I think any self-respecting educational institution ought to judge its policies by its best estimate of what their long-term consequences for their students and for the society will be.
Derek BokRead
Doctoral training is devoted almost entirely to learning to do research, even though most Ph.Ds who enter academic life spend far more time teaching than they do conducting experiments or writing books.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Ph.D. programs focus primarily on research training, but graduates often find themselves teaching more than conducting research.
This quote reflects the paradox within doctoral programs, particularly in academia, where the emphasis on research proficiency does not align with the reality that many Ph.D. graduates devote a significant portion of their careers to teaching. It highlights the need for a balanced approach in doctoral training that prepares candidates for the diverse responsibilities they will face in academic positions, where teaching often takes precedence over research.
Themes
Doctoral TrainingPhdResearchTeachingAcademic Life
In practice
Example use cases
In a faculty meeting discussing curriculum changes, one might reference this quote to highlight the need for more teaching-focused training.
More from Derek Bok
All quotes βIf you think education is expensive, try ignorance.
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Colleges and universities, for all the benefits they bring, accomplish far less for their students than they should. Many students graduate without being able to write well enough to satisfy their employers... reason clearly or perform competently in analyzing complex, non-technical problems.
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Economists who have studied the relationship between education and economic growth confirm what common sense suggests: The number of college degrees is not nearly as important as how well students develop cognitive skills, such as critical thinking and problem-solving ability.
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