Thread by @segalink

Long before I finished my MSc program I have been a consultant advisor for PhD students for years. I used 70% of my lecturers as guinea pigs in this regard till they all got their doctorates and some even became Professors. Here are a few things I have learnt 👇🏽#AcademicsInView

From an advisor’s perspective having sat on a few academic panels for PhD presentations, it is easy to identify a problem solver from someone who just needed the title and cert for bragging rights or better pay. This is alsoone of the criteria for the award and why most drop out.

The very bests of students ask questions and the very best of PhD students have a strong desire to learn what advisors have to teach based on experience. While those that enrolled for the wrong reasons are forever preoccupied with showing off what they know and can do.

This recalcitrant Stupidity often follow most of these misfits into the workplace if not render them unemployable or underemployed. Even though at this level they ought to be identifying problems/proferring advisory or solutions, most are merely placeholders even with the title.

Even I had to learn the hard way despite my exposure and ingenuity across field that the essence of a higher degree is the mastery of your ability to empty your cupboards learn anew or change perspectives towards a clearer view. There are subtleties to research work.

Understanding the technicalities and modalities of switching between assessment work approach to shadowing and apprenticeship essential. Professor @jaluya will tell you this much should you engage his Big Data Research Institute in California. So would Prof @Bellemskey @DrCOmole

I’m certain @DrJoeAbah won’t disagree having taught PhD students for years across the globe. The most difficult areas for most from experience have been picking the right problem. Not everyone started with a passion for problem solving. Some just want the degree at all cost.

Another issue is with the ability to accept the path is wrong and to heal/heed on time and know when to stop wasting paper and change direction. Prof Joseph Aluya once expressed his disappointment in one of my joint papers on alternative energy (EBM). Rather than trading blames..

...I took his counsel to heart and informed my partner was one of the three supervisors across universities for my MSc thesis and also my former lecturer. We recalculated our coordinates and reworked the perspective, even though we trusted our instincts & knew they were right...

...we had to learn to distrust our instinct for better results based on hands on counsel and advisory. Sometimes it takes the understanding of how to take things slow rather than discuss all emphasis on being the first to submit. These attitudes follow you to the field.

What you can’t achieve with your BSc you most likely would not achieve with your PhD. It is all about commitment, discipline and understanding of purpose with the effort and humility towards learning new skills from the Masters to succeed. Most of the few I found worthy...

...in my short stint on campus have proven themselves on the job as well. These are no placeholders or rubberstamps in the real world. They learn, study the issues and realize that nothing compels you to remain the same person you were 5minutes ago research wise.

You just have to forget about the bragging rights and ask yourself why you are doing this. If it is about anything else other than putting a dent in the body of knowledge, then it is not worth it. Let people feel the impact of your work before they know you’ve got a title.

To tell you the truth, the academia is not an easy place to operate especially in a fast changing world that we live in. You don’t have to cover it all or solve every problem. Just pick the one that speaks to you and turns your work into play. Enjoy it.

It is a learning process that never stops even after obtaining your degree. I am no expert and will forever remain a student of life. If you are thinking of dropping out of your program, change your perspective and get a new outlook. The profs I mentioned will help you out.

Everyone in the past decade that’s engaged my services for their thesis (90%) are heads of their faculties as we speak. Some are even Dean Of Schools. This was long before today. I wish to help as many get the right perspective as well as necessary links to Pros in the field.

A few of you attend paid seminars with slides to show for it which may not have added any value to your perspective or enthusiasm towards your unique drive. I hope this thread helps. I learnt the hard way too. There is a lot to higher degrees than the bragging rights.

Nigeria needs more solution providers, innovators and job creators who are independent of government’s grants. We need enlightened people whose work will naturally attract international partnership and enrich lives meaningfully in society with visible impact.

You really don’t need higher degrees to have meaningful impact in society by the way. The extra mile only provides you with the exposure to intricacies that gives you clearer vision into how issues can be studied and navigated for better solutions & engagements.

I pray that you keep this at the back of your mind while navigating those troubled waters into enlightenment. Consider this a free Masterclass for those in the valley of decision. Remember why you started and don’t give up now after coming this far.

Waiting to celebrate you. 🙏🏽

One of the funnest professors to argue with over matters however sensitive is Lt. General @abellodam and former Hon Minister. His approach in making you see his position is so humbling you will almost apologize for arguing in the first place. Yet he’ll highlight your angle aptly.

This is the same philosophy of JordanPeterson who believes that almost all ideas are probably wrong however much they strike U with the force of brilliance. These folks encourage critical thinking by assaulting your idea with all they have in their arsenal & see if they survive.

This obviously was the idea behind @DrJoeAbah’s today’s hypothesis which many often turn into roforofo fight instead of understanding the proposition as an invitation to treat. It is a call for dialogue with intellectual bandwidth that welcomes the constellation of ideas.