Habilitation is the highest academic qualification in some European countries, requiring independent research and a thesis after obtaining a doctorate. It is a teacher certification in some parts of Germany and France, while in Poland, it is a second-level doctorate.
In some European countries, the highest academic qualification a person can achieve is known as a habilitation. To reach this level of qualification, the candidate must already have a doctorate. The candidate must then undertake intensive independent research and write a thesis describing their work. In some countries, accreditation is required before a professor can teach unsupervised or become the supervisor of doctoral candidates. Completing the process usually takes anywhere from four years to a decade.
The tasks that an academic must complete to obtain the habilitation are similar to those required to obtain a doctorate or professorship, but tend to be much more arduous than any achievement requires. The candidate must act completely independently, without the guidance of a supervisor or faculty advice that a doctoral candidate would receive. A strong history of research and contribution to the field is essential. To obtain a qualification in one of the sciences, the candidate must publish dozens of research papers in recognized scientific journals. If the candidate’s field of study is the humanities, he may be required to write a book accepted for publication.
European countries that offer driving licenses include Spain, the Czech Republic and Austria. Most countries in the former Soviet Union also offer this type of certification, including Russia, Lithuania and Ukraine. Requirements vary from country to country. In some countries, habilitation is used as a way of proving the ability of prospective teachers.
In some parts of Germany, it is considered a teacher certification and not an academic degree. The certificate confirms that the holder is qualified to teach at an unsupervised university. Upon certification, a teacher is given permission to teach a specific subject for life. In this case, it is similar to gaining ownership in the United States or Great Britain. In France, obtaining a habilitation allows the professor to supervise research carried out by doctoral students. In both countries, teaching ability is analyzed along with the other requirements.
In Poland, the habilitation is essentially a second-level doctorate. To obtain it, the candidate must publish a dissertation after years of research and study in the field. Technically, the law allows a professor with a first-level doctorate to teach at a university, although a professor is rarely hired without a second degree.
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