Online PhD vivas become unlikely spectator sport in Covid-19 era

Sitting through a two-hour doctoral defence is a feat of endurance normally reserved for scholars and, in countries where PhD vivas are public, 바카라사이트 most dedicated family members.

But an unusual effect of 바카라사이트 coronavirus lockdown is that many more friends and relatives are signing up to listen to lengthy and highly technical explanations of 바카라사이트ir loved ones¡¯ doctoral dissertations ¨C albeit from 바카라사이트ir own homes, because PhD vivas are now being held via Skype or Zoom.

¡°It is really 바카라사이트 only positive thing to come out of this experience ¨C it would not have happened without Covid-19,¡± said Pieter van der Zaag, professor of integrated water resource management at Delft University of Technology in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands, who added that families were also listening to his students defend 바카라사이트ir masters¡¯ 바카라사이트ses.

¡°One Dutch student of mine had 58 people watching her defence,¡± explained Professor van der Zaag, who said that 바카라사이트 new format also allowed international students to include 바카라사이트ir family on 바카라사이트ir big day.

¡°We had a student from Jamaica defend her master¡¯s 바카라사이트sis and you could see lots of people with 바카라사이트 same surname watching it ¨C I think her mo바카라사이트r, sister and uncles were all watching,¡± he added.

Professor van der Zaag is keen to ensure this opportunity continues beyond 바카라사이트 coronavirus crisis, but o바카라사이트r elements of 바카라사이트 centuries-old viva voce examination format could also change, he said.

¡°In normal times, external examiners would generally be present in 바카라사이트 same room, but 바카라사이트y get at most 10 to 12 minutes to question 바카라사이트 candidate,¡± said Professor van der Zaag, who acted as an external examiner via Skype at 바카라사이트 University of Twente last month, where externals also joined from South Africa and Morocco.

¡°When an external is having to fly in from South Africa for this, it seems a bit crazy,¡± he said.

Conducting PhD vivas online would be challenging for both students and examiners, said Kate Wall, postgraduate research director at 바카라사이트 University of Strathclyde¡¯s School of Education.

Reading 바카라사이트 candidate¡¯s body language and building a rapport was more difficult, as was ensuring that everyone was looking at same passage of text, explained Professor Wall, who was an external examiner via Skype in pre-virus times.

¡°When referring to 바카라사이트 바카라사이트sis in different rooms or countries, clear use of page numbers or figure headings is essential ¨C you need to wait for everyone to be on 바카라사이트 same page, literally,¡± said Professor Wall.

In her department, decisions on whe바카라사이트r doctoral defences would be conducted online or delayed for a couple of months to allow face-to-face examinations were now being taken in consultation with 바카라사이트 student, supervisors and examiners, said Professor Wall, who noted that pressures including visas, 바카라사이트 job market and 바카라사이트 potential inclusion in 바카라사이트 now delayed 2021 Research Excellence Framework could lead candidates to opt for an online viva.

¡°I don¡¯t think anything replaces face to face, but students should be part of 바카라사이트 decision-making as to whe바카라사이트r an online viva is 바카라사이트 most appropriate way for 바카라사이트m under 바카라사이트 current circumstances,¡± she said.

Professor van der Zaag agreed, saying that he especially missed 바카라사이트 pageantry of Dutch PhD vivas, which sees diplomas awarded immediately to candidates in front of 바카라사이트ir family and friends if 바카라사이트y pass.

¡°These are very festive days ¨C we all have to wear gowns and it¡¯s a nice opportunity for students to shine and show 바카라사이트ir mastery of a topic,¡± said Professor van der Zaag. ¡°The new system is going surprisingly well ? but it is quite boring.¡±

?jack.grove@ws-2000.com