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European PhDs - its the diversity orientation that speaks!

  • 1.  European PhDs - its the diversity orientation that speaks!

    Posted 04-15-2008 11:57

    Dear Bernd, Bruce and others
    with a Manchester (England) minted PhD, I found myself a lovely position with a state university in the US of A.  Yes its a different system, but I think its more about the orientation of the Unis that matter ie are they wanting 'diversity' ie other experience and qualifications.  If so, they will be interested (as mine is).  I do recognize the difference though of how we view PhD either side of that large expense of water.  When they ask what my terminal degree is in - I say philosophy (joke).  Its a case of explaining it in ways that are compatible and understandable and fit with what you want - thus I discuss my dissertation (rather than thesis) focus as management or teamwork or org behavior, all of which came into the research and thus were studied (like traditional doctoral courses might be).  You say 'US universities don't seem to know what courses a person with a European PhD is qualified to teach' - so let em know what you want!
    Take care and have fun - take a look at the wealth of positions in the Chronicle online!
    Best Linzi




    Bernd Kupka <coachkupka@HOTMAIL.COM>
    Sent by: Organizational Behavior Division Listserv <OB@AOMLISTS.pace.edu>

    04/14/2008 05:02 PM

    Please respond to
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    		Re: European PhDs





    Hi Bruce,

    In my own experience there are only three options:

    1) you apply to R2 institutions, i.e., teaching oriented programs who are more likely to accept you,
    2) you get lucky and find an institution that is flexible enough to look beyond the traditional degree specifications, or
    3) you stay out of the US market ...

    European programs aren't any better in terms of restricting your access to their programs if you have a "non-traditional European" degree ... I have a degree from New Zealand - both, US and European institutions were VERY hesitant to accept that ... I eventually got lucky and found a very nice program that was only interested in me as a person, my current abilities, and my interests/strengths ...

    Good luck!!!

    Bernd Kupka, Ph.D.



    Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:33:37 -0700
    From: VTran@NDS.COM
    Subject: European PhDs
    To: OB@AOMLISTS.pace.edu

    Vu Tran submitted on behalf of Bruce Hoag at brucehoag1@gmail.com
     
    Dear Colleagues,
     
    I have problem, and everyone I have contacted thus far does not know how to solve it. The problem is far from unique, so I am appealing to you for advice on what to do.
     
    I graduated with my PhD from the Manchester Business School in the United Kingdom last year. The London Financial Times recently rated this doctoral program as No. 1 in the world.
     
    The problem concerns the path to obtaining a European PhD. European PhDs, as a rule, are not course-based. That is, students are not required to take courses and pass comprehensive exams before engaging in the research that will lead to their dissertations. Instead, the research begins on the first day and continues until the dissertation is handed in. Then there is an oral defense in the presence of an internal examiner (from the university where the student is enrolled) and an external examiner (someone in a similar research area who is from another university). The external examiner has the final say in whether or not the degree is awarded. This makes the process an apprenticeship more than anything else.
     
    The "problem" with this process is that US universities don't seem to know what courses a person with a European PhD is qualified to teach. As a result, they revert back to courses that were taken at the Masters level which means that they are not recognizing the PhD. This, it seems to me, is supremely unjust. We all know that you can take every course in the catalogue and still be ABD. It's the dissertation that matters, not all the hoops you had to jump through to get it accepted.
     
    What experiences have you had with this "problem," and how can we as a community solve it?
     
    Bruce
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