Purpose

Little is known about the impact external Viva examiners coming from the international community of scholars have on the quality of PhD research. This study aims to argue that the encounter between local and international examiners (IEs) is subject to various complexities, raising doubts about whether IEs’ participation and approval of the Viva may indicate for the quality of PhD research, and, therefore, serve to promote a university’s prestige.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative analysis of interviews conducted with IEs who served as examiners in six European countries, two African countries, two South American countries and one in the Commonwealth of Australia.

Findings

Findings show that structural features, cultural qualities and personal contacts restrict IEs’ ability to introduce significant changes in students’ research, turning the Viva into a ritual with confined academic significance.

Originality/value

The findings reveal that the Viva is mostly a ritual confined by structural and cultural barriers. While rituals are considered significant due to their consolidating and socializing functions, it appears that a Viva is mostly a ceremonial event that has little impact on the quality of PhD research or on shaping the research culture of the hosting universities according to international standards. Implications are further discussed.

中文翻译：

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国际审查员参加 Viva：仪式还是研究质量的实际指标？

目的

关于来自国际学者社区的外部 Viva 审查员对博士研究质量的影响知之甚少。本研究旨在论证本地和国际审查员 (IE) 之间的相遇受到各种复杂性的影响，引发了关于 IE 参与和批准 Viva 是否可能表明博士研究质量的疑问，从而有助于促进一所大学的声望。

设计/方法/方法

对在六个欧洲国家、两个非洲国家、两个南美国家和一个在澳大利亚联邦担任审查员的 IE 进行的访谈的定性分析。

发现

研究结果表明，结构特征、文化品质和个人接触限制了 IE 为学生的研究带来重大变化的能力，将 Viva 变成了一种具有有限学术意义的仪式。

原创性/价值

研究结果表明，Viva 主要是一种受结构和文化障碍限制的仪式。虽然仪式因其巩固和社交功能而被认为是重要的，但 Viva 似乎主要是一种仪式活动，对博士研究的质量或根据国际标准塑造主办大学的研究文化几乎没有影响。进一步讨论了影响。