Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Trevor]

For instance, a distance PhD from Unisa. Does Korea recognize distance PhD's for determining salary, etc?

[TheMeerkatLover]

No.

Also, if you're going to buy fake credentials I would at least not try to come up with a fake PhD to get a uni job.

Try something a little more humble.

http://www.fakediploma58.com/wenping_show.php?id=617&pid=27

[ttompatz]

The thing about PhDs is that your research is PUBLISHED and is searchable.
Your dissertation will also be catalogued.

You do need to be aware that UNISA is NOT a ranked university.

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2017/world-ranking#!/page/0/length/25/country/2697/sort_by/rank_label/sort_order/asc/cols/rank_only

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/university-south-africa?ranking-dataset=589595#ranking-dataset/589595

Just buying a parchment and transcript won't do you any favors if your dissertation and research cannot be found.

IF you just want a fake PhD then I can sell you one from the Univerity of Tompatz (wandering fool) for a mere 5 manwon.

You could probably do it yourself in about 2 hours of your time (needed to create the parchment, hand press the seal and make up a transcript).

Won't get you a job but looks good on the wall behind your desk.

.

[Coltronator]

That ranking page was not thorough though. It had Windsor as a ranked Canadian University but no Laurentian, or Wilfred Laurier, Brock or even SFX? What is up with that?

[ttompatz]

Then try the QS world rankings...
http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2016

IF it isn't ranked then it is too low to be ranked.
10,000 universities on planet earth... there are lots ( about 18/43 in Canada ) that don't rank in the top 1000 OFTEN due to a lack of published research from the university.

Those universities that don't offer a significant number of graduate degrees (Laurention's 600 vs UofA at 7500 and UofT at14,000) usually don't get ranked since there is no published research.

If you are looking at doing a PhD then you WANT a ranked university, you WANT your research published and your work cited. It is NOT the same as your undergrad (bachelor degree) where the focus is on the coursework. A PhD IS a research degree.

.

[Coltronator]

I completely understand that, but Windsor is not thought of as a good University, it was my fallback but I got accepted to a different one that was better, yet seems to rank above the better U's.

As well specialties are an issue. Brock's educational degrees are the best in Canada(baring an argument that Queen's are better), Laurentian's a force in Geoscience, if you have an Engineering, Math or Physics Degree from Waterloo that is better and harder to accomplish than any UFT degree.

I guess it is as you said the number of graduate programs offered getting weighed more than than the specialties value.

[Trevor]

Some countries post a list of international universities whose degrees they recognize. Does Korea? I know Korean Immigration refers to a written list when they validate diplomas. If I am not mistaken, it is pretty cut-and-dry. If a university is not on "the list" then the discussion is over.
I am looking for "the list" of educational institutions that Korean Immigration goes by.

Similarly, if there are any South Africans working in Korea with a Unisa degree, I would appreciate hearing from you.

Nelson Mandela has a degree from the University of South Africa. They have 187,000 students. It may not be the best university, but I think it is a little different than purchasing a wall-hanging.

Here is what it says on Unisa's website:

Accreditation of Unisa as an institution on both national and international level

Unisa operates in accordance with the Higher Education Act 101 of 1997, as amended. It is recognised by the South African Department of Education (DoE), accredited by the South African Council on Higher Education (CHE) and all its qualifications are registered with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).

Since Unisa operates in accordance with the Higher Education Act, 1997, it does not have a registration number at the Department of Education.

International Accreditation of Unisa’s qualifications

One way for the accreditation of Unisa’s qualifications in foreign countries with an established Qualifications Authority, is for the two qualification authorities involved to negotiate the mutual recognition and accreditation of each other’s qualifications.

In other cases the publication of an institutions name in specific authoritative publications, forms the basis of accreditation. Unisa is inter alia listed in the following publications:

International Handbook of Universities published by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and officially verified by the International Association of Universities.

Students must however enquire from the specific foreign country/university whether Unisa’s qualifications are accredited/recognised.

[ttompatz]

The nonsense about recognizing or not recognizing a degree is about UNDERGRADUATE degrees.

A PhD is a different kettle of fish.
It is about your ORIGINAL research, YOUR presentations, YOUR publications and YOUR contribution to new knowledge.

Your peers (and future employers) will judge you on your performance, publications and presentations. Not on where you received your Phd from.

Immigration doesn't give a crap about PhDs. Once a Dr. always a Dr.
They care about undergrad for E2s and for an E7 or an E1, having a master level of expertise (master degree and/or experience).

One HUGE caveat: IF you are entering a PhD program WITHOUT having a comparable Master Degree then there ARE issues with the validity of the program since there will be additional coursework required.

That said, at the end of the day, it is still about your research: what you did, where you presented it, and where it was published.

IF you do your research and then have it published in TESOL Quarterly then no-one will care where you earned your PhD.
If you did your research and earned your PhD from an un-ranked uni and then published in one of those "take anything for a fee" journals then all bets are off.

.

[Trevor]

Much obliged Ttompatz.

If anyone can point me to the list of international universities that Korean Immigration uses (undergrad or otherwise) I would appreciate it.

[PRagic]

Also, keep in mind that PhD program rankings may differ from university rankings. This impacts your potential to get a job. First, universities tend to want to have better known universities represented where their faculty are concerned. Second, better ranked Ph.D. programs are staffed with professors with better international reputations and connects; this means higher impact LOR.

Yes, you'll need to publish to get hired on the tenure track, but publishing in well-ranked journals aside, the name on your degree is going to carry a lot of weight all things considered. Go for top-ten ranked PhD programs first, and then shoot for the biggest name and highest ranked university to boot. Funding will be an issue, so apply to a few and see who bigs up the most.

So, sure, if you just want a Ph.D. and you plan on working as a university ESL instructor NOT on the TT, then any program will suffice and personal and financial considerations become deciding factors. If, however, you want a TT job teaching teachers (e.g. in a College of Education), then a well known, well respected school is the way to go, and you'll need to be publishing even before you get your parchment.

[PRagic]

I should add one thing: In my experience, the biggest mistake potential Doctoral students make is assuming that the world is your oyster once you get that magic piece of papers and add those three little letters to the end of your salutation.

In fact, that's when the competition heats up. And it can get mighty frustrating trying to find a TT job after you've just spent 4-7 years getting your terminal degree.

Think long game and do yourself and your family, if applicable, a service.

[Gatorwild]

[PRagic]

X2

Yup, everyone starts sizing everyone else up by the end of year one. Everyone knows who has a dissertation topic already and how challenging (or not) it is by year two. By year three, people are already aware of who can or can't teach effectively, who stands out in terms of research capability, and are watching people a couple of years ahead of them get hired (or not).

By fourth year, prelims, qualifying exams and the proposal defense have been navigated, so it's usually all about the dissertation; who's going to get done, graduate, and find a job. The envy, for lack of a better word, is palpable when people writing their dissertations meet those who just successfully defended. At conferences, the talk inevitably turns to who's finding work where, who's retiring (thereby possibly freeing up a slot), and which programs might be hiring.

The greatest percentage of all TT assistant professor positions are going to go to either stand out ABDs (from bigger named programs) VERY close to completion, or those who graduated within three years of the job announcement. It'd be great to say that there's no age discrimination in the academic market, but recent reporting tells us otherwise. Departments are usually going to try and get as much mirage out of a new hire as possible, so you're a tough sell if you're a new PhD in your mid 40s or older competing against those in their late 20s to early/mid 30s.

I think the recent stats say that fewer than 30% of grads will actually get a TT position, and then that percentage decreases as you move up the ranks. As a new assistant prof, there's a lot of pressure to develop new classes every semester, publish, and participate in enough service to keep your tenure bid viable. You'd be surprised by how many people simply burn out or don't make it to their first promotion. If you get a shot at another place, and if that happens again, kiss your career goodbye. But no pressure.

So there's been a lot written lately about alt-Ed careers for PhDs who want to work outside of academe. Opportunities will differ by dicipline. A buddy of mine in educational consulting told me that TESL PhDs, especially with experience, are in high demand in some US states with large immigrant populations. I'd imagine, too, that if you marketed yourself right, you'd be able to work in tech. Think of all the engineers from around the world at these huge tech companies looking to communicate better!

Obviously, this is a topic close to my heart. I had no clue what I was getting myself into. Fortunately things rolled my way, but I know others who weren't as fortunate. They're all working, but not doing what they thought they'd be doing after getting their degrees. Some are in an adjunct rut, some are in government, and some are doing work outside academe completely divorced from their field of specialization. Most are still glad they did their doctorate, but not all.

[Gatorwild]

Again, PR nails it. I'd also like to add that your first job out of your program is the most important. Now, if you graduate in your home country and go overseas, it might not be as important if you are publishing and attending conferences. However, if you want to work in your home country, it's very important.

If you start out at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, then the chances of you ever making it to University of North Carolina are vastly against you. Why? Because your teaching load decreases your ability to conduct research and write grants (which are becoming a major requirement these days).

If you take an adjunct job as your first employment- you will most likely be an adjunct for the rest of your life. The percentages are high on that.

However, if you want to go to a liberal arts college, then you better have good teaching evaluations and experience because that is what they look at the most.

It is a really difficult situation, especially if you have a family and only making poverty level wages at the same time. There is a reason why there is a 50% dropout rate- and 50% is being somewhat generous I believe. At my university, it ranges around 35% graduation rate.

[PRagic]

Yup, the last stats I saw said that the drop out rate for doctoral students stands at about 50%, higher for some programs.

As far as working abroad, it depends on where. Most decent R1 K universities require about the same as most N. American R1 universities. Same goes for universities in Japan, Singapore, HK, and the bigger Chinese Universities. GB is a tough nut to crack, as are a lot of the Euro programs (and those pay less than Asian schools for the most part!). If you want to go further off the beaten path, and/or to work at smaller private or 2 year schools, the hiring criteria is substantially relaxed.

Better to do a string a post docs while publishing than to adjunct, IMHO. Or, if possible, take a visiting prof position at one place, publish as much as possible, and burnish your teaching chops. See if that can roll into a TT position, but if not, keep quietly hunting for one.

You can possibly publish your way up a level of school; many profs work their way up and out of a less than desirable first position. Again, though, a large part of why they got that first job to begin with, and why they were able to make a move, has to do with the U name on their diploma.