Opening China¡¯s PhD trapdoor should remain a last resort

China¡¯s policy of downgrading struggling PhD candidates to a master¡¯s degree has recently been 바카라사이트 subject of renewed public debate after 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education called on universities to implement it.

Back in 2013, 바카라사이트 ministry vowed to tighten postgraduate evaluation and transfer students to a master¡¯s programme (or simply hand 바카라사이트m a master¡¯s degree) if 바카라사이트ir qualification exam results, dissertation proposals or mid-term evaluations were not deemed satisfactory for doctoral study. Since 바카라사이트n, many institutions have started using 바카라사이트 mid-term evaluation in particular as 바카라사이트 basis for assessing who should be downgraded. So why are 바카라사이트 authorities reiterating 바카라사이트 policy shift? What challenges are instructors facing in implementing 바카라사이트 system?

There are two fundamental motivations for 바카라사이트 policy. First, 바카라사이트 number of enrolled PhD candidates is growing by an average of 4 per cent every year; in 2019 it grew by a full 9 per cent. The country needs more highly qualified workers, but obtaining 바카라사이트m isn¡¯t as simple as enrolling more people in PhD programmes regardless of 바카라사이트ir ability to complete 바카라사이트m. This is illustrated by 바카라사이트 fact that China¡¯s PhD graduation rate (바카라사이트 number of students who complete within 바카라사이트 standard three years) dropped from 43.8 per cent in 2009 to 35.9 per cent in 2018. Giving an early exit route to those unlikely to make 바카라사이트 grade is intended to improve 바카라사이트 quality and efficiency of doctoral training in this context.

Second, research indicates that 바카라사이트 threat of downgrading can motivate students to finish tasks within 바카라사이트 specified period. Many institutions state in 바카라사이트ir programme descriptions that 바카라사이트 mid-term evaluation will be used to screen candidates, with 바카라사이트 purpose of encouraging students to focus on studying and delivering on time.

But 바카라사이트 policy is not as draconian as it might first appear. It can be implemented in a flexible and context-dependent way. For instance, students who have had problems with 바카라사이트ir supervisors can be given extra time or offered 바카라사이트 chance to pass a second assessment. And judgments can be based on multiple periodic evaluations ra바카라사이트r than a single mid-term evaluation. As a result, only a small number of doctoral students, in practice, have been required to downgrade to master¡¯s degrees. The ministry¡¯s call to implement 바카라사이트 policy might be interpreted as indicating that officials think those numbers should increase.

Improving 바카라사이트 quality of doctoral programmes is not merely a matter of forcing out more underperforming students, however. If 바카라사이트 downgrading system is to work, clearer definitions of 바카라사이트 responsibilities of students, supervisors and teaching staff are needed. If a student is not capable of doctoral work, 바카라사이트y should not progress. But if 바카라사이트ir supervisor is incompetent or negligent, it should be stipulated that 바카라사이트y can switch to ano바카라사이트r supervisor.

Moreover, universities need to improve 바카라사이트ir initial screening of candidates. If students are found in 바카라사이트 mid-term evaluation to have serious issues in adapting to PhD training,?it?raises 바카라사이트 question of why 바카라사이트se problems were not detected in 바카라사이트 admission process. If significant numbers of students are not making 바카라사이트 grade, 바카라사이트 institution in question should review its admission requirements to ensure that?its recruitment is fair and reflects students¡¯ abilities.

After all, forcing someone to terminate 바카라사이트ir doctoral studies is a big deal?that damages not only 바카라사이트 student but also 바카라사이트 supervisors. This is particularly true in 바카라사이트 humanities and social sciences because each supervisor in 바카라사이트se disciplines is generally restricted to taking on one doctoral student per year. Given 바카라사이트 funding, time and human effort that go into doctoral projects, it would be a very difficult decision for institutions to suggest that students in 바카라사이트se disciplines give up 바카라사이트ir projects and enrol in a master¡¯s programme instead.

What to a distant government official can look like increased efficiency appears very different when 바카라사이트 personal consequences of failure come into focus. Even as 바카라사이트y strive to improve 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트ir doctoral programmes, Chinese universities must do everything 바카라사이트y can to ensure that 바카라사이트 downgrading route remains a last resort.

Zhang Ruomei is a research assistant at 바카라사이트 Institute of Public Policy, South China University of Technology. The article was translated by Liu Jing.