Higher education | UM postdoctoral fellowships seemingly exclude own PhD grads

The University of Macau’s (UM) Macau Postdoctoral Fellowship & Postdoctoral Associateship recruits PhD holders from the top 200 universities around the globe only, implying that graduates from the educational institution itself may be excluded. That’s according to detailed information posted on the university’s webpage under the requirements section of such courses.

Last year, the public university was listed in the 301 to 350 range of top universities around the world in the ranking compiled by Times Higher Education.

UM scored highly in terms of internationalization, acquiring 98.5 points. In terms of teaching and research, it scored 32.3 points and 32.6 points respectively. For citations, UM scored 61.9 points.

However, the aforementioned requirement suggests that PhD holders who graduate from the university may not be able to find employment under the fellowship.

As cited on UM’s website, “The UM Macau Postdoctoral Fellowship (Class A) applicants should graduate from top ranked universities or disciplines (i.e. Top 200 ranked universities listed in the THE/QS [Times Higher Education/Quacquarelli Symonds] ranking, or those listed under the Double First-Class Initiatives and Programs in mainland China).”

The fellowship and associateship were established under the UM Macau Talent Program, aiming to provide support to individual faculties to strengthen their research capabilities.

Monthly remuneration for the fellowship is 40,000 patacas and includes attendance to an annual conference, while remuneration for the associateship is 28,000 patacas.

Macau Daily Times contacted the university last week to enquire as to whether the university also provides job opportunities for PhD holders that graduate from UM despite not being among the “top 200 ranked universities.”

The university was also asked whether there would be consideration given in its fellowship programs to its own PhD graduates.

The UM had not responded to the media enquiries by press time.

The top-200 requirement is also stipulated for the university’s Distinguished Visiting Scholar (MDS) program, which aims to attract established scholars to conduct inter- and multi-disciplinary research activities with UM faculty members, or to promote joint research projects and publications.

The UM says it aims to recruit academic staff with “an outstanding record of internationally-recognized research and scholarship,” among other criteria.

In its regulations, in Article 5, it notes that “staff recruitment shall consist of a series of measures aimed at selecting qualified personnel for UM to attain its missions,” also noting that there are “equal opportunities for all candidates.” LV