Job Discussion Forums

zorro (4) · Joined: 16 Feb 2009 Posts: 31

Has anyone done this? Or considered it? Do you know anyone who has done it?

The reason I ask is that whilst looking through some journals (or something similar), I found several Phd proposals / abstracts from people working in the ME. One of them was from HCT.

So, this got me interested in thinking about the possibility of doing this during a stint in the ME. Any ideas?

ifychris · Joined: 15 Dec 2008 Posts: 39

Thinking about doing the Ph.D?
Some facts:
1. The Ph.D is NOT something you do because you saw some abstracts
by some colleagues from HCT.
2. Do not enrol in a Ph.D unless you know you have sufficient time, funding and dedication to COMPLETE. There are too many ABDs out there.
3. Embarking on the Ph.D journey can be a life-changing experience.
4. Do a thorough cost-benefits analysis before deciding. It can be quite
expensive (especially without scholarships/fellowships/grants)
5. The Ph.D can open MANY doors/opportunities.
Hope this is helpful.
Iffy

jdl · Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Posts: 632 Location: cyberspace

It can be done and is done by many. The teaching load is light: usually 14-20 contact hours per week....basically a half time job for full time pay. There are peak times around exams and semester end when you may spend most of your time at work actually working but generally there is a great deal of non assigned time. This means you have ample time while at work to do studies/reasearch/preparation/surfing/reading/'coffeeing' etc. The discplined and dedicated often take this time for self improvement and study. Go for it. The colleges are a wealth of primary research data. Depending on your topic you may even find college support (permission) to conduct research that will benefit the college. An opportunity for sure ... to be paid while you study and research. PhD students do it all around the world: that is, work as teaching assistants or lecturers while studying. Why would the ME be any different?

15yearsinQ8 · Joined: 17 Oct 2006 Posts: 462 Location: kuwait

a 120-200 page dissertation is not like writing 12-20 10 page papers, it is 120-200 times harder.....
i worked (fulltime) while researching, writing and defending my 120 pages Masters thesis - withdrawing once and extending my deadline twice

you have to be on top of your game and the data should be very evident , easy to complile and clear or you will not succeed....

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

There is at least one director in the HCT system who will not allow anyone to carry out research on students at the college - no doubt he doesn't want facts to obfusticate the show that HCT perpetuates about the overall ability and quality of the student body as a whole.

That being said, there are some very good students who are extremely capable and work very hard - they are not the majority by a long shot.

Nordic · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 22

I had the idea of doing my PhD in UAE but droped it and travelled back to Europe to do it. Took a brake for 3 years, finished it off and back to ME.

1. Doing it distant from ME makes one feel very isolated, especially when a PhD should bring some new knowledge empirically or even theoretically. I think it would be very challenging to do it alone in the Middle East. Well, the European or American PhDs are different of course and American PhD is far easier, especially in terms of methology and even scientific depth.

2. There are no universitities in the Middle East where one would want to do his/her PhD.

matthew156 · Joined: 30 Jan 2009 Posts: 140 Location: The Majik Kindom

Phd.................
Hmmmmmmm..............
Well I think it's over rated.
Don't get me wrong, Phd.s are great but 25 years ago a high school diploma landed you a fairly decent job which had security until retirement. Then about ten years ater that when the baby boomer generation came to fruition University degrees landed you that same job. as time went on and the children of the high school generation grew up it was decided by most families (usually foreign immigrant ones) That an MBA was the new ticket to life. Now the market is flooded with MAs and MBAs (mostly MBAs) out of the yin yan. And now these jobs that required a Master's (MBAs) are becoming obsolete and soon our children will have to be professors at the age of 26 with a couple of nobel prizes to sling burgers at McDonalds.

Regards

Matt

zorro (4) · Joined: 16 Feb 2009 Posts: 31

Nordic · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 22

In what field would you want to do your PhD? English language or business or something else?

I did mine in business and economics and would love to share ideas, if that is what you plan to do.

jdl · Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Posts: 632 Location: cyberspace

Yes.

I worked with 3 people in two colleges who did just that. I helped one with his research and just "atta boyed and watched" the other two. They all worked very hard and all were very successful. All 3 got their degrees from either British or Australian Universities with combination on- line/residency programs. One dissertation was used by the Ministry of Manpower English Unit to justify/make some syllabus changes. It is all possible.

zorro (4) · Joined: 16 Feb 2009 Posts: 31

I'm thinking about making it an extension of my MA dissertation, concerning Standard English ideologies and NNS English (an obvious clash!). This is one of my interests.

So people have done it! Of course, it all depends on whether I could secure employment with a university that would appreciate my studying.

We'll see how it all pans out.

Nordic · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 22

Sorry, can't help with that one but good luck!

eha · Joined: 26 May 2005 Posts: 355 Location: ME

'....who will not allow anyone to carry out research on students at the college - no doubt he doesn't want facts to obfusticate the show ....'

Don't you love it? Now what price academic integrity, research--- education, even--- as the search for truth?

Zorro, your potential thesis topic sounds very interesting--- but also VERY political. Lots of controversy there--- but as Shaw didn't quite say, no progress without controversy. Good luck.

Mia Xanthi · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 7:20 pm Post subject:

I know a number of people who have at least started their doctorates while in the ME, and at least two who have finished. However, those two were through British universities where there is essentially no course work...it just involves a very long period of research and a loooong dissertation.

Are you doing this for personal fulfillment, or to get a better job? I know people who are disappointed with their job prospects once they finish the Ph.D. The money is not much better than MA jobs, and the work seems to be considerably harder. If you are doing it for personal fulfillment, then any improvement in your job situation will just be a bonus for you.

Good luck in your academic endeavors.

zorro (4) · Joined: 16 Feb 2009 Posts: 31

It would be controversial and political, but that's why it would be interesting I think. For my MA dissertation, I used critical discourse analysis which is a great tool for this kind of qualitative, political research.

If I do it, it would be for fulfillment, not to get a better job. But thanks for the info that people actually do this in the ME. Mine would be through a British Uni too, so it would basically be a loooong research project.