PhD graduands at a past ceremony at Kenyatta University. PHOTO | ANTHONY OMUYA | NMG
In one scenario, the pursuit of knowledge represents the very
essence of a self-actualised person. On the other hand, gaining
recognition from knowledge acquisition represents a pugnacious display
from a self-esteem power obsessed individual.
Many
knowledge seekers desire not only to learn new information but also to
conduct research and create new groundbreaking knowledge.
Attainment
of a doctorate represents a key training regime for aspiring
researchers that contributes to both theory and practice.
Unfortunately,
many pursuing business-related Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Doctor of
Business Administration (DBA) designations often do not understand how
to choose an appropriate quality programme. Inasmuch, please utilise the
following three steps. First, check the accreditation of your
prospective doctoral programme.
Disturbingly, someone could literally set up an accreditation
body overnight on River Road in Nairobi and carry about as much
credibility as many of the agencies touting their ratings, rankings, or
accreditations.
The most sought after and credible
accreditation body for business schools is the Association to Advance
Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). It holds rigorous standards that
far exceed nation-based or government guidelines and rules.
Only
the top-most prestigious universities meet the requirements and
business schools across North and South America, Europe, Asia Pacific,
Australia, and of course right here in Africa apply for, get inspected
by, and become accredited by AACSB.
Check whether your
university is AACSB accredited by checking the following link:
http://www.aacsb.edu/accreditation/accredited-members/global-listing.
If
you do not obtain your doctorate from an AACSB accredited university,
then most international business schools will not let you join their
faculty if you decide one day to go into lecturing.
An
equivalent accrediting body for psychology programmes, including
industrial psychology that holds business crossover appeal, is the
American Psychological Association (APA) that accredits only doctoral
psychology programmes.
Second, notice the ranking.
Many Kenyans like to observe the widely used but deemed non-credible and
useless Webometrics rankings. Instead, look to the Times Higher
Education World University Rankings here:
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings.
If
your doctoral programme does not fall within the top 500 universities
in the world, then your time and money may not produce much credible
benefits to you on the international stage.
Other
credible global rankings entities include the US News and World Report
for most doctoral subjects and the Financial Times for business
disciplines.
Third, select a supervisor. Your
supervisor’s credibility stands just as important as the university
choice. Investigate supervisors that you desire by exploring the
research publications that they produce.
If a faculty
prides him or herself in publishing a scholarly article but it is not
published in a credible academic journal, then you should ignore their
bloviating pride and select someone else.
Check
the status, rigour, and credibility of the research conducted by the
faculty of your target school on the following website:
http://www.scimagojr.com/journalrank.php. In your particular discipline,
only choose a doctoral supervisor whose publications appear in the top
100 ranked journals.
Other criteria also exist such as checking the completion rates and average completion times for doctoral candidates.
Also,
if doctoral dissertations jumble variables together in conceptual
frameworks that load on different factors or if only simple multiple
regression in the dissertation can get you a doctorate, then it is best
to look elsewhere.
However, universities and supervisors who meet the above three main criteria would almost always meet additional criteria.
So,
check the university accreditation and ranking as well as the journal
quality of your prospective supervisor for a programme worth time and
money.
Dr Scott may be reached on scott@ScottProfessor.com or on Twitter: @ScottProfessor.
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