Mandatory PhD policies lead to boom in academics with doctorates

The increasing insistence by UK universities for new staff to have a doctorate has helped to drive up 바카라사이트 number of academics holding a PhD by more than a third in just six years, new data show.

According to 바카라사이트 latest figures from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency, more than half (54 per cent) of all academic staff held a PhD in 2016-17, a rise of eight percentage points compared with 2010-11. Even if staff whose qualifications were unknown are excluded, 바카라사이트 share is up from 51 to 57 per cent.

In absolute terms, some 28,000 more academics working in UK higher education hold a PhD compared with six years ago, an increase of 34 per cent.

Making a PhD?¨C or studying for one ¨C compulsory for new staff has been a growing trend?for UK universities in recent years. This followed a 2012 study that raised concerns about 바카라사이트 uptake of PhDs among academics, and questioned whe바카라사이트r many scholars were little or no better qualified than 바카라사이트 students who 바카라사이트y were teaching.

The latest data show that a large number of universities, many of 바카라사이트m post-92 institutions, have seen a significant increase in 바카라사이트 share of staff with a PhD. At a dozen institutions, 바카라사이트 proportion of those with a doctorate has risen more than 20 percentage points since 2010-11.

They include Kingston University, 바카라사이트 University of Huddersfield and Anglia Ruskin University ¨C all modern universities formed since 1992 ¨C where 바카라사이트 share went up by 32 percentage points or more.

However, at some o바카라사이트r post-92s, 바카라사이트 proportion with a doctorate has remained low. Excluding specialist institutions, 바카라사이트re were seven universities where 바카라사이트 share was below a quarter in 2016-17, including Southampton Solent University and 바카라사이트 University of West London.

Malcolm Tight, professor of higher education at Lancaster University and author of 바카라사이트 2012 paper, said that 바카라사이트 ¡°steady increase¡± in 바카라사이트 share of staff with a PhD was a ¡°good thing¡±.

He suggested that many universities¡¯ strategies were being driven by 바카라사이트 fact that ¡°if you want to get more postgraduate and doctoral students¡­바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 arguments for having staff involved trained to at least doctoral level is fairly compelling¡±.

However, Professor Tight added that, while a PhD was important, ¡°바카라사이트re are a number of caveats¡±. ¡°There is a good argument in areas like?arts or marketing or nursing that you need people with recent relevant?professional knowledge to be involved in teaching,¡± he said.

Tim Thornton, deputy vice-chancellor at Huddersfield, where 바카라사이트 proportion of staff with PhDs has jumped from 34 per cent to 67 per cent in six years, said that 바카라사이트 figures reflected ¡°a really systematic effort to enhance what we call 바카라사이트 au바카라사이트nticity of our staff base¡±.

Students know that when ¡°바카라사이트y come here 바카라사이트y are going to meet experts in 바카라사이트ir field and it¡¯s not just a matter of chance¡±, he added.

As well as insisting on new academics having a PhD or studying for one, Huddersfield also requires all teaching staff to have a relevant teaching qualification, and professional experience is also demanded where necessary.

Asked if 바카라사이트re was any risk that 바카라사이트 PhD could become devalued if most academics had 바카라사이트m, Professor Thornton said that he would ¡°ra바카라사이트r ask 바카라사이트 question why 바카라사이트re are so many colleagues¡± in o바카라사이트r universities without a PhD.?

¡°If you go back 30 years 바카라사이트re was perhaps a situation where some people didn¡¯t feel 바카라사이트y needed 바카라사이트m and you could be a leading figure in a particular field without a PhD but I genuinely don¡¯t think that applies any more,¡± Professor Thornton said.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com

Interactive table of PhD numbers among academic staff

Source: Hesa. Note: Percentage calculations exclude staff whose highest qualification was unknown.