Achievements and successes of doctoral education in Germany

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1 Achievements and successes of doctoral education in Germany 2 nd International Conference on Developments in Doctoral Education & Training University of Oxford March 30 31, 2015 Professor Dr.

2 Overview 1. Past reforms of the doctoral training in Germany 2. Recent reforms of the doctoral training 3. Characteristics of PhD periods 4. Quality and quality assurance 2

3 Past reforms of the doctoral training in Germany 3

4 ## Converting the doctorate to a legally standardized degree in the 19 th and 20 th century Standards that were enforced and that are valid until today: 1. Independently written PhD thesis (ban of the Präsesdissertation) 2. Oral defence (ban of the doctorate in absentia) 3. Publishing the PhD thesis 4. Claiming scientific news Prof. Dr. Source: Johann Georg Puschner: Der zum Doctorat gelangende Student, engraving 4 of 1725

5 Theodor Mommsen: Mind the Pseudo-PhDs Wenn von den im ganzen nicht zahlreichen Universitäten, die den Mißbrauch der Promotion ohne mündliches Examen bei sich tolerieren, der einzigen preußischen, welche dieselbegestattet und den drei oder vier anderen, nur eine die Initiative nähme und die Abschaffung dieses Mißstandes bei der betreffenden Regierung beantragte, so würde ohne Zweifel die ganze Einrichtung fallen. Es möchte dies wie der würdigste, so auch der leichteste Weg sein zum Ziel zu gelangen, wenn also die deutschen Universitäten die Initiative nähmen und damit die deutschen Regierungen sowie die öffentliche Meinung baldigst der Mühe überhöben darüber Erwägungen anzustellen, wie trotz der Universitäten geholfen werden könnte, wenn es durch sie nicht geht. Source: Mommsen, Theodor, 1905: Die deutschen Pseudodoktoren. In: Hirschfeld, Otto (Hg.): Reden und Aufsätze (first edition: Preußische Jahrbücher 37, 1876, p ). Berlin: Weidmann, pp , here p

6 Recent reforms and their stimuli 6

7 Plagiarism Scandals 2

8 Current standards? Diverse discipline cultures instead of general standards by the example of PhD grades (1) Development of doctoral grades in Germany (in three-year periods) by selected fields Source: ifq Informationssystem Promotionsnoten in Deutschland. Database: DESTATIS 2011 (special analysis) 8

9 Current standards? Diverse discipline cultures instead of general standards by the example of PhD grades (2) Development of doctoral grades in Germany (in three-year periods) by selected fields Source: ifq Informationssystem Promotionsnoten in Deutschland. Database: DESTATIS 2011 (special analysis) 9

10 Current standards? Diverse university cultures instead of general standards by the example of PhD grades Distribution of doctoral grades from 2010 to 2012 at selected Universities with a high share of doctoral degrees with summa cum laude Source: ifq Informationssystem Promotionsnoten in Deutschland. Database: DESTATIS 2011 (special analysis) 10

11 PhD as a prerogative standard of universities in contrast to Fachhochschulen? Several times the Wissenschaftsrat complained about the unwillingness of universities to ensure access to PhD programmes and establish more cooperative doctoral programmes for qualified graduates of Fachhochschulen. (Wissenschaftsrat: Empfehlungen zur Rolle der Fachhochschulen im Hochschulsystem. Berlin p. 86.) 11

12 Recent reforms 13

13 Characteristics of PhD periods 14

14 Amount of PhDs from an international perspective Number of doctorates granted Graduates from ISCED6 Programmes (TOP20) United States China Germany United Kingdom Japan Brazil South Korea Italy Russia Spain Canada Mexico Turkey Indonesia Netherlands Switzerland Poland Sweden Portugal Czech Republic Source: Online Education Database OECD. Date of data drawing: march 2015, own calculation. 15

15 Progress in Germany 0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 Number of doctorates granted by subject groups Year Sprach- und Kulturwissenschaften Mathematik, Naturwissenschaften Veterinärmedizin Ingenieurwissenschaften Rechts-, Wirtschafts-, und Sozialwissenschaften Humanmedizin, Gesundheitswissenschaften Agrar-, Forst- und Ernährungswissenschaften Kunst, Kunstwissenschaft Note: Sports excluded Source: Prüfungsstatistik des Statistischen Bundesamts, Fachserie 11 Reihe 4.2., , own calculation. 16

16 Progress in Germany Doctorate rates (doctorates per number of university degrees) in Germany since 1995 Promotionsintensität Jahr Gesamt Ohne medizinische Fächer Source: Prüfungsstatistik des Statistischen Bundesamts, Fachserie 11 Reihe 4.2., , own calculation. 17

17 Progress in Germany Promotion rates in the largest academic disciplines for 2010 Physik, Astronomie Chemie Humanmedizin Zahnmedizin Biologie Maschinenbau/Verfahrenstechnik Elektrotechnik Pharmazie Geschichte Rechtswissenschaft Psychologie Mathematik Informatik Wirtschaftswissenschaften Erziehungswissenschaften Promotionsintensität Source: Prüfungsstatistik des Statistischen Bundesamts, Fachserie 11 Reihe 4.2., 2010, own calculation. 18

18 PhD and scientific career Steps and drop-outs on the way to get a professor in Germany Estimated: 10% Professors Habilitiation Newly assigned to a professorship (Neuberufungen): 39.3% Proportion: 8.6% Doctorates University graduates (students) Source: Burkhardt, Anke (Hg.) 2008: Wagnis Wissenschaft. p and Janson, Kerstin / Schomburg, Harald / Teichler, Ulrich 2007: Wege zur Professur. 19

19 PhD and scientific career Views of professors on the possibility to fill vacancies in different stages of a scientific career with competent staff Prozent Question: Could the vacant positions/chairs be filled with the desired qualification profile? (Junior ) Professuren Doktoranden promovierte Nachwuchswissensch. Überwiegend Ja Teilweise Überwiegend Nein Source: Böhmer, Susan / Neufeld, Jörg / Hinze, Sybille / Klode, Christian / Hornbostel, Stefan, 2011: Wissenschaftler-Befragung 2010: Forschungsbedingungen von Professorinnen und Professoren an deutschen Universitäten. ifq-working Paper No.8. Bonn. p

20 PhD and scientific career Share of working on the own PhD thesis of the working time as a whole for the last 12 months from the perspective of PhD candidates in percent (average value and CI) Philosophie Geschichte Germanistik Andere Sprach /Kulturwiss. Psychologie Erziehungwiss. Kunstwiss. Politikwiss. Sozialwiss. Rechtswiss. Wirtschaftswiss. Biologie Agrarwiss. Chemie Physik Mathematik Source: Hauss, Kalle / Kaulisch, Marc / Zinnbauer, Manuela / Tesch, Jakob / Fräßdorf, Anna / Hinze, Sybille / Hornbostel, Stefan, 2012: Promovierende im Profil: Wege, Strukturen und Rahmenbedingungen von Promotionen in Deutschland. Ergebnisse aus dem ProFile-Promovierendenpanel. ifq-working Paper No.13. Berlin. p Geowiss. Informatik/Elektrotechnik Prozent Mittelwert Haushaltsstelle CI Haushaltsstelle Mittelwert Drittmittelstelle CI Drittmittelstelle Mittelwert Stipendium CI Stipendium 21

21 PhD and scientific career Desired field of occupation of PhD candidates from different academic disciplines in percent (only interested and strongly interested ). Philosophie Geschichte Germanistik Andere Sprach /Kulturwiss. Psychologie Erziehungwiss. Kunstwiss. Politikwiss. Sozialwiss. Rechtswiss. Wirtschaftswiss. Biologie Agrarwiss. Chemie Physik Mathematik Geowiss. Source: Hauss, Kalle / Kaulisch, Marc / Zinnbauer, Manuela / Tesch, Jakob / Fräßdorf, Anna / Hinze, Sybille / Hornbostel, Stefan, 2012: Promovierende im Profil: Wege, Strukturen und Rahmenbedingungen von Promotionen in Deutschland. Ergebnisse aus dem ProFile-Promovierendenpanel. ifq-working Paper No.13. Berlin. p Informatik/Elektrotechnik Prozent Forschung und Lehre Forschung und Entwicklung Management und Entwicklung Forschung und Management Management und Beratung 22

22 PhD and scientific career Perceived preparation for a desired work in the field of research and teaching by academic disciplines in percent (average value and CI) Philosophie Geschichte Germanistik Andere Sprach /Kulturwiss. Psychologie Erziehungwiss. Kunstwiss. Politikwiss. Sozialwiss. Rechtswiss. Wirtschaftswiss. Biologie Agrarwiss. Chemie Physik Mathematik Geowiss. Source: Hauss, Kalle / Kaulisch, Marc / Zinnbauer, Manuela / Tesch, Jakob / Fräßdorf, Anna / Hinze, Sybille / Hornbostel, Stefan, 2012: Promovierende im Profil: Wege, Strukturen und Rahmenbedingungen von Promotionen in Deutschland. Ergebnisse aus dem ProFile-Promovierendenpanel. ifq-working Paper No.13. Berlin. p Informatik/Elektrotechnik Skala von 1 Sehr schlecht bis 5 Sehr gut Mittelwert Vorbereitung Berufsziel Forschung und Lehre CI Vorbereitung Berufsziel Forschung und Lehre Mittelwert Vorbereitung Berufsziel Keine Forschung und Lehre CI Vorbereitung Berufsziel Keine Forschung und Lehre 23

23 PhD as a standard for certain professions? Share of elite from business and politics with a PhD degree in different countries in percent. Source: Heinrich Best: Promotionen von Politikern im historischen und internationalen Vergleich. In: Huber, Nathalie / Schelling, Anna / Hornbostel, Stefan (Hg.), 2012: Der Doktortitel zwischen Status und Qualifikation. ifq- Working Paper No.12. Berlin. 24

24 Structured PhD programs Share of PhD candidates in structured programs by academic disciplines in percent Philosophie Geschichte Germanistik Andere Sprach /Kulturwiss. Psychologie Erziehungwiss. Kunstwiss. Politikwiss. Sozialwiss. Rechtswiss. Wirtschaftswiss. Biologie Agrarwiss. Chemie Physik Mathematik Geowiss. Informatik/Elektrotechnik Mitglied eines strukturierten Programms Prozent Nicht Mitglied eines strukturierten Programms Source: Hauss, Kalle / Kaulisch, Marc / Zinnbauer, Manuela / Tesch, Jakob / Fräßdorf, Anna / Hinze, Sybille / Hornbostel, Stefan, 2012: Promovierende im Profil: Wege, Strukturen und Rahmenbedingungen von Promotionen in Deutschland. Ergebnisse aus dem ProFile-Promovierendenpanel. ifq-working Paper No.13. Berlin. p

25 Structured PhD programs Cluster Formalized PhD period (formalisierte Promotion) Supervised PhD period (betreute Promotion) Feature Supervision agreement Supervisor team with frequent contact (at least once a week) Curricular PhD period (curriculare Promotion) Free PhD period (freie Promotion) Visiting courses (at least one in a year) None of the above 26

26 Funding Source of income of PhD candidates by academic disciplines in percent Economics Educational Studies Computer Science/Electrical Engi Chemistry Physics Mathematics Library Studies/Journalism Psychology Architecture/Planning/Survey (Mechanical) Engin. Science Medical/Health Sciences Geosciences Biology Law Agricultural Science Theology Oth. Language-/Cultural Studies German Studies Political Sciences/Social Scienc History Philosophy Art Studies percent research assistant (budget) research assistant (third party) student assistant external employment scholarship no employment/scholarship not reported Source: Hauss, Kalle / Kaulisch, Marc / Zinnbauer, Manuela / Tesch, Jakob / Fräßdorf, Anna / Hinze, Sybille / Hornbostel, Stefan, 2012: Promovierende im Profil: Wege, Strukturen und Rahmenbedingungen von Promotionen in Deutschland. Ergebnisse aus dem ProFile-Promovierendenpanel. ifq-working Paper No.13. Berlin. p

27 Funding Process of funding sources in the first 48 months of a PhD period in percent Percent months after beginning of the doctorate research assistant (budget) student assistant scholarship not reported research assistant (third party) external employment no employment/scholarship Source: Hauss, Kalle / Kaulisch, Marc / Zinnbauer, Manuela / Tesch, Jakob / Fräßdorf, Anna / Hinze, Sybille / Hornbostel, Stefan, 2012: Promovierende im Profil: Wege, Strukturen und Rahmenbedingungen von Promotionen in Deutschland. Ergebnisse aus dem ProFile-Promovierendenpanel. ifq-working Paper No.13. Berlin. p

28 Estimating the number of PhD candidates 200,400 PhD candidates in total Source: Wolters und Schmiedel 2012: 23 29

29 Registration of PhD candidates Source: Hornbostel, Stefan (Hg.): Wer promoviert in Deutschland? Machbarkeitsstudie zur Doktorandenerfassung und Qualitätssicherung von Promotionen an deutschen Hochschulen. ifq-working Paper No. 14. Berlin

30 Registration of PhD candidates Source: Hornbostel, Stefan (Hg.): Wer promoviert in Deutschland? Machbarkeitsstudie zur Doktorandenerfassung und Qualitätssicherung von Promotionen an deutschen Hochschulen. ifq-working Paper No. 14. Berlin

31 Interim summary The German PhD system is characterized by a variety of different ways to get a PhD and some remarkable best practice models for a structured PhD period but also a trend towards incommensurable, isolated degrees with strong distinctions by academic fields. >> a variety of quality standards exists for the PhD as a process (not for the PhD exam) and even less instrument to ensure these standards if they are defined. 32

32 Quality and quality assurance 33

33 Much discussed: Plagiarism software 34

34 Need for action in general More transparency and reliability by improved information about the PhD period in progress More sound information infrastructures for registering PhD candidates on-site More institutional responsibility for the PhD process as a whole More cross-university coordination, especially on behalf of the ministries of science in the Länder, but also taking into account the professional associations More long-term research on young researchers and their careers 36

35 Single instruments to assure PhD quality mainly based on recommendations of the German Council for Science and Humanities (Wissenschaftsrat) Establishment of thesis committees to disconnect supervision and assessment Implementation of supervision teams Strengthen the independency of the assessment, especially by external reports and excluding only confirming second assessors Use of supervision agreements 37

36 Single instruments to assure PhD quality Limitation of extra-occupational, part-time PhDs Self-restraints of professors concerning the amount of PhD candidates that can be supervised responsibly Public calls for tenders related to most of the PhD positions 38

37 Single instruments to assure PhD quality Reduction of the scale for PhD degrees Publication and documentation obligations for primary data used in the PhD thesis Starting to communicate about and define minimum standards for a PhD in the single academic fields 39

38 Reform initiatives on different levels (1) Länder Federal Government Institut für Forschungsinformation und Qualitätssicherung 40

39 Reform initiatives on different levels (2) Disciplines Universities Institut für Forschungsinformation und Qualitätssicherung 41

40 Too many reforms? versus The Framework describes four broad profiles. R1 First Stage Researcher (up to the point of PhD) R2 Recognized Researcher (PhD holders or equivalent who are not yet fully independent) R3 Established Researcher (researchers who have developed a level of independence.) R4 Leading Researcher ( researchers leading their research area or field) Institut für Forschungsinformation und Qualitätssicherung 42

41 Thank you for your attention! Contact: Schützenstraße 6a Berlin Germany Phone: Fax: Web: (English) (German) 43