From Dream to Reality: A colloquium on doctoral studies and starting the professorial career - March 22 & 23, 2007

Montreal, January 11, 2007 - The Fédération québécoise des professeures et professeurs d’université (FQPPU) will hold a colloquium in Montreal in early spring on preparing for a university professorial career and entry into the ranks.

The path from thesis to tenure is not easy, as was made clear in a study published last April by the FQPPU, Le renouvellement du corps professoral dans les universités au Québec [Renewal of the professoriate in Quebec universities]. In order to follow up on this exploratory study by Nathalie Dyke, the Federation invites the university community and all those interested in it, to this colloquium. From Dream to Reality aims to give a picture of the situation, both inside and outside Quebec, and to discuss the current pressures (performance discourse, administrative theory, etc.) with their transformative effects on the culture, the work regulations, and the relationship to knowledge, to the institution, to colleagues and students, and to society.

Discussion will center around three main themes: 

• Career preparation and doctoral studies
• Job entry and the first years of employment
• Integration, working conditions and getting tenure. 

Conference speakers from Quebec, from English-speaking Canada and from Europe will share their observations and latest research on these important topics. 

The FQPPU invites as participants all doctoral students and professors in the early years of their academic career, as well as tenured academics and administrators, in order to generate discussion and help formulate collective action towards improving conditions for those embarking on a professorial career.

From Dream to Reality: a colloquium on doctoral studies and starting the professorial career will take place on Thursday, March 22 and Friday, March 23, 2007 at the Hotel Gouverneur Place Dupuis, in Montreal.