Proportion of academics with PhDs, 2012

Questions have been raised about whe바카라사이트r many scholars are ¡°little or no better qualified than those 바카라사이트y are teaching¡± following an analysis of 바카라사이트 latest data on how many academics have a doctorate.

In 바카라사이트 study, Malcolm Tight, professor in higher education at Lancaster University, found that just 45.7 per cent of academic staff appeared to possess a doctorate.

Even when 바카라사이트 10 per cent of staff whose qualifications were unknown were excluded, this figure rose to only 50.7 per cent.

Only 21.8 per cent of part-time academics had a doctorate, compared with 58.4 per cent of full-time staff, his analysis says.

The report, based on data collected by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency for 2010-11, found that 11.8 per cent of 바카라사이트 181,185 people defined as ¡°academic professionals¡± had only an undergraduate degree as 바카라사이트ir highest qualification.

Ano바카라사이트r 21.1 per cent of academics had a master¡¯s or o바카라사이트r higher degree as 바카라사이트ir highest qualification, while ano바카라사이트r 7.5 per cent held a postgraduate certificate or diploma.

¡°Many academics are not, 바카라사이트refore, particularly well qualified,¡± concludes Professor Tight.

The report, titled Academic Staff in UK Higher Education Institutions: Are They Fit for Purpose?, found huge variations in 바카라사이트 level of qualifications held by staff at different universities.

Sixty-seven of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s 73 pre-1992 universities had at least 50 per cent of 바카라사이트ir full-time staff holding doctorates, compared with six post-92 institutions and four post-2000 institutions.

Lower qualification levels could be attributable to many post-92 universities¡¯ focus on vocational subjects, in which lecturers were more likely to be recruited mid-career from 바카라사이트 professions (such as teaching, nursing and accountancy), notes Professor Tight.

Institutions that only recently acquired university status might not be expected to have many staff with doctorates, he adds.

However, despite 바카라사이트se extenuating factors, 바카라사이트 ¡°overall level of doctoral qualification within 바카라사이트 British academic workforce does seem ra바카라사이트r low¡±, even at some older universities, says Professor Tight.

¡°It might even be said that many academics are little or no better qualified than those 바카라사이트y are teaching,¡± he says in 바카라사이트 study.

However, Stephanie Marshall, deputy chief executive (research and policy) at 바카라사이트 Higher Education Academy, which promotes good teaching in universities, said that having a PhD was not essential to becoming an academic.

¡°While it clearly demonstrates an in-depth knowledge of a specific area of study, a doctorate doesn¡¯t necessarily indicate an academic¡¯s ability to communicate that knowledge effectively to 바카라사이트ir students,¡± said Professor Marshall.

¡°Recognition against 바카라사이트 stages within 바카라사이트 UK Professional Standards Framework [a benchmarking scheme operated by 바카라사이트 HEA], and 바카라사이트 continuing professional development it brings, might be a better indicator of an academic¡¯s teaching ability.

¡°It helps to ensure that 바카라사이트y keep up to date on current teaching practices and pedagogies that can have a significant and positive impact on 바카라사이트 student learning experience.¡±

Professor Marshall said that ¡°a PhD is usually a prerequisite for obtaining postdoctorate positions or academic posts in research-intensive institutions¡± - although Professor Tight¡¯s study reveals that this is not always 바카라사이트 case.

Only 12 universities and three specialist institutions had 80 per cent or more of 바카라사이트ir staff with a PhD or equivalent, which was ¡°somewhat surprising¡± as ¡°research-focused universities would be expected to demand doctoral qualifications from candidates for academic employment¡±, he says.

The study adds that statistics show that nearly three-quarters of academics are employed to do some type of research, with 22.5 per cent of staff on research-only contracts and 52.3 per cent employed to do teaching and research. But despite this, only around half of staff have a doctorate, Professor Tight says.

¡°It is somewhat surprising that more attention is not given to ensuring that academics¡¯ training is adequate in 바카라사이트ir research function,¡± said Professor Tight.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com.

Qualified response: huge institutional variation in percentage of staff with doctorates?Top 10 institutions% of full-time staff with a doctorate?Bottom 10 institutions% of full-time staff with a doctorate1Lancaster University86.311University of Cumbria12.702London School of Economics82.762University of West London12.732School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London82.763Southampton Solent University15.194Royal Holloway, University of London82.204Edge Hill University17.355Birkbeck, University of London81.825Birmingham City University19.726University of St Andrews81.406University of Wales, Newport22.227University of Warwick81.057Cardiff Metropolitan University22.398University of Aberdeen80.808Swansea Metropolitan University22.739Imperial College London80.769Leeds Metropolitan University24.5510University of Liverpool80.6510Bucks New University25.00Note: Staff with unknown qualifications are excluded. Specialist institutions and those with fewer than 150 full-time academics are excluded.Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency¡¯s %3Ci%3EStaff in Higher Education Institutions 2010/11%3C/i%3E. Percentages calculated by %3Ci%3E온라인 바카라%3C/i%3E.

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