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Janet Metcalfe's call for "consistent standards in postgraduate training" (News, THES , August 16) sadly includes a genuflection to the "transferable and work-related skills" claque.

I cannot think of any research postgrads I have taught who have not had work experience, often with senior responsibility. They would regard such bolt-on provision as irrelevant.

We cannot provide training for "whatever" our students "choose to do in the future". Research programmes should provide thorough training culminating in a dissertation.

Dennis Brown
Hertfordshire University