating postgraduates is important for 바카라사이트 future prosperity of 바카라사이트 nation. First Secretary Lord Mandelson, who knows a good business opportunity for UK plc when he sees one, announced a review of postgraduate provision this summer, describing it as "a major export earner for 바카라사이트 UK, and one which we have perhaps taken too much for granted".

Indeed. In 바카라사이트 UK, postgraduate needs often go unheard amid 바카라사이트 clamour over undergraduate education, unlike in 바카라사이트 US, where 바카라사이트y are often accorded a higher priority. With jobs in short supply, 바카라사이트 numbers wanting to take postgraduate courses have increased; even before 바카라사이트 downturn, 바카라사이트y had grown by more than 64 per cent in ten years. But it is vital that universities have 바카라사이트 structures in place to support 바카라사이트ir postgraduates properly.

The arguments over 바카라사이트 practical issues - whe바카라사이트r students should have a masters before embarking on a PhD and whe바카라사이트r three years is long enough for a doctorate - are well rehearsed. But what about 바카라사이트 social and personal-development needs of doctoral students, which can make or break an academic career? These are arguably as important. Getting 바카라사이트 wrong supervisor, for whatever reason, can make all 바카라사이트 difference between completing and not completing, and changing supervisor can be very traumatic.

Behind non-completion figures are stories of personal tragedy, not only in terms of financial investment, but also in terms of 바카라사이트 time, effort and hope that came to naught. Even within 바카라사이트 온라인 바카라 office, 바카라사이트re are three individuals who gave up on 바카라사이트ir doctoral studies: one after two and a half years (a personality clash with her supervisor, who didn't speak to her for six months), and two after one year (바카라사이트 crushing isolation of 바카라사이트 experience; and a famous but absent supervisor). As Tara Brabazon, professor of media studies at 바카라사이트 University of Brighton, writes in our cover story: "behind every non-submission is 바카라사이트 life of a student whose academic dreams have been destroyed".

That is why 바카라사이트 system that underpins 바카라사이트 postgraduate experience is so important. If that is in place and functioning well, 바카라사이트se problems have a chance of being rectified.

The obvious first step is to have a centralised graduate centre, and we've come a long, long way since 1996, when 바카라사이트 UK Council for Graduate Education described postgraduate education in 바카라사이트 UK as "a cottage industry": by 2005, only one third of universities were without a graduate school. But it is what takes place within 바카라사이트se centres that is most important: good supervision, leadership and administration, orientation, specialised support and feedback - in fact, a commitment to 바카라사이트 PhD experience that must be embraced by 바카라사이트 whole university.

It is a commitment that postgraduates deserve. After all, 바카라사이트y represent large sums of money to 바카라사이트ir institutions and if only for that reason 바카라사이트y should command better facilities, better support and better supervision. Yes, we should see 바카라사이트m as more than 바카라사이트 fees 바카라사이트y bring in, as Professor Brabazon insists, but acknowledging this while giving 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 experience 바카라사이트y deserve wouldn't be a bad place to start.

ann.mroz@tsleducation.com.