This is from article ‘Nature news’: The PhD factory
The world is producing more PhDs than ever before. Is it time to stop?
http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110420/full/472276a.html
The number of science PhD grew by nearly 40% between 1998 and 2008, in countries that are members of OECD. The growth shows no sign of slowing: most countries are building up their higher education systems because they see educated workers as a key to economic growth. But, is it time to stop?
Japan: The system in crisis.
Of all the countries, Japan is arguably one of the worst. In the 1990s, the governments set a policy to produce 10000 PhDs, trying to triple the number, which succeeded quickly. However, because they have limited seats for professors, academia doesn’t want them. And also, because Japanese companies want undergraduate students to train by themselves, Japanese companies neither.
China: Quantity outweighs quality?
The number of PhD holder in China grew from 10000 (1999) to 49000 (2008). But the main problem is the quality of student. Because of its rapidity, many PhD supervisors are not well qualified. And length of PhD training at three years is too short.
United States: Supply versus Demand.
The population of the people with science PhDs who get tenured academic positions in the sciences has been dropping steadily and industry has not fully absorbed the slack. The poor job market has discouraged some potential student from embarking on science PhDs. Some universities are now experimenting with PhD program that better prepare graduate student for career outside academia.
Germany: The progressive PhD.
Germany is Europe’s biggest producers of PhDs, producing around 7000 PhDs in 2005. Because they have long period experience for training PhDs, they developed progressive training system. Some PhDs seek for job in Academia in Germany. PhDs can also seek for the position in the rest of Europe, and also Europe companies are also interested in them. They are the best of the best.
I believe that Japan have to seek for Germany model. We should develop better PhD training system to satisfy demands of Asia academia and companies.
(See figures on source http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110420/full/472276a.html)