Image credit: Nico Smit
Things often come in cycles and the first quarter of 2025 has seen a number of doctorate students who I have supported complete their studies with their viva. The PhD viva is an essential aspect of the process in my opinion as it gives a real chance for students to articulate and explain their ideas to people who have not been close to their research work. Of course this articulation is never without challenge which also means that the individual gets a chance to discuss and defend their views; another important experience for them to have.
The quality of the learning that a student obtains from their viva is partly dependent on the approach that the examiners take to the viva. Finding examiners is quite a difficult task as you not only need to find someone with the required subject expertise but also someone who has relevant examination experience. Most importantly though is the willingness for the individual in question to be prepared to give up their time to complete the required work to examine the research project. This is not insignificant as you can imagine as the preparation and the administration around such a task is clearly substantial. While all universities offer a fee and expenses for the role of examiner the financial return doesn’t really compensate for the time that is required. In reality then the process relies on individuals who have gone through the system being prepared to invest time and effort in the development of others. In a busy world where we are all increasingly under pressure to deliver against our own professional objectives it is becoming harder and harder to find people who are willing to proactively undertake such “charity work” (this term was coined in a conversation that I had with a prominent academic in the field to classify work that is completed to support the professional ecosystem we all exist in but that may not serve to clearly benefit the individual doing it directly).
While I understand these pressures, especially for those new into academic careers, I feel like it’s important to remind ourselves that without others acting “in-service” for us at times then few of us would be able to progress and develop in the ways that we have. While I have focussed on the PhD viva specifically above the concept of “charity work” also extends to other things such as journal reviewing, external examining, evaluating professional development portfolios etc). These activities I would argue though may not be simply “charity work” as they do actually provide a number of other positives for the individual involved. These positives are associated with the significant contribution that they can make to someone’s personal development. These development opportunities are linked to both a greater awareness of alternative processes and strategies and the exposure to different ideas and perspectives than one may traditionally have when working (i.e. evaluating and reviewing requires a very different perspective to producing something). It is also possible that such things can also contribute to experiences needed for career development frameworks within the organisations that individuals work in thereby providing a more tangible benefit than that linked to experiential learning. Of course we also shouldn’t ignore the potential to create or further develop professional and/or personal connections with others that are often also associated with such things.
So the next time you get an opportunity to do “charity work” maybe think more carefully about the fast “no thank you, I’m currently too busy” that often is our first response. There might just be something in it for you that you hadn’t considered that could provide a pathway to something that you had never considered.
B.Drust@bham.ac.uk