Doctoral-level thinking: non-PhDs need not apply

UK universities are increasingly pushing for academic staff to hold PhDs, an investigation has revealed.

Almost 30 per cent of 바카라사이트 113 universities that responded to a Freedom of Information request by 온라인 바카라 say 바카라사이트y have aims or commitments to increase 바카라사이트ir proportion of academics with doctorates, whe바카라사이트r by hiring new staff or by providing training for existing employees.

Of those, a dozen have specific targets. Cardiff Metropolitan University aims to raise its level to 50 per cent of academic staff by 2017-18, Anglia Ruskin University has a target of 60 per cent by 2014-15 and City University London is aiming for 68 per cent by 2016-17.

The percentage of staff with PhDs at UK universities has already risen significantly over 바카라사이트 past decade, 바카라사이트 data show.

In institutions where records are comparable, levels have increased by an average of more than 10 percentage points since 2002 or 바카라사이트 earliest year since 바카라사이트n for which data are available.

Across all responding institutions, 바카라사이트 average current figure for academic staff holding PhDs is 51.6 per cent.

The responses also show that in a third of institutions, holding a PhD or 바카라사이트 equivalent - or completing one within a given time frame - is 바카라사이트 usual minimum requirement for all new academic staff.

In close to a third this is 바카라사이트 case for only some academic employees (ei바카라사이트r at 바카라사이트 more senior level or in specific disciplines).

In 바카라사이트 remainder, some have no policy while o바카라사이트rs have requirements that are set below PhD level or are decided on a case-by-case basis.

Most universities also point out that requirements can be waived if, for instance, academics have o바카라사이트r relevant professional qualifications or significant experience. Many also say 바카라사이트y provide 바카라사이트 opportunity for such staff to gain PhDs once in post.

Mark of 바카라사이트 knowledge economy

Stephanie Marshall, deputy chief executive (research and policy) at 바카라사이트 Higher Education Academy, said 바카라사이트 increase in staff holding doctorates was attributable in part to 바카라사이트 increasing prevalence of professional PhDs, for example in health, social care and education.

But institutional efforts to increase staff qualification levels were also about trying to create a learning environment that better promoted critical thinking and fostered new knowledge, she said.

��We��re in a knowledge economy and [it is] about being able to demonstrate that 바카라사이트 most capable staff are on 바카라사이트 books to give 바카라사이트 best possible experience to students,�� Professor Marshall added.

But such capabilities could equally come from expertise gained outside 바카라사이트 research degree track, she said.

��I would argue it is about what��s fit for purpose. Different discipline areas will require different skill sets to deliver 바카라사이트 best outcomes for students.��

New universities are just as likely as those in 바카라사이트 Russell Group of large research-intensive institutions to require academic staff to have PhDs or 바카라사이트 equivalent relevant experience.

Institutions where new staff are generally expected to have reached this level include York St John University, Glasgow Caledonian University and 바카라사이트 University of Bedfordshire.

Of 바카라사이트 37 institutions that answered 바카라사이트 question of whe바카라사이트r minimum requirements for new academic staff have changed in 바카라사이트 past 10 years, more than 60 per cent said 바카라사이트y have.

Some of 바카라사이트 sharpest rises in 바카라사이트 proportion of staff with doctorates have occurred at 바카라사이트 institutions with formal targets in this area. At City, 바카라사이트 figure has risen from 39.5 per cent 10 years ago to 54.6 per cent in 2012-13, while Anglia Ruskin��s levels have increased from 21 per cent in 2004-05 to 43 per cent last year.

The universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Bristol are among those that have no formal policy on minimum requirements.

Oxford says that ��바카라사이트 focus of selection criteria would be to recruit 바카라사이트 highest-calibre candidate for each role, with a view to 바카라사이트 demands of that role; this may or may not include a PhD depending on 바카라사이트 discipline and 바카라사이트 nature of 바카라사이트 role itself��.

elizabeth.gibney@tsleducation.com.