1st Edition
The Experience of Examining the PhD An International Comparative Study of Processes and Standards of Doctoral Examination
This book provides an authoritative overview of the criteria and standards of the doctorate across a wide range of international settings, with a particular focus on the practices of examining.
Presenting case studies and research from 13 universities in 13 countries across Africa, Asia, North and South America, Australia, and Europe, the book is based on in-depth interviews and comparative analyses of the PhD examining experience. It reveals the variations and similarities in different academic traditions and investigates the extent to which there are comparable expectations and standards across countries. It suggests that criteria and standards – both written and unwritten – are broadly similar, but shows that there is a need for much more explicitly formulated criteria and standards for an internationalised approach to doctoral assessment.
Following on from the 2019 book The Doctorate as Experience in Europe and Beyond, this book will be of great interest to current and potential doctoral examiners, researchers of higher education, and university administrators.
1. Introduction Michael Byram and Maria Stoicheva Part I: Transversal studies 2. Standards and criteria: Is there a case for international comparability? Michael Byram 3. The experience of examiners and examining Juliet Lum, Alice Chik, and Maria Stoicheva 4. The final oral examination Manuela Wagner, Melina Porto, and Nikolina Tsvetkova 5. The role of languages in doctoral examination Prue Holmes, Maria Helena Araújo e Sá,and Susana Pinto Part II: Case studies of universities Africa 6. Eduardo Mondlane University, Mozambique Jorge Jaime dos Santos Fringe and Hilária Joaquim Matavele 7. Makerere University, Uganda Consolata Kabonesa, Ruth Nsibirano and Euzobia Mugisha Baine Asia 8. Beijing Language and Culture University, China Lihong Wang 9. A Japanese University Fumiko Takahashi and Kazuaki Iwabuchi 10. Thammasat University, Thailand Dumrong Adunyarittigun, Saneh Thongrin, Kamonrat Sriharuksa, and Pranee Seenak South America 11. Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina Melina Porto and Silvana Julieta Barboni 12. The University of São Paulo, Brazil Kai Enno Lehmann The West 13. University of Aveiro, Portugal Maria Helena Araújo e Sá, Nilza Costa, Diana Oliveira, and Susana Pinto 14. University of Connecticut, USA Edith J. Barrett and Manuela Wagner 15. Durham University, England, United Kingdom Prue Holmes and Dimitra Kokotsaki 16. Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland Natasza Styczyńska and Marcin Zubek 17. Macquarie University, Australia Juliet Lum and Alice Chik 18. Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski, Bulgaria Maria Stoicheva, Nikolina Tsvetkova, and Michael Byram 19. Afterword Michael Byram and Maria Stoicheva
Biography
Michael Byram is Professor Emeritus of Education, Durham University, England.
Maria Stoicheva is Jean Monnet Chair and Professor of Political Science, Department of European Studies, Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski, Bulgaria.
