For a long time, wearing a gown during PhD ceremonies was a right reserved exclusively by professors. But that is now a thing of the past, as Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) has amended its gown policy. What does this change entail and what was the reason?
After years of intensive research, the PhD ceremony is the moment when the doctorate degree is awarded. During this ceremony, the PhD student defends their dissertation before a committee of specialists. Traditionally, it was only professors who appeared in gowns, but that practice is now changing.
Rector Magnificus Professor Jantine Schuit explains the reason for the change: 'There had long been discussion about whether the supervisor of a PhD candidate should always be a professor, whereas in practice an associate professor or assistant professor is often charged with the day-to-day supervision.'
According to Schuit, this discussion has been ongoing for at least a decade and has led to amendments to the Higher Education and Research Act (Wet op het Hoger Onderwijs en Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, WHW). 'Since then, it has also been possible to grant the Ius Promovendi – the right to award candidates a PhD – to staff members who have a PhD.'
A step towards better recognition
At Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Ius Promovendi is for now limited to associate professors, unlike some other universities where assistant professors can also be granted this right.
'The Doctorate Board looks at a person's experience', says Schuit. 'That person must have already successfully supervised PhD programmes and secured a research grant in the process. These are some of the criteria used to determine whether an associate professor will be granted the Ius Promovendi.'
The recent change to the gown policy is in line with the wider discussion on recognition and rewards. Whereas previously only professors were allowed to wear a gown during PhD ceremonies, from January 2025, all committee members and supervisors granted the Ius Promovendi will be allowed to wear a gown at our university. During other academic ceremonies, such as the Opening of the Academic Year and the Dies Natalis, only professors can wear a gown.
'The idea is to do justice to the role that non-professors play in the PhD programme as well', explains the Rector Magnificus. 'The gown not only indicates status but also stresses the equal contribution made by all supervisors and assessors. It is a way to make the expertise and commitment of everyone involved visible.'
Balancing tradition and innovation
Amending the policy was not without controversy. A year ago, the deans and the then Rector (Annelien Bredenoord, ed.) discussed whether and how our university could be more flexible regarding the gown policy. 'Several proposals have been discussed: from allowing the entire doctoral committee and all supervisors to wear a gown to extending this right to everyone granted the Ius Promovendi, or leaving the situation unchanged and reserving the right to wear a gown exclusively to professors.'
In the end, the Doctorate Board recently opted for a middle ground. This means that, from January 2025, anyone granted the Ius Promovendi may wear a gown during the PhD ceremony. This also applies to supervisors and members of the doctoral committee who are affiliated to a university other than Erasmus University Rotterdam.
Equal opportunities and rewards
According to Schuit, this change is in line with a broader trend in Dutch academia. 'We are also seeing this at other universities, such as Leiden and Utrecht. There, too, similar steps are being taken that somewhat reduce the hierarchy within academic ceremonies and also reward the substantial contribution made by non-professors in PhD programmes.'
Still under discussion
Despite all this, there is still room for further discussion. Schuit: 'Some argue for the Ius Promovendi to be granted more broadly – for example, to all associate professors or also potentially to assistant professors in the future. Over the coming period, we could also take a closer look at possible differences between faculties and the male/female ratio. Clearly, this discussion will remain topical in the coming years.'
With the introduction of the new gown policy, Erasmus University Rotterdam is taking an important step towards modernising academic traditions. The new protocol not only stresses the equality of committee members but also contributes to a more inclusive academic climate.
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Professor Jantine Schuit has been appointed as EUR's new Rector Magnificus and a member of the Executive Board since 1 November 2024. View Schuit's profile.
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