• The changing nature of ‘graduate education’ Improving graduate education – • Patterns of change – masters, doctoral & relationships between degrees national & international collaboration • The value of networks • A fundamental tension for graduate schools Dr. Barbara Evans • My philosophy…. Dean of Graduate Studies • & in the Workshop – effective roles & goals for graduate The University of British Columbia schools, the big issues in Canada & elsewhere, global Canada challenges & some solutions…… ID-E Workshop - Berlin October 2008 ID-E Workshop - Berlin October 2008 Graduate education Patterns of change Masters degrees From an international perspective….. • research masters was normal entry to PhD (eg in Canada) • Is ‘Graduate Education’ a useful grouping? – It now includes Increasingly…. such a huge diversity of programs • trend towards ‘direct’ entry to PhD - particularly in STEM • Considerable variation within & between 2 nd & 3 rd cycles • diversity of professional & vocational masters degrees • blurring of distinctions – inclusion of research in professional • Often vocational and professional degrees NOT the major programs, more ‘coursework’ in research programs focus of graduate schools • ‘demand driven’ programs – industry, government, business, students… • Maybe Graduate Research Education would be better? • ‘just in time’ programs – often for limited periods • variation in tuition fees & level of scholarship support • In general trends in masters and doctoral programs similar across most countries with mature education systems ID-E Workshop - Berlin October 2008 ID-E Workshop - Berlin October 2008
Mobility between degrees & streams Patterns of change Doctoral degrees Given this diversity… • the most ‘international’ degree – collaboration, exchange, • more flexible approach needed to allow movement co-supervision, international examiners between 2nd & 3rd cycles • broadening of the PhD – increase in professional, vocational, applied research programs • increasing need for mobility between streams – • increasing pressure for academic/research, professional & vocational - mobility of students, international recognition of programs • need clarity, flexibility & clear standards – ‘ equivalence ’ & - quality assurance - accountability (funders), equity (students), efficiency, effectiveness & transparency (in procedures) ‘ adequate preparation ’ are useful concepts - interdisciplinarity, global relevance • need policy & procedures in place to ensure BOTH quality - joint degrees & nimbleness - improving the ‘student’ experience • demands from employers & funding agencies for • need to anticipate the environment – 5 yrs, 10 yrs ahead professional development & transferable skills ID-E Workshop - Berlin October 2008 ID-E Workshop - Berlin October 2008 The value of networks • Graduate education is seen increasingly as a shared & global & in developing educational systems enterprise - working together to provide the best! • The balance is shifting from institutional independence (the silo approach) to national and international cooperation • quality of 1 st & 2 nd cycles improving through effective collegial networks – especially the research doctorate – the most international of degrees • There is a need to develop partnerships in 2 nd & 3 rd cycle programs • For example – CGS (US), CAGS (Canada), UKCGE (UK), Aus DDOGS (Australia), Universitas 21 DDOGS (international network), EUA- CDE (Europe) – the newest – launched this year • Special purpose meetings & workshops – e.g. like this & the Banff/ Florence ‘Strategic Leaders’ meetings ID-E Workshop - Berlin October 2008 ID-E Workshop - Berlin October 2008
A fundamental tension for Graduate Schools A fundamental tension for Graduate Schools ‘ Ontogeny’ of Grad Schools … (to paraphrase Louis Maheu 2008) Graduate schools are most effective when they are • BOTH a central unit AND a Faculty – administrative & History has shown us that academic • when they are new, lots of important quality work to do • ALWAYS different and need to be • leads to considerable improvement in equity, efficiency, • funding is also different effectiveness, transparency & consistency of quality • some universities recognise the dual role • then Faculties start to want to resume control (sometimes due to misguided ideas about $$s) & graduate dean also a vice provost (or equivalent) • and then transparency and Quality Assurance slowly declines…. ID-E Workshop - Berlin October 2008 ID-E Workshop - Berlin October 2008 ….at the workshop My philosophy on Graduate Schools…. • unashamedly student focussed • Any / all of the above….. and • must be value adding • Canada - similarities & differences • talk and listen to everyone • The big issues in Canada (& elsewhere) • develop carefully – do it once – get it right • Grad schools - grad programs - grad policy - effective roles & goals, quality, quality assurance, • it’s about quality, transparency, equity & consistency accountability….. • routinely evaluate & feedback for improvement ID-E Workshop - Berlin October 2008 ID-E Workshop - Berlin October 2008
The Workshop Improving graduate education – • Canada - some similarities & differences national & international collaboration • The big issues in Canada (& elsewhere) The Workshop • Grad schools - grad programs - grad policy - effective roles and goals Dr. Barbara Evans - quality, quality assurance Dean of Graduate Studies - accountability….. etc. The University of British Columbia Canada ID-E Workshop - Berlin October 2008 ID-E Workshop - Berlin October 2008 Canada Canada • no national quality or regulatory oversight - more • graduate school oversight usually doesn’t include independent than Aus & UK, less so than US professional degrees • program structures similar to the US – some aspects akin to • BUT well established graduate schools & an effective UK, e.g. require an external examiner for PhD national network – CAGS • graduate funding largely provincial (& institutional) rather • more welcoming to overseas students e.g…. than federal • tuition fees tend to be low by international comparisons • funding based on enrolments rather than completions • diverse strategies across Canada for both graduate • visas easier, can work, can stay after two years (don’t even programs & student support (less consistent than Aus but check if attending classes ? cf. Aus ) more than US) ID-E Workshop - Berlin October 2008 ID-E Workshop - Berlin October 2008
Like many other countries, Canada has The big issues • seen an increase in graduate enrolments in recent years In Canada (& elsewhere) • particularly in professional and vocational masters • acceptability of ‘three-year degrees’ as preparation for entry • set challenging growth targets for graduate education in to graduate (masters) study (e.g. York & AUCC) face of declining ‘pipeline’ of students coming through • completion rates & times • a concentration of graduate research education in a small • provision of transferable skills training – Tri-agency proportion of ‘top’ RI universities statement on transferable skills; plus ethics, integrity & • need for increased student financial support to become plagiarism internationally competitive • mobility between different graduate programs (masters, • declining public funding of universities research doctoral and professional degrees) ID-E Workshop - Berlin October 2008 ID-E Workshop - Berlin October 2008 The big issues Graduate School Roles Key roles for graduate schools include: • no oversight, quality assurance & accountability at a national level, but CAGS – > good practice (cf. Aus & UK) • proactive policy development & procedural oversight (10+ years time frame) • growth – recruitment & admission – domestic & international • being international & interdisciplinary – why & how? • ensuring transparency, efficiency, consistency & equity in • Joint PhDs graduate administrative procedures • indigenous participation – not great at the graduate level • program approval & review • funding – needs to be equitable, internationally competitive, • often NOT responsible for professional or vocational liveable masters/’doctorates’ • what about post-docs? ID-E Workshop - Berlin October 2008 ID-E Workshop - Berlin October 2008
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