After six years of hard study, I finally ushered in the graduation season I dreamed of. After the dissertation was written, the defense was successfully passed, and it was time to get the precious doctoral certificate. However, at this moment when everything is ready and only the east wind is owed, a notice catches everyone off guard.
"I'm sorry, I don't meet the requirements, you can't graduate." This sentence was like a thunderbolt from the blue, instantly shattering the dream of 1,800 doctoral students at China Medical University. They thought they had crossed the finish line, but they were told that there was a higher threshold waiting for them - either to win a provincial award or to drop out of school and return their money.
This sudden "dismissal order" makes people wonder: why did the new demand be made at the last minute? Is this fair? What kind of torment are those doctoral students who have completed all the relevant work going through at the moment?
Xiao Li is one of these doctoral students. As an ordinary doctor in a tertiary hospital, he has paid too much for this doctor's dream. "Every day, I have to be on duty to see patients, and at night, I have to catch up with papers and do experiments. On weekends and holidays, I soak in the laboratory, and spend less time with my family. Xiao Li said, "I finally survived until the thesis was passed and the defense was passed, I thought I could finally breathe a sigh of relief, but I didn't expect..."
Indeed, for these working doctoral students who have been working in hospitals for many years, pursuing a doctorate is by no means an easy task. Not only do they have to juggle heavy workloads, but they also have to meet academic requirements, which can be said to be exhausting both physically and mentally.
"The average age of our group is about 40 years old, and we really have paid too much for this degree." Xiao Wang, another doctoral student, said helplessly, "Now that I am suddenly told that I can't graduate, it feels like the past six years have been empty." "
The school said that the reason for this situation was that "there was a misunderstanding of the relevant documents at the beginning". This explanation seems unconvincing. After all, as a well-known university, it is incomprehensible that there is such a major mistake in admissions policy and graduation requirements.
Even more puzzling is why a new request is made at the last minute. If these conditions are clearly stated as early as the time of admission, it may also give students some time to prepare. But the sudden change of hexagram at the juncture of graduation undoubtedly brought a huge blow to these doctoral students.
The incident sparked widespread discussion online, with different voices reflecting diverse views on higher education and academic norms.
@医路漫漫123: "As a doctor, I know how difficult it is to pursue a PhD in addition to my clinical work. These people have given so much and now they are told that they will not be able to graduate, which is nothing short of devastating for them. The school's approach is so irresponsible! "
This netizen's comment speaks to the hearts of many people. Indeed, for these doctors, who have been working for many years, it takes a great deal of courage and perseverance to go back to school to pursue a PhD.
They gave up precious rest time, even family life, for this degree. Now being told that all efforts could be in vain, the blow is undoubtedly enormous. While we empathize with the plight of these doctoral students, we should also reflect: what is the purpose of higher education? Should there be more flexibility in the formulation of evaluation criteria, rather than a ruler to measure everyone?
@学术清流666: "I think the school's requirements are actually correct. A doctorate degree represents the highest academic level, and if you can't even get a provincial award, the quality is really questionable. "
This netizen's point of view represents a different voice. From the perspective of academic norms, it is indeed reasonable to raise the threshold for doctoral graduation. After all, a Ph.D. symbolizes the highest academic level in a field, and it's understandable to be strict. But the question is, should this requirement be explicitly stated at the outset?
If there had been a rule, I believe that these doctoral students would have worked hard to win various awards during their studies. Is it against the spirit of the contract to change the rules at the moment? It is also a wake-up call to the need for transparency and consistency in the formulation and implementation of education policies to avoid overnight changes.
@平凡小菜鸟: "Isn't it a bit hasty to refund the tuition fee?" These people have been studying for six years, how can the time and energy be paid? "
The comment points to a key problem: money is not the most important thing in this turmoil. Even if the university is willing to refund the full tuition fee, it will not make up for the six years of time and energy invested by these doctoral students. This makes us wonder: how should the value of education be measured? It is clearly not enough to calculate in terms of money alone. We need to establish a more comprehensive and humane evaluation system that truly respects the contribution of every student.
@理性思考者: "This incident has exposed some of the problems in the mainland's higher education system. The policy of 'equal academic ability' was originally good, but its implementation was skewed. "
This netizen's comment was quite insightful. The "academic equivalence" policy was originally intended to provide a pathway to higher education for those who did not have access to regular higher education. But in practice, it may be exploited by some people. This reminds us that any policy should be formulated with possible loopholes in mind and adjusted and improved in a timely manner. At the same time, we should also be wary of rejecting a policy altogether because of individual cases, but rather improving it while retaining its positive significance.
@教育未来梦: "I hope that this incident will attract attention and promote the further improvement of the mainland's higher education system." After all, education is about everyone's future and about the country's development. "
This comment speaks to the hearts of many. Education is not only a personal matter, but also a major matter related to the development of the country. This incident, while regrettable, also provides us with an opportunity for reflection and improvement. We look forward to seeing a fairer, more transparent, and more humane education system, so that everyone who pursues knowledge can be treated with the respect and rewards they deserve.
This turmoil has undoubtedly sounded the alarm bell for us. It not only exposes some problems in the higher education system, but also triggers us to think deeply about the nature of education.
What is the purpose of education? Is it for a diploma, or is it for real learning? In our pursuit of academic excellence, are we neglecting the respect for our learners? Have we taken into account the possibilities and achieved fairness and justice in the formulation of education policies?
These questions deserve deep thought by each of us. As ordinary people, we may not be able to change education policy directly, but we can speak out in our own way and express our expectations for equitable education. We can pay more attention to the education issues around us and provide help to those who are struggling to study in the best way we can.
At the same time, we need to reflect on our own attitudes towards education. Is there too much emphasis on academic qualifications and neglect of ability? Have you lost the original purpose of learning in the pursuit of a higher education? A true education should be about developing independent thinking skills and stimulating the spirit of innovation, not just about getting a diploma.
Let us all hope that this event will be an opportunity to promote the improvement of the education system. I hope that in the near future, we can see a more fair, transparent and humane educational environment, so that everyone who pursues knowledge can find their own path and shine their own brilliance.
After all, education is about everyone's future and carries the hope of a nation. Let's work together to build a better future for education.