Research universities need to shift to professionalization: Opinion

Opinion

Research universities should be professionalized rather than based on an apprenticeship model, writes Gillian R Hayes. In an article for Inside Higher Ed, Hayes writes that the current “apprenticeship model” is dead and that undergraduate students deserve to be taught by dedicated and well-trained teachers. Since many are pushing for PhD students to be financially supported for their entire studies, the author argues that it is more fiscally responsible to hire one trained professional over multiple teaching and research assistants. The author asserts that it is important to provide training to PhD students, but in lower numbers and with positive graduate outcomes. Hayes writes that the cultural shift will pose a challenge on many campuses, but that a move toward professionalization, specialization, and reorganization is necessary to ensure that research universities survive.

Inside Higher Ed (Acct. Req.)