‘PhD candidates would never strike. They are too passionate’
PhD candidates have to work harder in a shorter time span concludes the annual report of Dutch interest group Promovendi Netwerk Nederland (PNN). What are the reasons for this and how big is the problem? PNN chairman Rolf van Wegberg, PhD candidate for cybercrime at Delft Technical University (TUD), explains.
Rolf, what’s going on?
‘Our research shows that the number of ‘unrealistic PhD appointments’ — meaning PhD contracts for a term shorter than four years or that stipulate compulsory part time — has increased this year from 10-14 per cent. The universities know that PhD candidates effectively run into structural overtime or often apply for unemployment allowances once their contracts end before they finish their thesis… And still they give them. Nationwide, only 25 per cent of candidates finalise their thesis within the prescribed four years.’
What’s the reason for the increase in these unrealistic contracts?
‘The universities have limited financial resources. Shorter contracts may save money, but that’s not the way to stimulate high quality research. Besides, a PhD candidate is in fact a scientist and this amounts to more than ‘just' writing a thesis. We at PNN, just like the Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences (KNAW), want to introduce a standard four year contract.’
How about yourself? You’re a PhD candidate too. Are you on schedule?
‘I do research on the earning models of cybercriminals at the TUD where my tutors think along with me and let me free ibn my research. I can therefore combine it with being chairman of PNN and with a job at the technology institution, TNO. My thesis is coming along and of course I hope to finalise it in due time. We realise that lack of time is an endemic problem at all universities, but being a researcher is nonetheless a wonderful job. But this is also part of the problem: PhD candidates would never strike. They are too passionate.’
