Over the last few days, I’ve seen several posts & had conversations with PhD students who’ve been told their output shouldn’t be affected or should even increase during this global pandemic. I have a few thoughts on this… (1/10)
#phdchat #covid19 #workfromhome
#phdchat #covid19 #workfromhome
1. This approach fails to recognise that students are individuals with their own set of circumstances that will affect how they respond to the pandemic; (2/10)
2. Many PhD students are not studying in their home country and therefore separated from families and loved ones; (3/10)
3. Some students will come from countries with poor healthcare systems or unstable regimes that will impact how their country is affected by the virus; (4/10)
4. Not all students come from affluent backgrounds and so need to generate income during their PhD to support themselves & sometimes, families back home; (5/10) #phdchat
6. Watching this pandemic unfold is stressful no matter what your circumstances are. But imagine how stressful it must be if any of the above applies to you. (7/10)
7. Expecting these students to be as productive or more productive during this unprecedented time is not ok. (8/10) #phdchat
8. If you want your students to try & be productive, talk to them, understand their backgrounds, identify those that might need some additional support right now & work out what that support might look like. (9/10)
9. Most will be trying very hard to make progress but please show some kindness & understand that PhD students are only human. (10/10) #phdchat
