The Future of Doctoral Education: The Role of Professional Doctorates in Bridging Academia and Industry
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64229/2f967e95Keywords:
Doctoral Education, Professional Doctorates, DBA, Academia-Industry Collaboration, Knowledge Transfer, Future Learning ModelsAbstract
The 21st century has witnessed a paradigm shift in doctoral education as global economies increasingly demand research that delivers both theoretical insight and practical value. While the traditional Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) remains the cornerstone of academic scholarship, the rise of professional doctorates-such as the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), Doctor of Education (EdD), and Doctor of Engineering (EngD)-has redefined the purpose and scope of doctoral learning. These programs integrate academic rigor with professional application, enabling scholar-practitioners to address complex, real-world problems through evidence-based inquiry. Drawing on contemporary literature, this paper examines how professional doctorates bridge the gap between academia and industry by fostering Mode 2 knowledge production, practitioner-led innovation, and collaborative research ecosystems. It contrasts the epistemological and pedagogical underpinnings of PhD and professional doctorate models, highlighting their complementary roles in advancing both theory and practice. The paper also explores emerging hybrid models-digitally enabled, transdisciplinary, and industry-embedded-that signal the future of doctoral education. Findings suggest that sustainable doctoral reform will depend on integrating reflective practice, technological augmentation, and cross-sector partnerships to produce leaders capable of generating knowledge with measurable social and economic impact. Ultimately, professional doctorates represent not a departure from the academic tradition but an evolution toward a more engaged, adaptive, and globally responsive model of doctoral scholarship.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Sangita Panta, Suman Thapaliya (Author)
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