César Antonio Estrada M.
A recent journalistic article in the local press reported that the Faculty of Agronomy of the University of San Carlos opened the “first postdoctoral career”, “graduated” the first postdoctorate at a university in the country, and concluded with the enthusiastic phrase “The path postdoctoral program in the country is open!”[1] On social networks, the Sancarlista authorities have also expressed their enthusiasm, stating that the new graduate obtained “the highest academic degree in the country.”
Given the proliferation of countless postgraduate degrees, master’s degrees and doctorates of dubious academic merits – to say the least -, their advertising and commercialization by universities that are becoming mere businesses, and in view of the disproportionate importance that is being given to the possession of These titles, diplomas or simple certificates to evaluate the professional or work merits of people, it is the case of making some comments in this regard.
The highest academic degree is the Doctorate and to obtain it a bachelor’s or master’s degree is required depending on what is established in the different countries, universities and areas of study. The postdoctoral degree is not an academic degree and, therefore, could not have a study curriculum or promotions or “cohorts.”
Outside of the academic or university environment, there are those who believe that a postdoctoral degree is a higher academic degree than the Doctorate, which is not true. What, then, is a postdoc?
A “postdoc” – as they are called in the United States – or postdoc is a recently graduated doctor who is hired -receives a salary and does not pay any tuition or fees- for two or three years, in a scientific research group headed by a head or director, a professor in the case of universities, with a longer track record and more experience, who has with resources, specialized instrumentation – in the case of natural sciences or engineering – and with a team of researchers or “postdocs”. The objective of a postdoctoral degree is for the person to improve their training and increase their experience through participation in independent research under the guidance or direction of the group leader and communication with colleagues and with graduate students pursuing a doctoral program with the advice of said person. boss. As you can see, currently, all these conditions do not exist in our environment.
A postdoc should not follow a study curriculum, at the end of their work period they do not obtain any title and their job is to investigate creatively according to the area to which the group is dedicated and obtain certain results that could result in a publication.[2]. The experience thus acquired will help you increase your chances of starting your independent academic career at a university or entering to work in the industry.
Of course, commercialized universities can offer any of the most unusual courses or study plans they can think of and, what’s more, collect their juicy tuition fees; After all, the hunger for profit leaves educational, scientific or academic quality in the background and, as for social relevance… this is something that they do not even consider or that does not keep them up at night. This is how in other countries there are universities that have no qualms about advertising postdoctoral “careers.”
All of this, without a doubt, increases what we could call “security inflation” by analogy with the notion of inflation in economics: the more abundant something like money is, the lower its value. A long time ago, completing secondary education, being a high school graduate, a teacher or an accounting expert meant something in terms of the preparation and education of the graduate. Today, universities have relaxed their academic requirements and rigor so much that they are becoming a kind of public college or higher secondary education institute, with four-year degrees or even less that offer all the necessary facilities. In turn, students are being forced to have to take a “master’s degree” to, supposedly, correct the limitations in their qualifications and be able to practice their profession, something for which the Bachelor’s degree was sufficient. Pursuing these master’s degrees requires time and, naturally, the new graduate must pay high tuition fees that were not available in past years, at least in public universities. (In this regard, at the San Carlos Law School, special preparatory courses are even offered for students to take private exams; such courses would not be necessary if the degree curriculum were well planned and carried out. )
Anyway, let’s hope that with this postdoctorate thing we don’t add another unnecessary garment to the university studies that a person must follow to practice a liberal profession. As the matter goes, those who see higher education as a business or as a means to satisfy their personal interests, will not take long, in order not to be left behind in the competition, to offer as a continuation a… “repostdoctoral” program! Contrary to this, it is advisable to strengthen and strengthen degree programs and pay attention to the essential improvement and strengthening of secondary and primary education. If things continue like this, we can imagine that in order to apply for a job they ask that the possession of a “postdoctorate” appear on the curriculum vitae, while a good bachelor’s degree would surpass it and give more indication of the applicant’s suitability.
For all of the above, university managers and “authorities” must be more serious and responsible, more austere, so as not to continue in this crazy, meaningless race for titles or degrees that leave little to their students – apart from fattening their resumes -, to new professionals and to the society that is the object of their profession and that will receive their services.
Let us conclude by remembering, as we know and experience shows, that an academic degree, a title, a piece of paper alone does not magically guarantee the education, culture or knowledge of its holder.[3]
[2] The contradictory role of scientific publications or “papers” is another issue that deserves consideration. See for example “Scientific publications. Seriousness and fraud.”
[3]Even in Guatemala, it has been publicly known how some magistrates and officials have committed obvious and shameful plagiarism or fraud in obtaining their “titles” that they present to increase their credentials and access their positions in selection contests that are already very questionable.