Manikandan Murugaiah’s Post

Attention University Professors and Academicians When it comes to PhD admissions, what matters the most? 1. Statement of Purpose (SOP) 2. Letters of Recommendation 3. Research Publications 4. CGPA 5. Undergraduate/Graduate Institution I’ve observed cases where students secured admission into top-tier universities without any research publications, while others with strong publications faced rejections. What, in your opinion, plays the most significant role in the selection process? I’d love to hear your insights! #PhDAdmissions #AcademicResearch #HigherEducation #PhDLife #GradSchoolTips #ResearchOpportunities #StatementOfPurpose #LettersOfRecommendation #UniversityAdmissions #AcademicSuccess #PhDCommunity #Proffessor

The notable people in our #PhDprogramme should remind us of the need for continued academic growth regardless of the fact that we have attained a higher position in society. Continued learning and research helps us to increase our relevance in the areas of our engagements. Higher positions in society must motivate us to learn and research more. Let these notable figures in our PhD programme inspire us to do more. #ContinuousProfessionalDevelopment #AdultLearning #ResearchAndRelevance #PostgraduateResearch #HigherEducation #DepartmentOfTheologyAndReligiousStudies @MzuniOnline

🎓💡 Thought-Provoking Read on Reforming the PhD System In a compelling piece from Nature, Mark C. Taylor argues that the current PhD system, rooted in medieval traditions, must either be significantly reformed or pared down. He emphasizes that we are producing too many PhDs for a job market that cannot sustain them, creating unrealistic career expectations for new academics. Universities face mounting financial challenges, with an urgent need to adapt to a rapidly changing educational landscape. Although, academic institutions play a critical role, individuals must also take proactive steps to continually learn and adapt their skills to stay relevant in their careers. The PhD system, with its deep roots and vast influence, indeed requires a thorough overhaul to better serve both the academic community and society at large. What are your thoughts? Do you think the PhD system needs a reform, and if so, what changes would you propose? #PhDEducation #HigherEducation #CareerDevelopment #AcademicReform

Nobody wants students to drop out. How do we find out if they will? One common approach is to ask them about their plans. It seems logical, right? I decided to check whether students' intentions and their actual outcomes align. Spoiler Alert: They don’t. Here’s what I found: - Most doctoral students plan to graduate - Their plans often change over time - Students tend to become more pessimistic about their chances of graduating and the time required - The correlation between intentions and completion is rather low - Relying on intentions as proxies in studies can be misleading Read more in Higher Education Research and Development

This trend is devastating for higher education, research, and even the credibility of leading journals. This is a multi decade trend that has exacerbated in the past 15 years. But the labeling is a bit deceptive. The question should be why are there so few “non-progressive” professors (and administrators) with a singularity of perspectives on social and scientific issues? Higher education has become monolithic and the bias is palpable on campus. There have been a myriad of justifications for this bias in recruitment, tenure, and focus - some are valid. But the cancer invading academe can, and will, be catastrophic.

Let's Reform the PhD system or close it down Mark C. Taylor suggests that the traditional PhD system is on the brink of collapse, producing more graduates than there are jobs. Is it time to shut down outdated programs and rethink how we educate the next generation of scholars? What's your take should we continue to invest in the current model, or is it time for bold, innovative changes in higher education? #Higher Education #PhDReform #AcademicInnovation #EducationDebate #UGC