The meeting opened with a ten-minute talk from Mr. Mulder about changes that PhD candidates at the UT should expect and their respective reasons. He said that PhD programs all over the EU were being standardized owing to the convergence of EU states' labor markets under the `Bologna Process' and the various EU ministers of education are scheduled to meet in London to discuss this matter. He said that two major concerns had to be addressed to ensure an efficient investment in the Dutch knowledge economy. First was the fact that Dutch PhD graduates were better trained to become academics than industry professionals. Second was the high percentage of students leaving the country upon graduation. He also made clear that, currently, the UT had no plans to compress its PhD program into three years.
In the ensuing discussion, participants agreed that the time required for a PhD varies among different countries, typically three to four years. Notably, there were different views about whether this affected the quality of education. Participants thought that a three-year PhD at the UT would be possible only if a detailed research plan is ready before PhD candidates join and technicians are available to save time in setting up experimentation environments. The requirement of professional project management certifications was underscored to better prepare PhD students for industry positions.
In the discussion session, PNUT chairman Alexander le Fèbre, called upon participants to comment on whether considering doctoral candidates as students rather than employees was a good idea. Mr. Mulder argued that as a student, PhD candidates would have to pass regular educational checks, such as exams, which would help management maintain the quality of imparted education. He also remarked that although the difference between student stipends and current PhD salaries may be minimal, the UT would save heavily on taxes. Most PhD students in attendance favored solutions other than dramatically changing the status of PhD candidates.
The meeting was wrapped up by Le Fèbre declaring that the discussion had been very informative and thorough and that the comments from participants would be communicated to pertinent forums.
The next P-NUT lunch (`PhD internationalization at the UT') will take place Tuesday, March 13, 12:30 - 1:30 pm, in the Faculty Club. Contact [email protected] to attend.
