Professional Doctorates Report Published
Professional Doctorates Report Published
A review of professional doctorates was commissioned by HEFCE and carried out by the Careers Research & Advisory Centre Ltd and the University of Brighton.
Over the last five years, the number of institutions providing professional doctorates has grown, as has the number of professional doctorate programmes. Provision is in four main subject areas: education, business, psychology, and health and social care. Although traditionally perceived as an employer-driven qualification, employer demand for professional doctorate qualified staff seems relatively weak in many areas, and results in high proportions of candidates being self-funded. Professional doctorate programme structures vary in detail, although a two-stage approach, with a taught stage followed by formal transition to a research stage, is common. The taught aspects of professional doctorate programmes contain doctoral and research focused content, including research-specific skills and professional development.
The report recommends that sector bodies and institutions develop a more strategic basis for provision of professional doctorates. Furthermore, it reaffirms equivalence between professional doctorate and PhD qualifications, highlighting the importance of the research context and the impact requirements on professional practice.
The author of the report, Dr Robert Mellors-Bourne will be presenting at the UKCGE’s 5th International Conference on Professional Doctorates, which takes place in Belfast on the 15th and 16th March 2016.
HEFCE have also published a Blog article ‘Professional doctorates – bridging research and professional practice’ alongside the report.
Links
Press release on HEFCE website
Download Report
Blog: Professional doctorates – bridging research and professional practice
5th International Conference on Professional Doctorates
