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Equal Rights for University Academics: Rethinking the Ius Promovendi
This article discusses the debate surrounding equal rights for university academics in the Netherlands, focusing on the ius promovendi and advocating for a shift towards collective supervision.
Dutch
Netherlands
Labour MarketNetherlandsHigher EducationReformAcademiaPhdSupervision
Jonge AkademieTu EindhovenDelft Young Academy
Cees HaringaMartin Sand
- What is the authors' proposed solution to improve PhD supervision?
- The authors suggest abolishing the ius promovendi and implementing collective supervision with equal-status supervisors, clarifying mentor roles, and establishing clear procedures for addressing inadequate supervision.
- What are the potential downsides of granting ius promovendi based on seniority?
- The current system grants ius promovendi based on seniority, often leading to a senior professor overseeing a PhD candidate despite minimal involvement, creating unnecessary hierarchical dependence and potential for power imbalance.
- What did the Jonge Akademie propose regarding the rights of university academics?
- The Jonge Akademie advocated for equal rights for university lecturers, associate professors, and professors, including the right to wear a gown, use the title "professor", and grant PhDs (ius promovendi).
- What is the authors' stance on expanding the ius promovendi, and what alternative do they suggest?
- The authors argue against expanding the ius promovendi, believing it doesn't align with modern PhD supervision and doesn't guarantee adequate guidance. They propose abolishing it and focusing on collective supervision methods instead.
- Why do the authors argue that seniority is not a sufficient guarantee of high-quality supervision?
- Seniority doesn't guarantee high-quality supervision; the authors contend that modern PhD supervision is a group process with various checks and balances, making seniority as a sole criterion unnecessary for ensuring the quality of the research.