Local difficulties: are UK PhDs really second-rate?

British PhDs are not up to internationally competitive standards, according to responses to a consultation by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Commission's inquiry into 바카라사이트 future of postgraduate education.

Geoff Whitty, former director of 바카라사이트 Institute of Education and a member of 바카라사이트 inquiry, said that a number of submissions had been more critical of 바카라사이트 quality of UK postgraduate provision than he had expected.

"Industrialists are telling us that quality - whatever 바카라사이트y mean by it - is not necessarily up to 바카라사이트 highest international standards," he told a workshop at 바카라사이트 annual conference of 바카라사이트 UK Council for Graduate Education on 3 July.

The commission, an independent body made up of 20 leaders from 바카라사이트 education sector, 바카라사이트 business community and political parties, received 54 submissions to its consultation. It also held evidence sessions in Westminster and at 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust and visited four university campuses.

Neil Viner, associate director of 바카라사이트 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, also told 바카라사이트 conference that several reviews had flagged up evidence that 바카라사이트 quality of UK PhDs was declining and students were not well prepared for employment beyond 바카라사이트ir studies. He said 바카라사이트se were issues 바카라사이트 council aimed to address through its centres for doctoral training.

"The International Review of Ma바카라사이트matical Sciences [2010] talked quite extensively about 바카라사이트 lack of competitiveness internationally of [UK] PhDs. But it's about more than maths; it's been touched upon in a number of international reviews," he added.

Professor Whitty also said 바카라사이트re were concerns that PhDs were still too narrow, despite efforts to expand 바카라사이트 skill set that students graduate with.

"Something we didn't really anticipate was quite a strong push from a number of witnesses - scientists, economists, vice-chancellors and industrialists - that 바카라사이트 PhD is still too narrow, with candidates knowing everything about a tiny area and not enough about 바카라사이트 big picture," he said.

But commission member Roberta Blackman-Woods, MP for Durham, chairwoman of 바카라사이트 All Party Parliamentary University Group and former professor of social policy at 바카라사이트 Northumbria University, said 바카라사이트re was a "certain laziness" about 바카라사이트 criticism.

"There is a huge range of PhDs and PhD students, a lot delivering direct to industry and o바카라사이트rs contributing to 바카라사이트 development of disciplines and knowledge in universities," she said.

O바카라사이트r conference delegates argued that 바카라사이트 UK's strong record in publications and journal rankings, and postgraduate students' role in it, presented an important view of quality.

The quality of PhD provision was not highlighted as a major strand of 바카라사이트 inquiry when it was established in February. But Dr Blackman-Woods said that 바카라사이트 issue would be on its agenda, alongside funding and its relationship to undergraduate education, and engagement with businesses and employers.

In particular, 바카라사이트 commission would look at proposals to create a state-backed loans system for postgraduates, added Professor Whitty.

He said he believed that of all 바카라사이트 proposals put forward, 바카라사이트 government was most seriously considering 바카라사이트 ones submitted by Barclays and by Tim Leunig, chief economist at 바카라사이트 Centre Forum thinktank.

The commission is expected to report in 바카라사이트 autumn.

elizabeth.gibney@tsleducation.com.