Abstract:
With the global trend in moving towards a knowledge-based society, the educational
qualifications and trained skills of personnel become important since there is a strong
link among postgraduate education, research and development (R&D) and economic
growth of a particular country. The doctoral degree holders in Science & Technology
(S&T) are highly qualified in specialized education with extensive training in research
and development. They are capable of conducting independent research. The generated
knowledge and technology contribute to innovation, which promotes economic
development and social welfare of the people. Therefore, a close study of this
knowledge stock and identifying the gaps and constraints for their contributory patterns
is important.
Recently there has been increasing focus on identifying the value of postgraduate
researchers and their contribution to wider economic, social and cultural impacts. Skills
of highly competent individuals can lead to better policy making, enhanced economic
growth, and improvements in the health and welfare of the people. Casey (2009) takes
an economic perspective to explore the impact of doctorates: in particular, what is a
doctorate worth and what is the justification for society to support the production of
doctorates.
A project on doctoral studies and qualifications in Europe and the United States was
carried out by Sadlak (2004) and it identified eleven main problems with doctoral
education in Europe and USA.
