博士學歷特性對大學教師學術職涯發展的影響與意涵：以大學高階主管之經驗與觀點為例

The Impact and Implications of Faculty’s Doctoral Degree Characteristics on Academic Career: Taking the Experience and Views of University Senior Administrators as Examples

面對緊縮的學術就業市場，進入學界尋求發展，成為一條令人感到挫折的路。面對高度競爭且稀少的專任教師職缺，如何透過博士學歷特性傳達重要的能力訊號以順利獲聘，甚具挑戰性。本研究目的在於透過大學高階主管身為資深教授的經驗及參與教師聘用實務的局內人觀點，瞭解博士學歷特性（國內外博士、系出國外名校及學術近親）對教師應聘及學術職涯發展的影響及訊號意涵。本研究共訪談25位大學高階主管，經分析後，主要研究結果為：一、國外博士學歷具有教職應聘的優勢，但國內博士擁有研究發表、在地實務與人脈連結的強項，也為其爭取獲聘機會。二、國外博士或國外名校是應聘時重要「訊號」，但隨著職涯發展，訊號效益會遞減，且若實際職涯表現未如應聘時被期待的水準，國外或名校「光環」將成為職涯發展的壓力。三、對於應聘後在教學、研究、服務及升等的表現，教師個人的努力、主動學習及與外界連結的人格特質影響高於學歷特性。四、國內外博士、系出國外名校及學術近親各有其職涯發展的優劣勢，補強劣勢就可有不錯的職涯發展，惟「學術近親」在留任與否成為其職涯發展的雙面刃。最後，本研究提出結論及建議供未來學者及後續研究參考。

In view of a tight academic job market, entering academia to develop a career is a frustrating path for many doctorate holders. As full-time faculty positions are extremely competitive and scarce, it is challenging how doctorate holders successfully get hired due to their academic performances in accord with their doctoral degree characteristics. This study aims to investigate the impact of doctoral degree characteristics (degrees obtained abroad or domestically, degrees from prestigious foreign universities, and academic inbreeding) on faculty hiring and academic career development. A total of 25 university senior administrators, who were senior faculty members and insiders involved in faculty hiring practices, were interviewed and their views were analyzed. The main findings include: 1. Holders of doctoral degrees obtained abroad tend to be at an advantage when it comes to getting hired, but holders of doctoral degrees obtained domestically benefit from having more research publications, being more familiar with the local academic milieu, and having more personal connections, all raising their possibility of getting hired. 2. Though holders of doctorates obtained abroad or from prestigious foreign universities are at an advantage when it comes to getting hired, as their academic careers develop over time, the halo effect diminishes. Moreover, if their actual later career performances turn out to be overestimated by the hiring committees, the halo effect becomes a pressure for their academic career development. 3. After getting hired, one’s performances in teaching, research, service, and promotion are determined more by one’s personal efforts, active learning, and personality traits of connecting with others than by one’s doctoral degree characteristics. 4. Each of the three doctoral degree characteristics, namely degrees obtained abroad or domestically, degrees from prestigious foreign universities, and academic inbreeding, has its own advantages and disadvantages as far as the academic career development of the doctorate holders is concerned. They can achieve good academic career development by turning disadvantages into advantages except those related to academic inbreeding, which is an absolute double-edged sword. Finally, conclusions and relevant suggestions are put forward for future scholars and further studies.