ReseaRch Quality assuRance foR the futuRe a ... - Lund University

Part 2 – Conclusions of the review
a view to appointing the best possible candidates. (Box 1 shows the
pattern of academic/research posts in Swedish universities).
62. Such a move would of course involve a number of linguistic issues.
Although it might draw in staff from other Scandinavian countries,
its greatest impact would be if it were to decide to draw on talent
from the wider world, in which English is the lingua franca. The
University might wish to apply a language requirement, or it might
accept that a growing proportion of its staff may become predominantly
anglophone.
63. We are also aware however that such a change would have a major
effect on the current ethos of the university, the career planning
of young researchers and the attractiveness of PhD studies. Some
of these issues are addressed in following sections. Change such as
we suggest would need to be accompanied by much greater clarity
about career pathways for young researchers and academics.
b) The timing of the PhD
64. Across much of the University, the average age for PhD graduation
is between 30 and 40, although this varies considerably for different
subject areas. This compares poorly with many other countries
in Europe and beyond where PhD graduation commonly occurs
between the ages of 27 and 30, or even earlier. This has serious implications.
Firstly there is a tendency for PhD studies to be largely
undertaken by those with the desire to become full-time academics,
rather than also being a route for a significant cohort who seek
employment in business and non-academic fields. Secondly, it has
serious implications for the recommendation in paragraph 55.
65. It is increasingly important in a modern knowledge economy that
interactions between the knowledge base in the universities and the
demand for innovation in business and society are strengthened.
PhD graduates are one of the most important links between the
university research base and knowledge intensive companies. They
are aware of leading edge concepts in their field, they bring knowledge
of the laboratories that they have recently left, and are ideal
links between their company’s market interests and the capabilities
of the university research base. They are often crucial agents in the
innovation system. In the US for example, 80% of PhD graduates
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