70 likes | 197 Views
Fourth Level Ireland Network Westley Forsythe, IUA. www.iua.ie. Monday 21 September 2009. Policy development. Structured PhD programmes. ‘ Structured’ programme (incorporating ‘apprenticeship’) Groups of students – possibility of multi-HEIs PhD Thesis
E N D
Fourth Level Ireland Network Westley Forsythe, IUA www.iua.ie Monday 21 September 2009
Structured PhD programmes • ‘Structured’ programme (incorporating ‘apprenticeship’) • Groups of students – possibility of multi-HEIs • PhD Thesis • Generic & disciplinary skills embedded in education • Normally four years • Thesis remains the basis on which the award is made • ‘Apprenticeship model’ • Lone or small groups of students – one HEI • PhD Thesis • Generic/transferable skills - an ‘extra’ • Typically three years
Structured programmes funded by… • Higher Education Authority • (i) SIF • (ii) PRTLI • Research Councils’ GREPS • Dept. of Agriculture • Health Research Board
Fourth Level Network • SIF funded • Deans of Graduate Education in all universities
ECTS agreement Achievements • Irish Universities Graduate Student skills statement • Collaborative promotion of Irish graduate education • Share good practice • Point of contact for funders and those developing and delivering graduate education
Challenges • Maintenance of quality • Four year stipends • Avoidance of a two tier system • ‘Co-opetition’: Does not encourage sharing of good practice; undermines collaborative approach • Inter-institutional arrangements: ECTS, QA mechanisms (IUQB National guidelines) • Defined authority and role of the Network?