Doctoral Education: An International Student Perspective
International Collaboration and Distance Learning
Alice Reizian, DNSc. RN., Adult Nursing Department,
It is a great pleasure to be among you and to be back in London which I visited in 1970 as a student nurse on Summer training at Pembury Hospital in Tumbridge Wells Kent.
Talking about doctoral education in Nursing I will present the different programs offered in Egypt; the support mechanisms and Innovative approaches used by our Faculty of Nursing and the different nursing institutes in Egypt to upgrade doctoral education.
Being a former peace fellow, I will also speak about peace fellowships and my experience as an International fellow at UCSF.
This conference meets the present goals and requests of both ministries of Health and of Higher Education in Egypt which are actually implementing a large campaign aiming at upgrading of University Education. This in addition to upgrading nursing education and the profession of Nursing in Egypt.
At the end, if there is time please allow me to present a slide presenting the qualities of the doctoral candidate in nursing as I perceive them.
Many graduates with a bachelor degree in nursing have received Ph.Ds. in education, administration, and public health from the Faculty of Education Ain Shams University, and the Higher Institute of Health, at Alexandria University.
Others, have obtained scholarships for Ph.Ds. and DNSc, from American Universities, like the: University of California, at San Francisco, Los Angeles, University of Nevada, University of Pittsburgh, University of Washington and New York University.
The first Egyptian nurse to receive a doctoral degree (Ph.D in education) was Prof. Dr. Soad Hussain our well known Egyptian pioneer nurse.
The first doctoral program in nursing was established in 1976 at the Faculty of Nursing University of Alexandria.
At present several doctoral programs (DNSc.) are being offered at the different High Institutes of Nursing and the Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University.
(Table 1)
The doctoral degree at the Faculty of Nursing, University of Alexandria is designed to provide a program in different nursing specialties, education, and administration.
There are certain admission and graduation requirements for doctoral studies:
Admission Requirements:
How can this doctoral candidate be brought to light. This is a very debatable issue. To do this, what should this person be like? Should this person be blessed with certain qualities? And if so what should they be?
Should they be:
These are in the form of criteria for admission, offering research grants and different scholarships.
Therefore the present actual innovative approaches to doctoral education are:
The candidate has to contact a university of her choice. Usually candidates chose a school where other former colleagues have obtained their degrees. Schools are recommended through Egyptian nursing professors who have personal contacts with their fellow American Colleagues abroad.
The candidate has also the opportunity to travel for a period of 6-12 months to complete literature review, data collection and analysis under the supervision of the American advisor who arranges for the candidates visit and stay in the U.S.
This type of shared sponsorships will create an opportunity for both advisors to travel and exchange expertise as the Egyptian advisor will spend 15 days to follow candidates progress in the U.S.
In turn, the American advisor will attend the dissertation defense which usually takes place in the candidates country of origin.
A number of these fellowships were offered by the U.S.A. to the Egyptian government to help Egyptian scholars to pursue training and graduate studies in the U.S. for a period of 2 years.
At the termination of the 2 years if the candidate was already enrolled in graduate studies then upon the request of the candidateÕs mentor the American fellowship was turned into an Egyptian international fellowship and made valid for 2 more years totaling 4 in all.
Peace fellowships were offered to candidates who were selected through an interview by the Fullbright Commission and had to pass an English Exam in addition to a Toefel with a score of 550 as well as present a completed research proposal.
Candidates with the help of Amideast in Cairo, had a chance to be placed in a U.S. University according to their interests and preferences.
On their arrival in the U.S.A., they would join an orientation for 2-3 days at the Amideast in Washington D.C. which introduced them to the American culture and American system of education.
On arrival to their destination they were welcomed at the airport by the foreign student advisor of their university. Furthermore an Amideast consultant was in permanent contact with the candidates and their universities and visited them every 6 months throughout their stay in the US to follow their academic progress and adaptation to the American way of life.
Unfortunately, At present Peace fellowships are no longer being offered.
My experience as an international fellow was very successful, full of competition and challenge but at times stressful . It helped me grow personally and professionally.
What was helpful as an international fellow at UCSF:
Thank you.
Faculty of Nursing, University of Alexandria
I would like to thank the planning committee for the International Network of Doctoral Education in Nursing (INDEN) and specially Prof. Dr. Meleis and Prof. Dr. Ketefian for their invitation to participate in today's panel.
Student Admission:
Candidates who enroll for doctoral programs, are mostly assistant lecturers, who have just received masters degrees in nursing and by virtue of their professional position have to obtain a doctoral degree in order to advance their career.
Graduation Requirements: The candidate should:
Through the doctoral program in nursing, we aim to prepare a scientist, a scholar with a special vision, committed to develop the discipline of nursing and lead it to professionalism.
That person should also be:
Is there a special way to develop these qualities in a doctoral candidate in nursing. How could this be realized?
Many innovative approaches and support mechanisms have been developed and used by the Egyptian government, universities, faculties and institutes of nursing.
Innovative Approaches To Doctoral Education:
The Faculty of Nursing University of Alexandria, in an attempt to upgrade the standard of doctoral education in nursing has introduced a Toefel exam with a minimum score of 500 as an admission requirement to the doctoral degree in nursing. Also, curriculum has been revised and developed. Core courses related to different specialties in nursing have been added to the new/curriculum.
More innovative approaches should be encouraged in the form of:
Research grants, fellowships and scholarships:
Research grants and different types of scholarships are offered to doctoral candidates to help them complete their degrees.
Research grants:
Are offered for a period of 4 years to assistant lecturers. Candidates who have received a scholarships of this type are entitled to be relieved from teaching responsibilities during the 4 years.
International scholarships:
These are offered to the Universities through the Egyptian government. Candidates who are eligible have a chance to study in one of the U.S.A. or British Universities.
Shared sponsorships or what is known as Channel system:
This is similar to the 4 years research grant. The same process for choice of university is followed as the: International Scholarships. But in addition, the candidate has the chance to have both a foreign and an Egyptian advisor on her dissertation committee.
Peace fellowships:
Peace fellowships first started in 1979. (sponsored by USAID and America Middle East Education and Training Services, Washington, DC.).
To conclude, many innovative approaches as well as International scholarships should be provided by the universities and faculties of nursing which will enrich and enhance the quality of the doctoral program in nursing. This in addition to the contribution in the acquirement of certain qualities by the doctoral candidates through their years of study.
Peer support, and group interactions.
Colleagues, international and American, helpful in adapting to the school, helping with school work, rehearsing for qualifying exams. Gatherings in doctoral room of great importance. Lunch groups, discussing papers, concepts. Invitations to receptions, dinners and social gatherings, through dean and professors and colleagues on different occasions. Ability to take advantage of cultural events being offered: As S.F. symphony, ballet and opera, theater
International Network for Doctoral Education in Nursing
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