What’s in a PhD? | Society - Asia Sentinel

Is a doctoral degree a necessity for success in Southeast Asia?, writes Murray Hunter, development specialist based in Southeast Asia. 

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In mid-2017, Mary Yap Kain Ching, Malaysia’s deputy minister for higher education, announced her ministry was establishing a database to verify educators and others’ doctorates. That, Yap said, was because fake doctorates had become rampant in the country. Although she didn’t say it, an ever-growing list of parliamentarians has called themselves PhDs.

Across Asia and not just in Malaysia, that is an indication of aura around the title, which has led to a massive marketplace in fake degrees, ghostwriting of dissertations, and scams presenting honorary degrees to politicians, academics, business people, management consultants, and professional trainers.   Aside from the fraudsters, however, evidence indicates that a PhD is becoming more important for policy analysis positions within government, major international organizations, and large NGOs. Having said that, there appears to be a mismatch between PhD holders and job opportunities, with many graduates finding it extremely difficult to find a job.

There is a growing conflict between holding a doctorate, concerned with developing a personal framework about scientific or disciplinary investigation, analysis and understanding, and hands-on experience. Undertaking a PhD for so many years of study is not the only way to learn these skills...

Is a PhD worth it? Yes, if undertaking a PhD is part of a journey to an academic and/or research career. This is especially the case for those already employed. If not, getting a job will require more than the PhD. It’s a matter of who you know or who you can get to know. 

Whether or not you do a PhD is about weighing out the costs versus the benefits. What are you going to achieve from a PhD? What is the opportunity cost of further study versus gaining more work experience? Can you work by yourself for long periods of time singly focused on one thing? Do you have the passion for it and will you be able to keep motivated? Do you have the financial resources?
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Source: Asia Sentinel